Mohan,
The origins of the Islamic bomb are in the creation of Israel. Its a well known fact that the rivalry between Jews and Arabs went a long way and played havoc in the Middle East. India publicly did not support Israel because it stuck to certain principles of Panchasheela, non violence and non alignment etc., which were central to their then foreign policy. Unfortunately, in politics principles are seldom important. Therefore Israel never viewed India as a strong ally. But Israel has never made an enemy of India either.
The reason Israel and US are backing China inspite of it engaging in nuclear weapon dealing and occupying other countries could be as follows:
1) China has the capabilities and the US or anyone can't stop it from selling.
2) US only cares ultimately about the monies the trade brings to its coffers. Its worried about the nuclear proliferation only to the extent that its allies are concerned. So the blind eye.
3) Israel only cares about the Islamic bomb and it might want to prevent the war-mongers in middle east from getting it. No wonder Sen Moyhihan would say nothing about China. However, Israel is prepared, with US backing, to do anything to this extent. eg: preemptive strikes against PAKs nuclear facilities and others, or by influencing the US (I mean it seriously, they are CAPABLE) to pay US money to woe China with trade packages and technology deals. Israel failed in convincing India for a preemptive strike on Pakistan's nuclear facilities. But I am sure if enough evidence exists that the N-bombs are going to be used against them it is fair to say that Israel will not sit tight but will pre-emptively attack the nuclear facilities of ANY nation including China.
4) China loves this game. Never did the nuclear card work so well for it. It will curry favors and milk the situation till the last drop by playing into the religious, fanatic and irrational sentiments of Asiatic and middle eastern community and lending arms support. Does it really care if millions die in India, Pakistan or in the Middle East?
5) So this leaves the lone ranger. India is caught up in this game unwittingly. It has no choice but to develop nuclear weapons. So they did it finally. However, its foreign policy is still being dominated by Nehru era's principles of non alignment. This is hurting India in the present scenario because it is unable to garner no support either from US or its allies. So thats why I say, when US is the major power why not become an ally of US. Even if it means signing the NPT. Now this can be carefully worked out with the US. US having a military base in India to monitor aggressive acts of Pakistan and China would not hurt. India can still develop the basic technology and focus on the improvement of their economic conditions.
In above scenario what will China and Pakistan do? Develop more bombs? Let them. Then what? What happened to the missile technology Saddam had and when it was used against Israel? Similar things will happen with Pakistan and China (optimistically speaking of course). The US will be more than happy to be involved because if things boil to that point it is a little short of world war!. There will be no more good choices. If not the bombs, the radiation will get all of us! For GENERATIONS to come! Besides what are the alternatives? Even if you remove Pakistan out of the equation, can India resist China's aggression alone and survive? Clearly India's foreign policy needs to be changed.
Gunther
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