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China-Pak-George Fernandes
18th June 1999 Preeti Goel @vsnl.com
Does Pakistan have enough resources and backing to 'Invade India' without any support from one of the 'Super Powers'...? USA and Russia would obviously not back Pakistan in such ventures. Then, are we overlooking the Chinese connection in current Kargil Crisis...? Some facts before we ponder.... 1. Recent News from various sources confirm that there is a growing demand for bringing Army Rule back in Pakistan. A section of people within Pak feel that Nawaz Sharif govt has bowed to Clinton Administration by signing a Peace Deal with India this year. Such people also feel that Army Rule in Pakistan can solve the Kashmir issue through a well planned 'freedom struggle'. 2. The intercepted taped conversation of 2 Pak Army Generals leaves no doubt that Pak Army has a say over the Nawaz Sharif Government. Pak Army had dictated terms to Sartaj Aziz before the Indo-Pak talks on 12th June. Sartaj Aziz completely denied all allegations made by India during the said meeting. 3. Subsequent to US President Bill Clinton's call to Nawaz Sharif wherein the former had asked Pak to withdraw all their troops from Kargil, there has been a dramatic change in Pakistan's stand on Intrusion. Sartaj Aziz has made a Press Statement day before which says that Pakistan Government has no control over the Infiltrators and so it cannot stop Intrusion into India. 4. The above claim of Pak Govt makes it absolutely clear that Nawaz Sharif Govt cannot exercise control over Pakistan Army. And evidence on Indian side of LOC also concludes that Pak Army was instrumental in masterminding and implementing this Intrusion. Identity Cards and bodies of dead Pak Infiltrators are indisputable evidences. 5. Clinton's call also had a dramatic change in PPP's stand on Kargil. Yesterday PPP has made statements saying that Nawaz Sharif Govt has made a mockery of Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.... the world is calling Pakistan an INFILTRATOR.... that world community has isolated Pakistan. The Opposition Parties in Pakistan are gradually going against Nawaz Sharif Govt. as far as Infiltration is concerned. 6. China abstained from making any comments on 'Kargil Crisis' till the world reaction was clear and transparent. Once China knew that Pak was unable to muster support from world community it did not hesitate to voice its opinion... 'Kargil is a bilateral issue'. 7. A Senior Pak Army General was visiting China when Sartaj Aziz decided to visit China before Indo-Pak talks on 12th June. The Pak General held discussions for further support from China. Obviously the visit of an Army General has to be for military and allied assistance. The timing of such visit should not be overlooked. 8. US has gone all out in accusing China of stealing technology from its Labs. Pak Nuclear Tests were conducted with support from China. Infact there was a widely circulating comment last year which said.... 'after Indian Nuclear Tests Pakistan took about 5 days more in conducting Nuclear Tests because the Manual for doing so was written in Chinese'. 9. Pakistan and China are allies. China would not openly support Pakistan for the fear of being isolated and ridiculed. 10. India shares it's Northern International Borders with 2 of its enemy countries - countries which have the record of waging war against India. 11. India's decision to conduct Nuclear Tests last year must have had some basis to support such a necessity. Did India knew that Pakistan was developing Nuclear Technology with support from China for destructive purposes, to free Kashmir from India and to settle scores for the last lost war...? 12. Being surrounded by 2 enemy countries is far more dangerous especially when the International Borders lie in as difficult a terrain as Kargil, Batalik, Drass and Siachen. Indian Air Force has already proved that Air attacks in such terrains have limitations. Such limitation has nothing to do with capabilities but has everything to do with treacherous terrains. 13. In the interest of maintaining National Security and Peace, all information from Intelligence Agencies can never be made Public. The sensitive information is never fit for disclosure. 14. Recent reports confirm that Intrusion had been detected early this year but the Army took it as 'something routine'... they never anticipated that it could be on such a mass scale. This is where India committed a grave mistake. 