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Indian Railways crossed another milestone in Kashmir

2009-10-28T15:38:00.000+05:30

On Wednesday 28th October, 2009, Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh flagged off the 18-km track linking south Kashmir with Srinagar and other places in the north of the kashmir valley. With this, the 129KM railway line in the Kashmir valley is completed.

The new track is believed to be of huge socio-economic and political significance to the militancy-affected Kashmir Valley. The security of the train and the passenger from cross border terrorism and militancy is the main concern of the government now. The stretch is part of the government's Kashmir rail link, which was declared a project of national importance in 2002 by former Prime Minister of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee. Qazigund, about 80 km from Srinagar, is also significant as it will be the highest broad-gauge rail station in the subcontinent at a height of 1,722 metres.

The Project starts from the city of Udhampur a city 55 kilometres north of Jammu, and travels for 290 kilometres (180 mi) to the city of Baramulla on the northwestern edge of the Kashmir Valley. The route lies on such a climate zone where high snowfall is seen most of the year. The route also passes the major earthquake dangr zones.

In 1898, the King of Kashmir Maharaja Pratap Singh first came with the idea of linking Jammu and Srinagar (two important places of Kashmir, presently summer and winter capital of Kashmir respectively) by rail. But due to complications with British Governemnt this was suspended.

Then in 1905 Maharaja Pratap Singh approved a rali line between Jammu Srinagar which was now proposed by britsh Government.
In July, 2002 Atal behari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of India declared this line a national project. This means it had to be completed without looking at the cost. Central government enrolled the budjet to fund this project entirely

On April 13, 2005. Jammu-Udhampur line was connected with US$130 million. The line has 20 major tunnels and 158 bridges

The railway is expected to cross a total of over 750 bridges and pass through over 100 kilometres of tunnels, the longest of which is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) in length^.The greatest engineering challenges involve the crossing of the Chenab river which involves building a 1,315 metres (4,310 ft) long bridge 359 metres (1,180 ft) above the river bed, and the crossing of the Anji Khad, which involves building a 657 metres (2,160 ft) long bridge 186 metres (610 ft) above the river bed. (Source: Official webpage of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited. http://www.konkanrailway.com/website/tender/annexure1.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-14.) The Chenab Bridge will be the highest railway structure of its kind in the world, 35 m higher than the tip of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

With major highways, airways and now railways is linking Kashmir with India and the world, Pakistan is not happy. The part of Kashmir which Pakistan is holding illegally is becoming a flourishing ground for terrorists and their training camp. Due to lack of infrastructure and due to poverty, people who are trapped in that part of kashmir are trapped forever. This is forcing the young child of the families to join Jehad against India, on doing so these organisations funds their families.

India, Israel and U.S funding taliban in Pakistan

2009-10-26T19:27:00.002+05:30

Ruling out the points made by a report which said that the possible source of Taliban's fund is the opium cultivation in many parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Interior Minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik claimed that these nations [India, Israel and U.S] are fomenting unrest within Pakistan through steps such as funding Taliban fighters based along the border with Afghanistan.

U.S has been fighting a war with Al-Qaeda and Taliban since 2001. India which is itself frustrated with extremism is making sweet relations with Afghan government by donating billions for their infrastructure and security to keep the extremists on bay. Whereas Israel is fighting a long term war with Islamic Extremism. Hence it has become very difficult to believe in the Interior minister's recent statement.

Asked during an interview to a TV news channel as to who was backing the Taliban, he said: "There are certain hostile elements against Pakistan and there are certain hostile agencies which do not want Pakistan to be stabilised."

He then specially pointed out its 62 year old enemy neighbour, India. In response to a question on whether India is among the hostile agencies, Malik said, "Yes, of course, I am convinced. I have no doubt about it. I was very open. I have given the full details. (Source: India funding Taliban fighters: Pak Minister)

As per now nothing has been done by the Pakistani Government in the Mumbai blast case, dossier given by India has been checked by more than 100 nations of the world including U.S, Europe, Russia, China and other major South American, African and Arab Countries.

Taliban was born with the help of CIA and Pakistani Intelligence agency, ISI to make the Soviets leave Afghanistan. After U.S winning the proxy war paid very less attention to Taliban. Pakistan used this opportunity and headed Taliban to capture Kabul and form a ruling body there, to enlarge its area of influence with a plan of destabilizing India making Afghanistan responsible for the act.

Bosnia war survivors attending Karadzic's trial

2009-10-26T18:12:00.000+05:30

A news agency has reported that around 160 survivors of bosnia's 1992-95 war are leaving Sarajevo to attend the trial of their wartime leader Radovan Karadzic's genocide trial in The Hague, Netherlands. Monday will be the starting day for the Karadzic's trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

However he has boycotted the trial as he was not given proper time for it according to him. He has been in custody and working on his defense since his arrest on a Belgrade bus in July 2008. Judges have now scheduled his trial on Tuesday

The decision enraged survivors who had traveled by bus from Bosnia to see Karadzic finally face justice. A small group briefly refused to leave the courtroom after the adjournment and one woman threatened a hunger strike.

