Why Endless Propaganda against Pak Nukes?

By Sajjad Shaukat

While showing their double standard openly, the US and some western countries use one pretext or the other in targeting the unfavorable small countries in order to obtain their selfish interests. Therefore, they are taking the nuclear proliferation as an ultra sensitive concern, haunting the entire world, and they feel impatient to impose unilateral sanctions against those states which fall in the ambit of hostile nations—are aspiring to acquire nuclear capability. 

In this respect, particularly America and West’s discrimination and bigotry include Iran, North Korea and Libya (now under immunity) for violating terms of Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, any country, especially with Islamic identity which desires to get atomic capability is subjected to severe economic sanctions and political isolation or military action so as to render it incapable of acquiring nuclear expertise. 

In these terms, Pakistan is the only declared nuclear country in the Islamic World. Hence, it has become special target of some western top officials, media and think tanks, particularly those of the US, who leave no stone unturned in continuing their endless propaganda against Pak nukes.  They have been creating doubts about the safety and security of Pakistan’s atomic weapons.

In this regard, Michael Kugelman, a senor programme associate for South and Southeast Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center, where he is responsible for research, programming and publications on South and Southeast Asia, used the change of guard at Special Strategic Division to implicate Pakistan. On January 10, 2014, the ‘National Interest’ published his article, ‘One more reason to worry about Pakistan’s nukes’. He wrote, “Yet one of the most troubling changes occurred on the very last day of 2013, and with little fanfare. On December 31, according to Pakistani media reports, Lt. General Khalid Kidwai logged his last day as head of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), the entity in charge of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.” Last month, Michael Kugelman had written a lengthy essay in America’s Foreign Policy magazine titled, ‘The most magnificent delusion’, in which he used all the arguments given by Hussain Haqqani in his book to paint Pakistan in malicious light, maligning its nuclear assets.

It is regrettable that the US-led propagandists like Michael Kugelman naively argue that Pakistani nukes may fall in the hands of terrorists attacking sensitive air bases in Pakistan. The absurd contents assert that Pakistan is producing tactical nuclear weapons, meant for actual battlefield use with conventional forces—for short range use against India. He explains that consequently, these will be removed from locked-down and secured bases, making them tremendously vulnerable to seizure and attack, or accident.

It is notable that on September 3, 2013, The Washington Post, while quoting American former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, published a 178-page summary of the US intelligence community’s “black budget”, which disclosed that the US has ramped up its surveillance of Pakistan’s nuclear arms. The Post allegedly elaborated, “US intelligence agencies are focused on the possibility that Pakistan’s nuclear facilities might come under attack by Islamist militants. Pakistan has dozens of production and storage sites scattered across the country and the budget documents indicate that Pakistan is adding to that stockpile. Little is known about how it moves materials among its facilities, an area of potential vulnerability. Concerns persist that extremists could seize components of the stockpile or trigger a war with neighboring India.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman rejected the story, published in The Washington Post as baseless and stated, “Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state, with robust command and control structure and comprehensive export controls…its nuclear programme is purely for its own legitimate self-defence and maintenance of a credible, minimum deterrence…Pakistan supports objectives of non-proliferation as well as nuclear safety and security.” 

In fact, overtly, US high officials remark that they seek stability in Pakistan, but covertly, they continue to destabilize it through multi-faceted subversive activities of the American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad. With the assistance of these secret agencies, Indo-Israeli lobbies which are working in Europe and especially, penetrated in the US administration including their media manipulate any major terror event in Pakistan in order to show to the international community that this country’s atomic weapons are not safe as militants can possess them.

It is mentionable that in 2009 when the heavily-armed Taliban entered Swat, Dir, Buner and other adjoining areas, US high officials and their media had exaggerated the ‘Talibinisation’ of whole Pakistan, while showing concerns about Pakistan’s atomic arms. In that context, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had warned that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. But when Pakistan’s armed forces ejected the Taliban insurgents out of Swat, Dir and Buner by breaking their backbone, then American top officials had admired the capabilities of Pak Army.

When insurgents had attacked on Pakistan’s Naval Airbase in Karachi on May 23, 2011, US-led some western countries including India and Israel exploited the situation through disinformation about the security of Pak nukes. 

Similarly, terrorists’ assault on Kamra Base was successfully foiled by the personnel of Pakistan Air Force, but, a baseless report, published in the New York Times on the same day indicated that suspected militants attacked a major Pakistani Air Force base where some of the country’s nuclear weapons were considered to be stored in the early hours of the militants’ attack. The report also presumed, “The base is part of Pakistan s nuclear stockpile, estimated to include at least 100 warheads.”

