NY Times: From Rogue Nuclear Programs, Web of Trails Leads to Pakistan: That network is global, stretching from Germany to Dubai and from China to South Asia, and involves many middlemen and suppliers. But what is striking about a string of recent disclosures, experts say, is how many roads appear ultimately to lead back to the Khan Research Laboratories in Kahuta, where Pakistan’s own bomb was developed.
Tag Archives: South Asia
Interesting Friedman Columns
Thomas Friedman: Where Freedom Reigns. His earlier column, India, Pakistan and GE, was also pretty interesting.
Worm Takes Out Pakistani Government Site
SecurityFocus: Yaha Worm Takes Out Pakistan Government’s Site.
US Mediation a Red Herring, TKL Says
TKL: The real story here is that the Indians have managed to set the US up to fail. Any intelligence the US may have on militant activity is overly reliant on satellite photography. In the twisted terrain along the LoC, nothing short of a massive ground operation by the US military will even come close to simply monitoring, effectively and safely, the integrity of the border.
Bad Reporting, Worse Neighbours
Very good example of very bad reporting. The tone is hysterical and the claims ridiculous. I can take the reporter to any street in any Indian city he cares to name and show him people who feel that Pakistan ought to be fed to the sharks, even if we lose one or two cities in the bargain. This does not make it the collective wish of the people of India.
On the other hand, the military establishment which rules Pakistan now does hate India — with a passion that only two humiliating defeats (1947 and 1971, which led to Pakistan’s partition) can bring about. After the Sep 11 bombings, there was a lot of talk in the western media about how many Arabs hate western civilisation and all that it represents. Without getting into the merits of that, I’ll simply say that something very similar is going on here: India’s very existence as a multicultural, polyethnic nation is a slap on the face of the two nation theory Pakistan was created on. There is a lot of very similar hate out there directed at us. And these rather pathetic hate filled creatures have nukes. And diplomatic passports. And travel around with titles like President.
How do you deal with a country like that?
Bad News on the India/Pak Front
Indian paramilitary troops now reporting to military ones. Leave canceled for Pakistani troops. The stage seems to be well and truly set. Shit! 
India, Pakistan Near War
ToI: Heavy Shelling along border. The situation’s not yet out of control, because mortar fire is a level both India and Pakistan have done and come down from in the recent past. What’s different about this time is that there’s much less talk about retaliation and aggresive action — which in Indian bureaucracy is a sign that they are serious about something. I still think India will find the diplomatic game easier to play. At least it results in less body bags.
Having Fun Is Easy When the Killjoys are Gone
MSNBC: Afghans recapture joy of lost holiday:
It is the eve of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday celebrating the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and much of the capital has come alive with a festive spirit not felt here since 1996, when the rigid Taliban Islamic movement took power in Kabul and snuffed out the city’s soul. Now, with the abrupt departure of Taliban forces from Kabul on Nov. 13 and their final surrender of power in the city of Kandahar last week, many of Kabul’s residents plan to celebrate with a vengeance.
Newsweek on John Walker Lindh
Newsweek: According to his interview with CNN, Walker fought with Pakistanis in Kashmir in the summer of 2001. Anyone surprised?
Tamim Ansary on Afghanistan
Can’t believe I haven’t read this in all this time. Tamim Ansary on Afghanistan.