15. Amidst all this we have the Indian Defence Minister, George Fernandes giving a so-called 'clean chit' to Nawaz Sharif.... and that too right at the outset when India decided to 'wage a war' against the Infiltrators in May. WHY ? Let's conjecture on a few POINTS which cannot have definite answers unless such sensitive information is made public.... but it would be worthwhile to ponder over them.... Is CHINA playing some dirty game in the current Kargil Crisis....? Is China masterminding such Intrusions into India through Pakistani Army and Afghan Rebels...? Is this 'Pakistani Intrusion at the behest of China'...? Or is it 'Disguised Chinese Intrusion' into Indian territory in the garb of 'Inflitrators through Pakistan's side of LOC'...? Is the Pakistani Army supported by Afghan rebels with underlying support from China, wanting to create a wider rift between Pakistan and America thus pushing Nawaz Sharif Govt. and Pakistan in closer alliance with China ? (America has accused China of stealing technology from its labs. And if Pakistan wishes to buy 'stolen technology' from China then Chinese can always pressurise Pakistan to gradually distance themselves from America since they would not want any Chinese allies to be America's allies too. Tension is also brewing between China and US since NATO's 'mistaken' bombing on Chinese Embassy). Is China backing such Intrusions into India while portraying an unbiased approach ? Why did China abstain from condemning such Intrusions ? What took so long for China to voice its stand on Kargil ? Was China waiting to see the reaction of the majority in world community before deciding to take a stand ? Can there be peace in South Asian Region if we have China supplying warfare technology and weapons to Pakistan...? Is China trying to kill 2 birds with the same arrow...?? Have we forgotten the infamous chantings of .... 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai'... which preceded the Indo-China War earlier... ? Aren't Chinese good at disguising themselves....? Could it be that George Fernandes had access to reliable information on the 'dangers posed by such a close relationship' between India's 2 neighbours... Pakistan and China...? Were the Indian Nuclear Tests conducted in the wake of such reliable information...? Could it be that Pakistani Army is slowly trying to come back to power by toppling the Nawaz Sharif Government... with underlying support from China... ? Was Intrusion masterminded by Pakistani Army to embarass Nawaz Sharif government thereby paving way for its ouster ? (As pointed out earlier there's a section of Pak population who feel that Pakistan has bowed to US by signing a Deal with India this year). The Kargil episode has isolated Pakistan (Nawaz Sharif Govt.) with no visible support from China either. All Diplomatic dialogues are maintained with a Nation's Government and not with its Armed Forces. The Kargil episode has fixed responsibility on the Nawaz Sharif Government while the Pak Army still reigns supreme. Sartaj Aziz's recent statement claiming inability in controlling Intrusion into India corroborates the fact. All this seems to be a carefully crafted Plan... the one who actually commits aggression is going scot free in Pakistan... and the Pak govt cannot even proclaim that it has lost control on its Armed Forces... it only gives indirect statements saying it is unable to control Intruders....!!!! And last of all, what took so long for Jaswant Singh to visit China....? Why not immediately after the conflict broke out...? (US and Russian stand on Kargil was clear before his China visit. Both supported India). Was it to pressurise China after obtaining assertions against Pakistan from other countries...? Was it a Diplomatic manoeuvere by India....? Could it be that George Fernandes and his Officers had access to all information about Internal turmoil brewing within Pakistan, especially the growing unrest against Nawaz Sharif government ? Could it be that George Fernandes instead of KEEPING QUIET made the mistake of making this NEWS PUBLIC.... that Nawaz Sharif was ignorant of such large scale Intrusion ? What should have been discussed behind closed doors was out in the public.... he probably made a mistake of blurting the TRUTH for his countrymen.... Could it be that George Fernandes was only being TRUE in making such a statement ? Are we construing this TRUTH as a stand supportive of Pakistan...? Has George Fernandes's statement been taken in the right perspective...? Was George Fernandes hinting towards a much greater threat posed to India by this close and clandestine relationship between its 2 neighbours..? The Political and Domestic isssues in Pakistan which are gradually becoming exposed to the world seem to confirm that the entire Kargil episode was masterminded by a handful of Senior Pakistan Army Officers with very little information supplied to Nawaz Sharif. Infact many seasoned Indian Army Men who have been closely monitoring the happenings in Kargil have confirmed the same. A Former Senior Indian Army Personnel who was analysing the situation in Kargil during NDTV's News Hour on Star TV yesterday confirmed the same. And so do all those who have access to such concrete information... people like George Fernandes. Are we then accusing the TRUTH.... ? Preeti