The ex-US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta also stated on the same day, “There is a danger of nuclear weapons of Pakistan, falling into hands of terrorists.”

It is of particular attention that while taking cognizance of the anti-Pakistan developments, Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad disclosed on June 7, 2011 that there was “accurate information…Americans are to sabotage Pakistan’s nuclear facilities to find dominance over the country.” While also indicating Zionist regime behind the conspiracy, he revealed that for this purpose, the US can also use “the United Nations Security Council and some other international organizations as tools to exercise pressure on Pakistan and weaken its national integrity.”

Notably, US and other hostile countries which feel jealousy in relation to Pakistan’s atomic assets must better have concerns about India’s nuclear weapons which are quite insecure. Indian past record proves various kinds of security lapses regarding various nuclear plants and the related sensitive materials. In this context, events of nuclear theft, smuggling and killing have become a regular feature of Indian atomic plants which still continue in one way or the other.

It is of noteworthy that while recognizing an inter-relationship between war against terrorism in Afghanistan, issue of Kashmir and arms race between Pakistan and India, the US President Barack Obama stated on September 25, 2008 that it is part of his policy “to encourage India and Pakistan to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and resolve the Kashmir problem to reduce nuclear dangers in South Asia. On a number of occasions, he and his aides like Mr Riedel had re-affirmed had that settlement of the Kashmir issue was essential for fighting terrorism.

Surprisingly, Obama and his high officials have totally neglected their previous statements regarding the solution of Kashmir issue which is the root cause of tension not only between Pakistan and India, but for the whole region. However, politicians may back out of their statements, but it is not the job of statements to eat their own words.

It is the right hour that US-led western world must realize that the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan is the real cause of concern, and is a nuclear flash point. If this core dispute is resolved, it will guarantee permanent peace between the two neighboring countries, besides safeguarding American and major powers’ interests in the region as well as the whole world. In case, Kashmir issue is peacefully settled, tactical and strategic level atomic weapons will become irrelevant for Islamabad and New Delhi.

Notably, by setting aside the Indian irresponsible record of proliferation, the US signed a defence agreement with India, pressurized International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to grant a waiver to New Delhi for obtaining civil nuclear trade on larger scale, while the latter has not signed the NPT. 

Nevertheless, despite the repeated assurances of Pakistan’s military and civil leadership that Pak nukes are well-protected and are under tight security arrangements, having well-coordinated command and control system, a deliberate propaganda campaign against the safety of these armaments keeps on going by the Europe, particularly US and India. The aim of such propaganda is to depict Pakistan’s nukes as hazardous and risk-prone.

In light of the above analysis, the propagandists like Michael Kugelman must understand as to why possibility of a nuclear clash between India and Pakistan exits, and as to why endless propaganda continues against Pak nukes.

Lesson from Nuclear Disasters and Karachi N. Plants

Ahmad Khan and Beenish Altaf

 ‘It's no secret that we live in a 24/7 society’ that is full of risks. In fact, Pakistanis usually take risks in order to find quick solutions of their lingering problems. In addition to my contention, people in Pakistan usually don’t care at large about the safety of their lives, and frequently indulge themselves in greater problems while taking risks. Actually, our mode of survival pivots around risks, and we neglect certain aspects of safety of our lives. For example, I saw people usually attempt phone calls while driving a car, as a result sometime this resulted into serious accidents and usually lead to loss of innocent lives. In reality, this is certain phenomenon all around the world. People don’t care about their safety. But, human civilization teaches us to care about our lives, and humans learn from their mistakes, and try to improve their life style in manner with less degree of risk with necessary precautionary measures. On the contrary, risks are not taken in nuclear industry. Risks lead to disasters, but in nuclear field every bit of activity is carefully monitored and dealt with great care.  

