War is Ugly and Would Destroy both India and Pakistan
By Dr Aslam Abdullah
Fontana, CA
India and Pakistan are engaged in a war of words that in the view of many may turn into an actual war causing millions to suffer. If the countries go to war, they would destroy billions to hurt each other without achieving any purpose other than glorifying their pride. War never solves any problem, it exacerbates it. War is not in the interest of the warring nations. It only helps those who know how to turn human corpses into money. The tax payers’ money is usually spent in importing arms and ammunition from weapon manufacturers, who do not care about human lives.
The war threats force the nations to spend more on war preparations. Every bullet that is fired to prepare the troops costs 22 cents and the world produces 12 billion rounds of bullets every year, most of which is spent in preparing for wars.
It is in the interests of weapon manufacturers to ensure that wars continue perpetually, otherwise their factories would be closed down and their source of livelihood would dry out. All they need to do is to buy a few politicians and generals, journalists, academicians and researchers in nations in conflict with each other to convince the power elites that war is in the best interest of their national security. They would use religion, scriptures, God, nationalism and what not to promote the war.
Pakistan spends some 23 percent of its national spending on defense compared to 1.3 per cent on health and 7.8 percent on education. India is no different in that respect. Imagine, if the two countries, instead of spending $60 billion on defense, spend half of that amount on education and health, their dependence on IMF and leading banks would diminish.
It is proven that when nations spend more on health care and education, they achieve higher standards of living and development. When they spend more on defense, they live in perpetual fear and anxiety. Ironically, some of the countries that invest heavily on defense are classified as Muslim-majority countries.
The two countries are not unique in spending their vital national resources on defense. Military spending is important to most nations, with each country spending according to its own needs and ability. But the need and ability are often determined by political circumstances. Canada spends 6.3 percent of its total yearly budget on military spending. The United States spends 19.3 percent of its budget on military expenses. Mexico uses 3.3 percent of its budget on military spending. Nicaragua spends 3.2 percent of its yearly budget on military expenses. In Columbia, military spending is 11.9 percent of its annual budget. Argentina military spending is 5.9 percent of its yearly budget.
In Scandinavia and Europe, military spending is relatively low. Norway spends 4.8 percent of its budget on defense, while its neighbor Sweden spends 4.3 percent of its budget on the military. In the UK, military spending is 6.3 percent of the yearly expenditure. In Germany, military spending is 3.3 percent. In France, military spending is 5.4 percent of the country’s yearly budget. Italy uses 4.5 percent of its annual budget for military spending. The annual military spending of Spain is 4.2 percent.
In the Middle East, the level of military spending is generally higher than in Europe. In the United Arab Emirates, military spending makes up 45.7 percent of the country’s annual budget. In Iran, military spending is 21.7 percent of the allocated budget. The military expenditure of Pakistan is 23.1 percent of all its yearly expenditures. Morocco spends 13.6 percent of its annual budget on military expenditures. The military of South Africa gets 4.8 percent of its budget. In India, military spending is 18.6 percent of the country’s total spending. Thailand spends 7 percent of its money on its military. Indonesia spends 6.5 percent of its budget on the military. Australia spends 7.1 percent of its budget on the military. New Zealand military spending is 3.1 percent of the yearly budget. In China, 18.2 percent of the annual budget is spent on military expenses. South Korea spends 12 percent of its total yearly expenditures on the military. In Japan, the military spending percentage is 6.4 percent of the country’s annual budget. Russia spends 18.7 percent of its annual budget on the military.
