New Delhi, Oct 16: Chinese assistance to Pakistan in developing a nuclear bomb emboldened it to fuel the Kashmir militancy in 1989, says a noted security expert who has done considerable research on the issue.
“Till 1989, not much was known about Pakistan's nuclear programme. The first indication was Pak nuclear scientist AQ Khan's interview to (Indian journalist) Kuldip Nayar in which he spoke about possessing the bomb. It all came together when the Azadi movement erupted in 1989. There was the sudden realization of Pakistan's capability,” Rear Admiral (retd) K Raja Menon told IANS.
The Kashmir militancy could “never have been embarked upon if the Pakistanis had not had their confidence bolstered by the ownership of nuclear weapons", added Menon, a former assistant chief of naval staff (operations) who has also referred to the subject in his book "The Nuclear Strategy for India".
Speaking on the subject at a seminar here last week, Menon said: "There is a direct link between Chinese nuclear assistance to Pakistan and trans-border terror attacks which we have been a bit shy of bringing to the notice of the Chinese authorities."
"A great diplomatic offensive is called for to explain to the Chinese that instability on the sub-continent is initiated by Chinese nuclear assistance to Pakistan," he said at the second roundtable discussion on "50 Years After 1962: India-China Relations" organised by the India International Centre, the Subbu Forum and the Society for Policy Studies (SPS).
"The price to pay for indulging in terror attacks across the border appears to have been watered down by Pakistan's nuclear weapons," he added.
Thus, the "worst aspect" of the Chinese aid "has been the effect it has had on terror motivation from across the border", Menon noted.
He also said that China's "duplicity" in helping Pakistan develop its nuclear bomb while simultaneously improving ties with India was "unbelievable".
"China has a record of duplicity with India that is unbelievable. Remarkably, the relationship between India and China began to improve from 1985 onwards but yet this was the very period when they were arming Pakistan against India.
"Every time there was a major state visit, behind the scenes the Chinese would be transferring some major weapon or component to Pakistan," Menon said and then went on to list eight instances of this "duplicity". IANS

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