Technology is overall neutral, which means it has some positive aspects as well as some negative effects. Here, I want to quote Albert Einstein famous saying about technology that “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” Taking this realism into account, one can envisage that nuclear technology, if not properly handled, can have disastrous effects on the human civilization.  Any nuclear disaster can annihilate entire human civilization in the disaster hit area. Nuclear Technology for peaceful purposes is a reality, and no one can deny the fact that there are more than 430 nuclear reactors, which are currently operating across the world. In fact, countries like Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordon etc. are the aspirant of this technology without having adequate, trained and skillful human resources in their infant nuclear industry. Especially, the  developed nation, who’s aspiration are high, but they have their legitimate right of acquiring civil nuclear technology to utilize it for future energy production at home. On the other hand, Pakistan has already a well-establish nuclear industry. It has three nuclear power plants generating power, and two more nuclear power plants are under construction at Chasma. Moreover, it is building two new nuclear power plants at its coastal city of Karachi, which will able to produce 2 GW power till 2019. In fact, their ground breaking ceremony has already been took place at their proposed site. Karachi is being the place where the foundation stone of Pakistan’s nuclear power industry was laid, when KANUPP-1 was constructed. 

Right now, some nuclear pessimists in Pakistan are debating over some theoretical threats posed to these two nuclear power plants. They believe that nuclear plants at Karachi can be hit by a Tsunami or an earthquake in future. They also advocate that their design is not sufficiently meeting the international standards. These are some of the leading arguments they are currently making against the construction of these nuclear power plants. The Chinese model of AP-1000 are designed and approved by an American (Westinghouse Electric Company) with better safety mechanism. As far as Tsunami and earthquake are concerned, the probability is once in half of a century.  

 Substantially, Karachi is lucky enough, not to face any such natural disasters in past 70 years, despite the fact that earthquakes are frequent in Pakistan as of 2005 earthquake that killed more than 100,000 people. Similarly, floods are also common in Pakistan, like 2010 super flood, which almost made the entire map of Pakistan filled with water. However, here I once again stay with my contention that human survival pivots around risks and sometime the furry of nature pose great risk to human life. But it is human art of survival, which always overcomes these risks. It is the strength of humans to learn from their past mistake, correct them to live a progressive life. 

As far as nuclear disasters are concerned, it is obvious that ‘Three Mile Island’ accident was due to technical fault in the coolant of the nuclear reactor, which caused the melting of the core. Subsequently, it caused lethal radiation in the atmosphere in the disaster affected area. However, the disaster didn’t cause any significant human causality. Likewise, Chernobyl nuclear accident was due to the flawed design of the nuclear reactor as well as inadequate personnel handling the entire operations of the nuclear reactor. Both of the nuclear disasters were caused either from the malfunctioning of the reactor parts or by the faulty design of the nuclear plants. 

However, Fukushima disaster only involves Tsunami, which turned off the backup generators, which were supposed to provide electricity to the core in case of a black out at the nuclear plant. After Fukushima, nuclear safety has become a major part of the global nuclear discourse apart from nuclear security debate. However, after previous two nuclear disasters certain lessons were learn in order to correct the mistakes. This involves the revamping of the entire safety mechanism of the nuclear plants in United States after Three Mile Island accident, and correction and modification of Soviet designed nuclear plants in and outside former Soviet Union especially in Europe. Likewise, the Fukushima accident also left with some key lessons to be learnt.

 Pakistan also realized the opportunity to learn these lessons, and I strongly believe that the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) have strongly contemplated these lessons into their safety policies. There are two examples which need to be highlighted here, which show PAEC’ level of commitment toward the safety of our nuclear plants. One is, Pakistan has conducted ‘Stress Tests’ of all its operating nuclear plants. And one is the shutting down one of its nuclear plant for one and half year, when one of its backup generators went out of order. They didn’t take any risk and the plant did not go for generation until the backup facilities was not fully restored. Likewise, Pakistan’s nuclear reactors are under IAEA safeguards fulfilling all IAEA standards. 

The Rationale behind the expansion of Pakistan’s nuclear program is the lingering problem of energy crisis, which impinges upon our national security. There is a gap of 5000 MW in the demand and supply chain of power in the country. Pakistan’s energy needs are exponentially growing, and it is predicted that the future demand of power will rise up to 32000 MW till 2018. The construction of these plants at Karachi will be complete till 2019, and they will start pouring 2 GW of power in the national grid. Similarly, the expansion of nuclear plants till 2030 will enable Pakistan to produce more 7000-8000 MW of electricity from its nuclear plants. In conclusion, nuclear energy involves risks, risks with devastating effects on the human civilization in case of any disaster, but nuclear pessimist must understand that there are great precautionary/safety measures with constant vigilance and strong commitments, which definitely lower the chance of any disaster in Pakistan.  

Ahmad Khan and Beenish Altaf work in Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad.

