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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MSI who wrote (9730)	11/3/2001 5:31:22 PM
From: Lola	Respond to of 27666

Pakistan's game The Pioneer Edit Desk The offensive positioning of large formations of Pakistani troops along the international border in Rajasthan and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), merits more than passing attention. It comes in the wake of a marked increase in tension both along the international border and the LoC. Also, the troop formations have been strategically so positioned that they can attack, as they have done in the past, India at two critical places. The first concentration, in the Chenab-Jhelam corridor opposite Akhnoor in Jammu, can be used to launch an offensive in the Chhamb-Jaurian sector-which witnessed severe fighting both in 1965 and 1971-aimed at cutting off Indian troops in J&K from the rest of the country. The second concentration is in the Bhawalpur area from where an offensive can be launched into Ganganagar district in Rajasthan. What lends a particularly ominous significance to the positioning is the composition of the troops. Deployed in the Chenab-Jhelum sector are two infantry divisions and one large armoured brigade. An additional armoured division and two independent armoured brigades have been positioned in the Bhawalpur sector. While the heavy concentration of armour along the border indicates offensive capability, measures like the cancellation of all leave by the Pakistani Army suggests the intention to use it. Pakistan has no doubt dismissed India's allegations about the troop movements as "a belated attempt to put the blame" on Islamabad for heightening tension along the LoC. Such a response, however, was only to be expected. Nor should one be surprised if Islamabad tries to project the developments as a result of India's attempt to cash in on the difficulties caused to it by its support to the United States-led coalition's war against the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. Its designs, however, clearly go beyond propaganda. President Musharraf is increasingly uncomfortable with the use of Pakistani soil for the war against the Taliban and Afghanistan. Though much has been made of the demonstrations in the streets by fundamentalist Islamic elements, these never reached unmanageable positions and have been contained. The real threat comes from within the Army in which a large section supports bin Laden and the Taliban. Even the US recognises the danger of a coup and hence is already preparing to take out Pakistan's nuclear arsenal out of the country should such an eventuality materialise. More alarming for General Musharraf, the US is beginning to suspect that arms and supplies continue to go to the Taliban from Pakistan. A war with India will help Pakistan in two ways. First, an Army busy fighting will have little opportunity to stage a coup. Even if some officers make an attempt, they can be damned as Indian agents. Second, preoccupied with ending an India-Pakistan war, Americans will not be able to monitor supplies to the Taliban and Pakistan will be able to eraze out its tracks in the interim. And, of course, the UN will make sure that the war ends quickly. If Pakistan is able to gain some territory before that happens, it can use it for bargaining in the future. India, therefore, has done well to take precautions. It must additionally make sure that Pakistan gets a bloody nose if it once again unleashes the dogs of war. dailypioneer.com\edit1&d=EDITS