Capital Talk 1st July 2008 - Is Pakistani Nuclear safe?

[Hit Man]

Host: Hamid Mir

Guests: Dr. Samer Mubarak Mand (Scientist), Dr Aisha Siddiqui - Defence Analyst and Major GEN. (r) Jamshed Ayaz, and Dr Qadeer Khan on the phone.

Topic: Is Pakistani Nuclear Technology and bombs are safe.


DO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS.

[NoToRi0uS]

Good Prog to watch
but that lady has no sense about all that stuff

[commoner]

We will get to hear more about Pakistan's nuclear prog and its security, nuclear proliferation and the NPT in the days to come. Traditionally a Democrat president in the white house always means more pressure on Pakistan with respect to its nuclear program. In the 1990s US aid to Pakistan was discontinued on the same pretext. Lets see how it goes this time around. Democratic govts in Pakistan have always been kept under pressure while Army is always rewarded by US. Na in ki dosti achi na in ki dushmani

@Notorious
This lady represents you and me, that is awam, rest were representing establishment, some out of favour these days. You may remember that she is the writer of Military Inc., the famous work on Pakistan Army's business interests, which are over 200 billions rupees worth, this is basically what keeps them meddling in the affairs of the state, hence rightfully said that other States need Army whereas Pakistan Army needs a state.

[Hossp]

Good show but the problem remains that either the Pakistani analyst don't know it or they try and glossover the International concerns with the Pakistani nuke program.
The two international concerns:
1. Rogue elements(Islamists) can control the Pak nuke system.
This is not about some individuals taking over and transporting the nukes in Trucks like Dr. Samar was arguing. He is was being childish or was obfuscating. The issue is: what if the Islamist elements within the Army takeover the country. If per chance pakistan has a COAS who is an extremists or a taliban supporter, he can easily handover the command to the Islamist and taliban like elements and that is the fear that Pakistan never addresses. At least not in public.

2. What are the chances that a Talban supporters can takeover?
The International community rates them very high for the very simple reason that for the last 30 odd years pakistan's political system and governments have been unstable. The army had interefered at least twice and while Zia actively encouraged extremist elements, Musharraf never actually did any thing against them. The taliban controlled afghanistan with active Pakistani help. With this record, the International comunity has legitimate concerns and we should really attempt to address them with all honesty. Otherwise this issue would continue to make international community interfere in Pakistan affairs like the US is doing now.

I am just trying to bring forward the international concerns. I am not suggesting that these concerns are right or wrong.
Thank you.

[shasnahn]

Hossp:

Pakistan's nuke program is here to stay, whether international community likes it or not.