   

India’s over-reaction on Khobragade’s arrest

Posted by Belharvi

Indians are notorious for their impulsiveness and impish behavior and are famous for shooting first and taking aim later. Till recent the wrath of India’s heavy-handed tactics fell upon its neighbors, particularly on its chief rival Pakistan. Assuming itself to be a potential world power, it seems India has started to show eyes to its chief mentor which has since 1991 gone out of the way to systematically build its political, economic, military and nuclear strengths. Arrest of India's Deputy Consul General in New York Devyani Khobargade raised a storm in India and chilled Indo-US relations. This incident is the third of its kind in three years. 

In an email published in Indian media, Khobragade wrote that said she was treated like a common criminal. "I broke down many times as the indignities of repeated handcuffing, stripping and cavity searches, swabbing, in a holdup with common criminals and drug addicts were all being imposed upon me despite my incessant assertions of immunity". Indian media portrayed her as a victim who had been insulted and humiliated and picked up cudgels to lambast the US authorities. For days, the entire electronic and print media of India remained glued with this so-called assault on the Indian Consular, referred to as a diplomat. Indians spat poison against USA on social websites. Some said it was a betrayal and a slap across the face of India.  

In no time the incident was turned into an international incident. Indian officials claimed the consular official's treatment was heavy-handed, immoral and degrading. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters that Khobragade should never have been arrested, and that the housekeeper should have been arrested instead. He stated, "This is an extremely distressing and hurtful incident that needs to be addressed” and demanded that the U.S. drop federal charges against her. Dozens of people protested outside the U.S. Embassy, saying Khobragade's treatment was an insult to Indian women. 

Indians retaliated on several fronts, including dragging away security barriers from outside the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. U.S. diplomat privileges have been downgraded. Their diplomatic ID cards were revoked that brought certain privileges. They wanted to know the salaries paid to Indian staff in U.S. Embassy households and demanded withdrawing import licenses that allowed the commissary at the U.S. Embassy to import alcohol and food. As of now, many US diplomat spouses are in danger of being arrested for working without a work visa and evading taxes in India. Dozens of people protested outside the U.S. Embassy, saying Khobragade's treatment was an insult to Indian women. Indian media then trained its guns on the U.S. prosecutor Preet Bharara, terming him over zealous and opportunist, and the maid Sangeeta Richards saying that rather than arresting and deporting her on charges of fraud, she was made to appear as the poor helpless victim by Preet. India is demanding Sangeeta’s repatriation for trial in India. 

In an effort to contain the furor, the U.S. State Department officials scrambled to taper off the tension. Secretary of State John Kerry personally expressed "regret". But Preet Bharara, who represents Manhattan, blasted the "misinformation and factual inaccuracy" surrounding the case. He claimed the "inflammatory atmosphere" that had developed was "unfounded," while cataloguing the litany of alleged offenses committed by the Indian diplomat in question. Khobragade stands accused of lying on a visa application about how much she paid her housekeeper, an Indian national. 

U.S. officials acknowledged Khobragade was strip-searched, but described it as standard procedure. The body search and the alleged cavity search is part of the procedures in the book after arrest. No one is to be spared.  It was further clarified that this was done in a private setting by a female officer. Other claims of her mistreatment were also disputed, clarifying that Khobragade was, among other things, given coffee and offered food while detained. And that she was wasn't handcuffed, restrained or arrested in front of her children as alleged. U.S. State Department disputes hers and Indian authorities claim that she enjoyed full diplomatic immunity against crimes. Officially, Khobargade had only limited immunity on work related to consular functions.  

In the U.S. there are minimum-wage laws at the State and federal level. New York State's minimum wage is $9 or so. Khobargade in her application for the maid's A-2 visa submitted a copy of a contract with the maid showing a wage of $5,400 per month for a 40 hour per week. Interestingly, Khobragade's own pay was $5,000 a month. Later, she unilaterally changed the terms of the contract with the maid and made her sign on a $3.00 per hour without mentioning the number of hours. Khobragade then got a court order from a Delhi Magistrate forcing the maid not to complain to an American authority. When the maid did, Khobragade got a warrant issued from the same Delhi Magistrate against contempt of court.

The maid fled the household and reported the matter to federal authorities in New York. Preet Bharara hailing from India is reputed to be upright and blunt. He has prosecuted a big number of Wall Street crooks for inside trading. For these reasons he is the most respected and most feared prosecutor in America. When he saw how the maid was being abused, he decided to arrest and prosecute the offender Khobragade for violating the American laws. He blasted the "misinformation and factual inaccuracy" surrounding the case. He claimed the "inflammatory atmosphere" that has developed is "unfounded," while cataloguing the litany of alleged offenses committed by the Indian diplomat in question. 

