Thursday, September 18, 2008

War Clouds Over Kashmir?


Forget the so-called peace process. Wake up. Pull up your socks. Kashmir skies will not remain calm for long. Get set to witness an imminent war between India and Pakistan, over Kashmir! India has done its homework. It's now Pakistan's turn to reciprocate. War clouds are hovering over Kashmir than ever before.

Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed six Russian-made Sukhoi-30 jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads in the strife-torn and conflict-ridden vale of Kashmir. The twin-seater frontline jet can carry eight tonnes of armaments including nuclear weapons, and cruises at a speed of 3,200 kilometres an hour. There are reports that the IAF is also planning to deploy up to 40 Sukhoi jets in the northeast, close to its border with China.

If you have still any doubts, the statement of Indian defence analyst Major General Ashok Mehta may serve as an eye opener:
“This forward movement is part of a deterrence for Pakistan, and to tell them if they fish in troubled waters in Kashmir, India would be ready,” Mehta said.

The relation between India and Pakistan has soured in recent months. India blamed Pakistan for the attack near Indian embassy in Kabul in July this year. Pakistan, however, denied the charge.

Meanwhile, an agreement has been proposed by the Indian government whereby the Israel Defense Forces will train Indian soldiers in counter-terror tactics, urban warfare and fighting in guerrilla settings as part of India's war in Kashmir.

Commander of the Zionist regime’s ground forces general Avi Mizrahi arrived in Srinagar on a three-day visit to Kashmir and met commanders of the Indian ground, air and naval forces. According to the report, he travelled to the Indian-administered Kashmir at the invitation of commander of the Indian air force.

The two sides agreed that the Israeli Army commandoes would train India's anti-terrorism forces for fighting the Kashmiri militants.

The Jerusalem Post website has reported that General Avi Mizrahi also signed an agreement for military cooperation with India regarding fighting the Kashmir militants. The Post added that the Indian government did not publish the news of Israeli commander's visit fearing of its negative impact, but press in India and Pakistan have carried reports of the visit.

Pro-India and Pro-freedom groups in Kashmir expressed anger over the visit of the Israeli commander. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karati termed the visit of the Israeli commander to Kashmir as "part of India's plan to suppress the Intefada Movement of the Kashmiri people".

India is the largest importer of arms from Israel and since 2002 has bought more than $5 billion worth of equipment. Israel's Counter-Terrorism Bureau has encouraged Israelis to avoid visiting the Kashmir region.

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