18th June 1999
Preeti Goel @vsnl.com
Here's an interesting article which dates back to August 1996 raising US apprehensions on the clandestine relationship between Pak and China. China seems to have made considerable gains by escalating tension between India and Pakistan...!!! __________________________________________________________________ "Concern Over China's Tilt Toward Pakistan" New York Times, August 27, 1996 PATRICK E. TYLER __________________________________________________________________ BEIJING -- The new evidence that China may be aiding a ballistic missile factory in Pakistan reflects Beijing's determination to thwart India's domination in the region by promoting a nuclear balance of power, as well as its defiance of American efforts to limit Chinese influence in Asia. If American intelligence agencies prove Chinese involvement in the manufacture of medium-range missiles outside the Pakistan capital, it will indicate that Beijing is stepping up its transfer of advanced military technology to Pakistan despite numerous public pledges to limit the spread of weapons of mass destruction. It may also trigger a new round of economic sanctions against China, something the Clinton administration has been seeking to avoid since the last sanctions relating to Chinese missile component sales to Pakistan were lifted in late 1994. Under American law, sanctions are mandatory if the president determines that China has violated the Missile Technology Control Regime, an accord the Chinese never signed although in 1991 they agreed to abide by its limits. The regime forbids the transfer of technology that would enable a third country to build a ground-to-ground missile capable of carrying 1,100 pound warheads for a distance of 185 miles. The missiles in question are the Chinese M-11, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead just over 185 miles. The discovery of a new Pakistan missile factory and apparent Chinese connection to it comes at a time of great uncertainty in Asia about Beijing's intentions as an emerging power and about America's role in Asia. Though both India and Pakistan are coy about their intentions, there are many signs they are stepping up their nuclear arms race. Earlier this month in New Dehli, Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda announced that India will press ahead with its program to develop the medium range Prithvi ballistic missile and the inter-continental range Agni missile, both of which could be fitted with nuclear warheads. Earlier this month, India effectively scuttled a global treaty to ban testing of nuclear weapons, leaving little doubt about its own intentions. India exploded a nuclear device in 1974 and, like Pakistan, is believed to have further developed a nuclear weapons capability in secret. China is believed to have assisted Pakistan by providing the design of a Chinese warhead from China's fourth nuclear test in 1967. Indian officials also believe that China has conducted at least one test of a Pakistani warhead at the Lop Nor test range in western China. The Chinese think the Indians already have a nuclear weapon that can be delivered by a missile system, an Asian diplomat here said Monday. If the Indians are racing ahead in certain technologies, then Pakistan reaches out to its big brother for help, he added, referring to China. Though the Chinese may justify their assistance by saying they are interested in maintaining parity between India and Pakistan, it is unavoidable that they will also fuel an arms race, the diplomat added. A prime reason why a nuclear arms race continues, diplomats say, is that leaders in Islamabad and New Dehli live in a state of uncertainty about what the other side has in its nuclear basement. As a result, neither side is willing to stop building missiles and tinkering with warhead designs as a hedge against surprises and as a deterrent against attack. "Who is going to guarantee our security if we ourselves do not?" asked an Indian diplomat based here. Indian security experts say they have a long term fear, too, of being bullied by China, with its nuclear arsenal. China's willingness to risk a new confrontation with the United States over assistance to Pakistan appears to be based on a strong determination by China's military leaders to create a strategic balance on China's western flank, one that keeps India in check even as Beijing and New Dehli pursue greater cooperation in the region and step up trade and commerce across their borders. China's assertiveness also reflects a stronger influence by the Chinese Army during the political transition now underway after nearly two decades of dominance by Deng Xiaoping, China's paramount leader. In the new era of rule by a younger generation of civilian technocrats, the stalwarts of the Chinese