Khobragade stands accused of lying on a visa application about how much she paid her housekeeper, an Indian national. Prosecutors say the maid received $3 per hour for her work. Further, he said, she's alleged to have treated the housekeeper "illegally in numerous ways," paying her "far below" minimum wage and having her work far more than the amount of time contracted. Further, he said she was alleged to have created a second contract that was concealed from the U.S. government. Plus he said the victim's family had to be brought to the U.S. amid an attempt in India to "silence her." Khobragade would face a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa fraud and five years for making a false declaration if convicted.

Claiming to be champion of democracy and human rights, it is distressing to see that the majority of Indians and the Indian media ignored the rights of the poor maid and depicted her as a villain in the story. One wonders why there is so much outrage about the alleged treatment of the Indian national accused of perpetrating these acts, but precious little outrage about the alleged treatment of the Indian victim and her spouse. Is it for U.S. prosecutors to look the other way, ignore the law and the civil rights of victims, or is it the responsibility of the diplomats and consular officers and their government to make sure the law is observed?" 

The dust has settled and Indian calculated pressure has worked and Devyani Khobragade has been exempted from personal court appearances. In all probability, her UN diplomatic credentials will be approved by the UN and US State department, thereby facilitating her return to India or staying in the US as long as the Indian government wishes to keep her as a UN diplomat. The incident has however created a bit of mistrust between the two honey-mooning partners for the first time in their partnership spread over 22 years. It is said that friendship with USA is more harmful than its enmity. Sooner than later, India will regret its decision to bed with USA but will be unable to free itself from the US magic charm.  (Asif Haroon Raja)

Indian Diplomat’s Arrest Exposed US Double Game

Posted by Belharvi

During his visit to India in 2010, US President Barrack Obama signed multiple agreements with New Delhi in various fields such as $10 billion in trade deals and creation of more than 50,000 US jobs besides the measures, America would take regarding removal of Indian space and defence companies from a restricted “entities list”, and supported Indian demand for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council including membership of four key global nuclear non-proliferation regimes. Owing to these agreements, India has also been purchasing C-17 and F35 aircrafts along with latest defence-related arms and equipments from Washington.

In February, 2011, America had pressurised the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) to sign an accord of specific safeguards with India. It permits New Delhi a broad atomic cooperation, while superseding the IAEA regarding transfer of nuclear equipments and technologies. These arrangements also entail enrichment and reprocessing items under the so-called cover of IAEA. In this regard, Washington also contacted the Nuclear Suppliers Group in order to grant a waiver to India for starting civil nuclear trade on larger scale. 

Setting aside the Indian irresponsible record of non-proliferation, defence agreement signed between the US and India on July 20, 2011 as part of the deal about civil nuclear technology, agreed upon by the two countries in 2008 has raised new alarms on global and regional level. But, in that respect, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged India to be more assertive in Asia, saying that as American ally, the country should play more of a leadership role.

On the other hand, while showing US paradoxical approach towards Pakistan, Ms. Hillary remarked, “New Delhi could also help promote trade links in violence-wracked South Asia, which would bring prosperity and peace to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan…Pakistan must do more to tackle terror groups operating from its territory being used for attacks that destabilise Afghanistan or India.”

The United States seems determined to keep around 10,000 troops and some military bases in Afghanistan permanently after the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2014. Besides, US has also planned to maintain Indian role in Afghanistan to complete its hidden agenda. In this connection, the former US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta said on October 26, 2012 that India has vital role to play in Afghanistan and it will be helpful for peace and stability in the region, adding, “Our new defence policy hinges upon this strategy.” 

In fact, by concealing its double game with India, under the pretext of strategic partnership—by boasting Indian defence and its role in Afghanistan, America wants to fulfill multiple designs so as to counterbalance China, control the energy resources of Central Asia, and to weaken Pakistan, Beijing, Iran and Russia. 

But, US double game with India exposed on December 12, 2013 when Indian diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, the Indian Deputy Consul General in New York was arrested on charges of visa fraud and lying to US authorities on a visa application about how much she paid to her housekeeper (an Indian national). She was arrested right in front of her daughter’s Manhattan School, handcuffed and driven to Police Search Station for completion of investigation process.

