Dr. Upinder Fotadarr

Most experts are now sure that the Ghauri missile is nothing but an obsolete CSS-5 (DF-21) missile which China has transferred in a rather subtle manner to Pakistan. As a matter of fact this CSS-5 itself is originally based on the Israeli Jericho-4A-1 an old Israeli missile. It is well known that Israel the U.S. and China are closely allied.

Moreover, it is also well known that many of the nuclear weapon designs that China has at present also originate from Israel. The Ghauri missile in my opinion has only psychological implications rather than any serious military implications. With an aggressive leadership in India at present it is but natural that the U.S. and her allies namely China and Pakistan will try to psychologically suppress the role of India in the world, in any way that is possible. Moreover, it is unlikely that China has transferred any missile

India and China share a large border and often such incursions by either parties are known to take place. It must be remembered that for instance in the year 1986 the Indian infantry seized the disputed Yak grazing ground in Wangdung, in the Sumdorong Chu Valley. Moreover, also Mr. Vajpapee has now informed the nation that there is no Chinese helipad in the Indian territory. Besides Mr. Fernandes pointed out, "I won't say what we're doing about it, but are doing whatever has to be done". That explains it all! Also the visit by General Fu Quanyou of the Chinese Army makes clearly evident as to how keen the Chinese are to improve their relationship with a formidable India.

As is also well known to most political scientists that the Western media significantly exaggerates the military and economic capabilities of a backward China so as to maintain a global balance which benefits the West and her loyal friend China. Forget 1962 when India hardly had any army, after that period India almost always had an edge over China during most of the border skirmishes that occurred between these rivals. Moreover, when China fought Vietnam in 1979, she (China) was soundly defeated and lost about 32,000 troops in that conflict. This clearly made evident the weakness of the Chinese military machine.

Also as is well known that the nuclear programme of India is the second largest indigenous nuclear programme in Asia after that of Japan. It is also well entertained by experts that India now produces enough Plutonium to build 200 bombs per year. It might also be interesting to point out that the great Indian physicist Dr. Homi Bhabha had wanted to test a nuclear bomb back in 1960 but a pacifist Nehru did not give the go ahead to him. However, the sophisticated nuclear device test in 1974 of a Plutonium device by India made evident to the world India's nuclear weapons capabilities.

It is the hope of many of us Indians that India now must go ahead and again demonstrate her nuclear weapons capability, however, this time with a thermonuclear blast in the 5 megaton range, a capability which India for sure has had for a long period. It might also be interesting to point out that the Pakistani nuclear weapons capability is nothing but the hoax of this century. This is the view of most experts. Also as is well known that Pakistan has no known reserves of Uranium ore. Actually the Pakistani nuclear weapons capability is in reality only an appendage of the Chinese capability.

Finally, the brilliant Indian general Sundarji once mentioned that India has the capability to take on both China and Pakistan at the same time and it is my hope that India further enhances this capability.

* Dr. Upinder Fotadarr has held faculty positions in several elite universities in the U.S. and has also written extensively in the Indian and the U.S, media, including in papers such as The New York Times.