When it comes to health care Canada spends 17.9 percent of its total yearly budget on health care. The United States spends 19.3 percent of its budget on health care expenses. Mexico uses 11.8 percent of its budget for health care. Nicaragua spends 17 percent of its yearly budget on health care. In Columbia, health care spending is 17 percent of its annual budget. Argentina health care spending is 14.2 percent of its yearly budget. Norway spends 17.9 percent of its budget on health care spending, while its neighbor Sweden spends 13.8 percent of its budget on health care. In the UK, health care spending is 16.3 percent of the yearly expenditure. In Germany, health care spending is 17.9 percent. In France, health care spending is 16.7 percent of the yearly budget. Italy uses 14.2 percent of its annual budget for health care spending. The annual health care spending of Spain is 15.5 percent. In the United Arab Emirates, health care spending makes up 8.7 percent of the country’s annual budget. In Iran, health care spending is 11.5 percent of the allocated budget. The health care expenditure of Pakistan is 1.3 percent of all its yearly expenditures. Morocco spends 4.8 percent of its annual budget on health care expenditures. The health care of South Africa is 9.1 percent of its budget. In India, health care spending is 3.4 percent of the total spending. Thailand spends 11.3 percent of its money on health care. Indonesia spends 6.2 percent of its budget in the health care sector. Australia spends 17 percent of its budget on health care. New Zealand health care spending is 18.4 percent of the yearly budget. In China, 9.9 percent of the annual budget is spent on health care. South Korea spends 11.7 percent of its total yearly expenditures on health care. In Japan, health care spending is 17.9 percent of the country’s annual budget. Russia spends 10.8 percent of its annual budget on the health care sector.
When it comes to spending on education, Canada spends 12.7 percent of its total yearly budget on education. The United States spends 17.1 percent of its budget on education expenses. Mexico uses 24.3 percent of its budget on education spending. Nicaragua spends 15 percent of its yearly budget on education. In Columbia, education spending is 15.6 percent of the annual budget. Argentina education spending is 13.8 percent of the yearly budget. Norway spends 16.2 percent of its budget on education, while Sweden spends 12.8 percent of its budget on education. In the UK, education spending is 11.5 percent of the yearly expenditure. In Germany, education spending is 9.5 percent. In France, education spending is 11.4 percent of the yearly budget. In Iran, education spending is 17.7 percent of its allocated budget. The education expenditure of Pakistan is 7.8 percent of all its yearly expenditures. In India, education spending is 12.7 percent of the country’s total spending. Australia spends 13.3 percent of its budget on education. In China, 12.1 percent of the annual budget is spent on education. In Japan, the education spending percentage is 10.5 percent of the country’s annual budget. Russia spends 11.5 percent of its annual budget on education.
Obviously, the money that is being spent on defense is from the tax-payers pockets who have been convinced that their safety lies only in a strong military. India and Pakistan have created a situation where the power elites fume hatred against each other and ensure that from time to time the slogans of war are raised to frighten their people and earn more of their tax money to buy more weapons.
Look at the following data to understand the amount of money the two countries have spent on strengthening their defense. Imagine if they live in peace without fearing any intervention from each other, how much growth and development they can achieve in a short period of time. War can be initiated any time, but peace requires patience and sustained efforts of visionary leaders who can swallow their pride and ego and work for the welfare and well-being of the common man.
India’s military budget is $53 billion. Pakistan’s military budget is $7 billion.
India has 4.7 million troops. This includes active troops, reserve troops and paramilitary forces. India’s total troops’ strength is 4th in the world and more than that of China and USA
Pakistan has 1.4 million troops. This number includes active troops, reserved troops and paramilitary forces. They are the 10th largest military in the world.
India possesses a total of 2086 aircraft which ranks 4th in the world. This includes fighter aircraft, bomber aircraft, attack aircraft and many other types.
Pakistan possesses 923 aircraft and is 11th in the world.
India has a total 6464 battle tanks which is 4th in the world.
Pakistan has a total 2924 battle tanks which is 10th in the world.
India owns 5 military satellites in space aircraft carriers and is one of the only 18 countries with at least 1 military satellite.
Pakistan does not have any military satellite.
Total number of navy ships India possess is 295. They are 7th in the world in terms of strength.
Total number of navy ship Pakistan possesses is 197. Pakistan is 11th in the world in terms of navy ships strength.
India has 13 submarine which is the 8th highest in the world.
Pakistan owns 5 submarines,16th highest in the world.
India and Pakistan both have 90-110 nuclear weapons and are 6th in the world.
Obliviously, it is in the best interests of the weapon industry to ensure that the two countries keep on piling arms and ammunition on a regular basis. This would not be possible without raising the slogan of war. This is precisely what the power elites of India and Pakistan are doing. They have enlisted the services of religious leaders to their cause who are invoking the name of God to prepare the masses to get ready for the blood bath of their enemies.
(The author is editor at large of the Muslim Observer and director of Masjid Ibrahim in Las Vegas.)
Back to Pakistanlink Homepage