Indian government, media and general public felt the pain of collective shame and sense of culpability as their female diplomat was subjected to harsh search, generally meant for dangerous criminals and people of shady character. Her shrieking screams and strident assertions about ‘diplomatic immunity’ fell on deaf ears and she was made to bear the vulgar blow of humiliation, while undergoing awful process of cavity search. Indian media disclosed, “She was subjected to a humiliating strip search and kept in a cell with drug addicts.” She was released on $ 250,000/-bail, as she pleaded not guilty on all charges levelled against her—surrendering her passport and avowing to report to Police Station in New York on weekly basis. 

One simply feels sad with a sense of remorse and emotional empathy on her ordained disgrace on US soil where her diplomatic immunity has been rudely dilapidated. India has quickly reacted against such a treatment of their diplomat demanding an unconditional US apology. They have also asked the US to withdraw all cases against the diplomat, while undertaking retaliatory steps to withdraw concessions from US diplomats in India. As a protest in relation to the ill-treatment of the lady diplomat, Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde called her treatment unacceptable. He cancelled his meeting with the senior US Congressional delegation. Other parliamentarians including the governing Congress party Vice-President, Rahul Gandhi and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi also refused to meet the delegation. 

While, Indian media projected ugly scenes of removing security barriers placed before US embassy in India, while Indian public, intellectuals, analysts and high officials expressed their anger and emotional outbursts towards US for maltreating their diplomat.

However, diplomacy and maintenance of international relations suggest that civilized norms and refined customs be observed to maintain dignity and decorum entitled to other states and their diplomats. Unfortunately, the US, overwhelmed by power motives, have developed callous and cold-hearted attitude towards sensitivities of the Third World countries. Body search and cavity search of an Indian female diplomat by US authorities reflects its high-handedness. Indian bold assertions and emotional reaction appears to be justified, while the entire episode suggests to US to reexamine its deteriorating trends in diplomacy.

US media and certain officials have branded Indian reaction as a revengeful tactics, without realizing that Indians are justified in their reaction to denounce violation of diplomatic immunity by US officials. Their demands for unconditional apology and withdrawal of case against their female diplomat are also legal and politically accurate. US should show greater sense of magnanimity and compassion by extending a word of apology to India and by withdrawing the case against Devyani Khobragade. This will help US improve its image and prestige. Meanwhile, her hastily-transfer to India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York has widely been reported as a bid to ensure her full immunity.

Particularly, South Asian media should project that Washington must be aware of cultural esteem, attached to female honour in South Asia including India. Ms. Devyani Khobragade represents Indian educated middle class and her body or cavity search, handcuffing and investigation badly ripped off her personal dignity which certainly needs to be restored at all costs. Indian determination as expressed by Indian prime minister and foreign minister to get her back and restore her decorum seem praiseworthy. How far will the Indians go to restore the modesty of their female diplomat, get an unconditional apology from US and convince the latter to withdraw the case against Devyani, will also prove the audacity of Indian leadership.

Regional media should also emphasize that diplomats posted abroad must respect the local laws and avoid indulging in any activity which may cause them embarrassment, shame and guilt. It appears as if Ms. Devyani Khobragade was not prudent enough to respect US laws which led to such a messy row between India and America. She was entrapped in a messy tangle which caused her trouble. But one feels pity on poor female diplomat. 

Surely, national interests will finally prevail to settle such an irritant between New Delhi and Washington. Notably, Indians are basically intriguing in nature and do not believe in forgiving or forgetting, especially when openly humiliated and publically disgraced. They keep the vendetta alive even after the resolution of any dispute, political row and diplomatic irritants. Their subjective grooming enables them to maintain calm while remembering the pain of the past ill-treatment.

As Indian security removed barricades from the US embassy, the role of Indians seemed personified carrying emotional frenzy and belligerence to impress upon US to return their woman free of any case and also extend an apology in this respect. 

Nonetheless, after the maltreatment of its lady diplomat, the right hour has come that Ne Delhi must know that America which is playing double game with India, watches its own strategic interests, and is not going to prove a trustworthy friend on permanent basis. History proves that the US has always betrayed Pakistan and so it will do with the Indians. In this context, after using Islamabad in its previous Afghan war against the former Russia, Washington left Islamabad to face the fallout of that war. In the near future, along with Pakistan, Indians will face the fallout of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. So, instead of increasing its defence budget at the cost of poverty-stricken people, and pursuing war-like diplomacy against Pakistan by fulfilling American covert aims against China and Iran, India must better develop peaceful relations with these countries by resolving all disputes including Kashmir issue, which are essential for regional stability.(By Sajjad Shaukat)