military are gaining ground. A new study by the Rand Corp. for Defense Secretary William J. Perry strongly suggests that president Jiang Zemin may not be able to control a more assertive Chinese military, especially when civilian leaders are unable to reach a consensus on foreign policy and national security issues. The absence of a single dominant leader with the authority of Deng Xiaoping suggests that the military's challenges to critical elements of China's foreign policy will probably increase, said Michael D. Swiane, a senior analyst at Rand. China's relationship with Pakistan has long been the province of the Chinese military, a number of experts say. "I don't think most people realize that China and Pakistan are strategic allies," said Eden Y. Woon, a former Pentagon specialist on China now living in Seattle. They are as close as the United States is to Britain, he said, and while China is trying hard to improve its relations with India, it always remembers that it once went to war with India. But there are other important factors, Woon added. One is a strong nationalistic current in the military that opposes the effort by the United States and the other signatories to the Missile Technology Control Regime to limit China's sale of weapons and technology. The q0-year-old agreement was signed by 30 countries but not China, though under American pressure China said in in 1991 that it would abide by it. Some Chinese leaders see the missile regime as an effort by the Americans to tell them what to do, Woon said, and they bristle at this, especially at a time when the United States has increased its sales of advanced weapons to Taiwan, including F-16 fighters. These sales, Beijing asserts, represent a proliferation of American weapons into Chinese territory that are destabilizing Beijing's efforts to negotiate reunification between mainland China and Taiwan. Chinese leaders must also take into account the financial interests of defense industries that earn hard currency from military equipment sales to Pakistan's armed forces. Someone in the defense industry is making money from these sales, said Woon, and that is another source of revenue to the Chinese government.
18th June 1999
Preeti Goel @vsnl.com
Another interesting News highlighting the Chinese connection... ___________________________________________________________________ BJP criticises China for arming Pakistan Saturday, May 16, 1998 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE ___________________________________________________________________ New Delhi, May 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party has lashed out at China for providing military help to the country's neighbours, specifically Pakistan. Party vice-president Jana Krishnamurthi said that India was not seeking hegemony, as suggested by China. "On the other hand, it is China which has consciously sought to develop military links with countries in the neighbourhood to try and dominate and control developments in the Indian sub-continent," he said. Party spokesman K L Sharma later elaborated that China had provided fissile material to Pakistan. "China's reaction in itself justifies India's action," he further said. Unfettered by the diplomatic constraints faced by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, the party issued a strongly-worded statement criticising China. The BJP's statement, among other things, accused China of ``speaking in the language of a superpower, preaching to us the virtues of abstinence while at the same time undertaking an aggressive military modernisationprogramme, including of their nuclear and missile systems''. Said Krishnamurthy, ``It is unfortunate that a country that conducted more than 40 tests, justifying it as necessary for its national security, should be reluctant to acknowledge that other countries too have legitimate security concerns.'' He pointed out that as late as July 1996, when the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty text had been finalised, the Chinese were ``still on their testing spree''. He accused China of trying to generate motivated criticism in multilateral fora. Seeming to speak for the government, Krishnamurthi said, ``Our actions have been measured. Our objective remains maintenance of regional peace and stability. Our modest defence requirements are intended to be neither provocative nor threatening to any neighbour.'' On the government signing the CTBT, Sharma said it would depend on how India was viewed: whether the country was accepted as a nuclear power or if it was to stop it from becoming a nuclear power. The governmentwas ready to consider signing the CTBT but would not do anything under pressure, he added, referring to the threat of economic sanctions. The Delhi unit of the BJP is to celebrate the nuclear tests at 140 places in the Capital tomorrow evening.
