F-16s to Pakistan,
F-18s to India
By A.H. Cemendtaur
CA
I was outraged by the news of the US’promised
sale of the F-16s to Pakistan, and the F-18s and
the civilian nuclear technology to India. It is
shameful that the world’s wealthiest nation
takes advantage of regional animosities through
such exploitive deals.
It is equally heartbreaking to see both India
and Pakistan fall in this trap. These developments
are especially discouraging because both India
and Pakistan are on the verge of breaking into
a new era of cooperation and peace. This news
is a slap on the face of the group of people that
has embarked on a long peace march from Delhi
to Multan, going from village to village and understanding
the problems of the common folks - problems that
are of the same nature on both sides of the border.
I wish Pakistan had the courage to refuse to buy
the F-16s because this sale would put this already
poor country in heavy debt. I wish Pakistan had
the leadership that understood that strength is
not gained by buying military aircraft, strength
comes from binding the nation together; a leadership
that understood that we are our own worst enemy;
that doing justice, sharing power with people,
including all groups in the decision-making process
ensure that no external enemy would ever subdue
the country.
I wish India too had the courage to cancel the
military deals with the US, and refuse to buy
the rejected nuclear technology that would generate
tons of radioactive waste every year. I wish the
Indian leadership had the wisdom to understand
that a nation doesn’t become a ‘major
regional power’ riding on someone else’s
shoulders, that nations earn this status walking
on their own feet.
I wish the leaders of our region had the acumen
to see that in the sale of the F-16s to Pakistan,
and the F-18s to India, the only winner is the
military-industrial complex of the US; people
who understood that resolving conflicts through
peaceful means makes more economic sense than
buying expensive war machines; and that regional
cooperation brings prosperity to all; that building
a gas line from Iran to India via Pakistan is
in the economic interest of all three countries.
I also wish that the leaders of the wealthy nations
understood that even when there are simpleton
leaders and nations ready to be fooled, acquiring
wealth at the expense of such people is not only
morally wrong, it eventually creates the inequalities
that come back to haunt you in the shape of a
9/11.
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