India warns US it may be about to attack Pakistan

Hindustani Times ^ | 5/17/02 | Saurabh Shukla

[TheConservator]

Home Minister LK Advani's expression of "deep disappointment" with the US in Parliament was matched by tough language to US Ambassador Robert Blackwill behind closed doors.

In meetings on Friday with National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, Blackwill was told the US had failed to fulfil promises to restrain Pakistan from supporting terrorism. India, therefore, would take "appropriate action". A similar message was given to US Secretary of State Colin Powell when he spoke to Singh earlier.

Blackwill's assurances that the US saw the fight against Kashmir militancy as part of the global war on terrorism received a sceptical response.

India said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had done nothing concrete to rein in terrorists — despite US promises to the contrary. India showed evidence that cross-border terrorism had increased after Pakistan pledged to fight terror.

Blackwill's request for more time to get Pakistan to comply was rejected.

Blackwill expressed US President George W Bush's concerns about tensions escalating into a full-scale war. India, he was told, would not take rash decisions but as a sovereign country it reserved the right to act on its security needs. India was urged not to break diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

Following these exchanges, there was a ratcheting up of diplomatic activity in the city.

Blackwill and senior US embassy officials reviewed the situation late into the night and consulted with Washington. There was speculation that besides Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, expected in South Asia in the next fortnight, Powell may also fly here.

[EternalHope]

Enlightiator: OBL is either dead or hiding like a scared rabbit. He's not capable of doing anything anywhere.

Thundergod: OBL wants? OBL? What is your evidence that the turbaned cretin is still alive?

Whether OBL is alive or dead is almost irrelevant. Radical Islam is still very much alive and very much our enemy. First, these people wish to unify all of Islam. Once unified they believe they will be strong enough to destroy their opponents and eventually rule the world in the name of Islam.

Also see post 98.

[Demidog]

It's absolutely necessary;

It hasn't accomplished anything.

[swarthyguy]

Eventually i hope we recognise that we need to consider the Saudis and Pakistanis as enemies. Lots of reasons for not doing that now, but i'm hoping we will.

[swarthyguy]

2 avenues; both used in the 1962 war. In the west, in Kashmir, China's border joins Pakistan held Kashmir. A Tibetan border near the the regions of Ladakh offers a complentary way to threaten India. In the east, near Sikkim, Bhutan and Assam, China holds the high ground - the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau.

[crystalk]

Seventh century religion. Muhammad born in Mecca AD 570. Received first vision on Mt Arafat, AD 613. Fled/expelled (higira) from Mecca to Medina, AD 622. Returned in triumph to Mecca after killing Medina's Jews, AD 628. Died at Mecca, AD 632.

[varon]

don't forget you are using muslim oil in your car,...

Not me, I use PENNZOIL ;-)

[swarthyguy]

India retreated from Pakistani territory in both 65 and 71. They were over a 100 miles into Sindh at one point and had taken over Lahore, very close to the border. In both cases, they withdrew after a ceasefire and peace agreement.

[BJClinton]

But, is there really a big desire for a war against Pakistan among Hindus in India?

I doubt it. Hindu nationalists exist but they aren't wide spread enough to drive the country to war. The BJP couldn't hang on to power for more than a few months.

[swarthyguy]

Sure it has. Afghanistan is freed of the tyranny of the Taliban for one. The PA is reforming! And now India gets to play and Russia will too, probably. While the US rests up for the conquest of Araby and the Restoration of the Hashemites.

[Russell Scott]

I said it once, I will say it a hundred times. There are no political solutions to the "end of the age". The Bible makes it clear, "unless those days are shortened, NO flesh (total destruction of all human life) would be saved alive". Only divine, direct, and MASSIVE intervention from heaven will "cut short" the madness and reverse the curse of Adam and Eve. The good news is no devil in hell and no politician on earth can stop God's Kingdom from being established FOREVER in peace and righteousness, because Jesus already paid the FULL price to redeem man. And now you know, the rest of the story.

"A thousand can fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come nigh unto you." Indestructible humans in God's image and likeness are about to take over this world with Jesus Christ directing their every action. And you thought Patton had a magnificant army. You ain't seen nothing yet.

[RightWhale]

You are quite right. We have been swimming in oil and cars for so long that to be without would require a major shift in consciousness. I have confidence that the intelligent, hard-working, and industrious Americans will figure out how to cope, but it would take a period of time to make the adjustments. Most of us, individuals and families, haven't prepared a backup transportation system, just as most of us don't have stockpiles of food, water, and other necessities in case they are cut off for an extended period. It could be a rough time depending on how it goes down.

[Republican Wildcat]

There are a lot of U.S. Troops in Pakistan...

[Tuor]

Folks, there is a significant chance that India is going to launch at least a "limited" attack on Pakistan within the next few days.

India realizes that Pakistan is messed up with all the Americans running around in and around its borders. It is, I think, taking advantage of this fact by attacking it.

Hopefully, if the US has any brains at all, they will tell Musharrif (or however you spell his name) that we are only there to go after the Al-Qaida and Taliban. And then we will get the heck out of there before the little mushroom clouds start forming in both countries.

On a positive note, if you're for this sort of thing (and most are), is that if Pakistan loses, we wont have to pussyfoot through there anymore, but can openly pursue the Taliban and Al-Qaida through both Afgahnistan and Pakistan without fear of local national governments interfering. Of course, they may have to wear radiation suits, but that's merely a tactical problem. Heh.

Tuor

[Tuor]

He has two main opportunities: War in the Middle East, and/or war between India and Pakistan.

I would disagree with this. I don't consider India to be a US ally. They're neutral, IMO. They use the West the same way China does, but without the same sort of truculant government that China has and without the communist-take-over-the-world-from-the-slovenly-West attitude.

Tuor

[Tuor]

I bet we know were Pak's nukes are and would take them out if they tried to launch.

Why?

Tuor

[crystalk]

The USA could get by on half the oil it now uses for transportation, and have a good time doing it, making fewer unnecessary trips and getting to know neighbors who go similar places at similar times...

Wouldn't even hardly be an inconvenience.

[Tuor]

Methinks, however, that they are in for a big, terrible surprise.

I agree. I think they'll try to send as many Indians to Allah as possible before they go down. There are many things you can call Moslems, but I don't think 'quitter' is one of them.

Tuor

[Tuor]

For right now rhetoric from Indian political leaders is not enough to get people to worry/anticipate about the possibility of war.

They're already fighting (albiet in a limited fashion) from the sounds of things. India booted the Pakistani ambassador. There have been riots in India over the murdering of all those people on that train and then the clashes *within* India between Muslims and non-Muslims... I think the writing is already on the wall: there will be a war. All that remains to be seen is when and how big, IMO.

Tuor