"We are going there (The Hague) to show to Europe and the world that we are still here, still searching for the truth and still waiting for justice," Munira Subasic, head of an association gathering the 1995 Srebrenica massacre survivors that organised the trip, told FENA before his trial on Monday which was postponed.

Sarajevo (AFP) quoted Subasic, who is still searching for the remains of her son and husband as
"Karadzic's trial should by conducted in line with rules and justice to avoid what had happened with (former Serbian president Slobodan) Milosevic," Milosevic died in his prison cell during his genocide trial in 2006.
"When he died, justice died as well," Subasic further added.

Karadzic faces life imprisonment on 11 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his actions as Bosnian Serb president during Bosnia's inter-ethnic war that claimed an estimated 100,000 lives. Karadzic is also charged notably for the July 1995 massacre of around 8,000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica

ISI tells surrendered Talibanese to join jihad against India

2009-10-07T18:43:00.000+05:30

Reports says that ISI has offered around 60 surrendered Talibanese to Join jihad against India in Kashmir. Majority of population in Kashmir being of Muslims, taliban believe they can be made targets and can be turned against India very easily. ISI will send them to jails if they do not go to India. The Pakistan military establishment has had to fight the Taliban, once its close allies in Afghanistan, but is looking to turn the situation to its advantage.

Sources from Border Security Force of India and Indian Army says that Army already knows about this development made against India deep in the soil of Pakistan.

"Although the Taliban is yet to successfully infiltrate into India, the coming days will pose a challenge as their attempts to sneak in are expected before the onset of winter," said a senior official as quoted by The Times of India. The infiltration is closely controlled and monitored by the ISI and Pakistan army which is often involved in the crossings.

Sources also believe that the state actors of Pakistan is also involved in this matter and have been and are helping the militants to infiltrate across the border right into the Indian territory. Soft attitude of India towards terrorism is the source of motivation and encourage to them. It is Pakistan who warns India of a possible nuclear attack on India if India tries to take any hard action. Thus making India a dumb state which becomes unable to do anything during an attack funded which is often or always (directly/indirectly) funded by Pakistan.

The Talibanese are now more threatening and are more trained, their experience has gained fighting with U.S. The modern weapons which they possess is not with many armies of the world. Taliban is becoming a modern terrorism group.

Times of India says Apart from the group of 60, there are nearly 250 to 300 jihadis who are armed with sophisticated weapons, Thuraya satellite phones and Indian mobile SIM cards - poised at launch pads along LoC (Line of Control). This feeds into the view that violence could escalate in Kashmir in the winter months. "Such incidents (like use of choppers) clearly show the involvement of Pakistani authorities in facilitating infiltration. Though our forces are fully alert to thwart Pakistani designs, the next 15-20 days are quite crucial as this is the period when they will do everything to infiltrate as many terrorists as possible," said a senior official as quoted by The Times of India. That is when winter will begin to set in.

It is winter when the intensity of troops reduces in the region. The Kashmir region is one of the worlds coldest borders and staying on the post throughout the year is very difficult. This is the period when Pakistan releases its evil plans. One can not forget the Kargil war in Kashmir, how the Pakistani Army entered Indian heights and occupied them before Indian army could arrive. Thanks to Indian army who regained the territory after defeating Pakistan.

It should be recalled that even though Pakistani Army was involved in war with Taliban in its Western frontiers, Taliban offered Pakistan help if it goes with war with India after the Mumbai Attacks.

A new terror corridor, Myanmar

2009-10-03T11:31:00.000+05:30

The Week magazine quoted Assam Rifles, PRO colonel Prasant Wankhede as "Arms used by terrorists in different parts of India have come via Myanmar. Porters smuggle arms and drugs across the border. We have identified 30 border villages where arms are cached for smugglers"

It is very difficult to control the smuggling as the local villagers keep moving in and out of the border. The smugglers have taken advantage of this free movement across the border. The unfenced 1, 663 KM border with Myanmar is proving to be more threatening than the borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh where Indian troops intensity is high.

In September 2008, Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur (a north eastern state of India) requested the union government to fence the entire border with Myanmar. The fencing of the border will prevent smuggling to some extent. The problem is that those local people who have been crossing border for wood and water for ages can not be stopped suddenly. They may either break the fence or may join hands with insurgents and smugglers for their protest against the government. Though the government is considering the notion of fencing there is utmost need of security agencies who are manning the border to be mentally prepared to check smuggling.

Intelligence reports says the arms from Thailand and Cambodia are first shipped to Myanmar's Arakan forest (Bay of Bengal). The arms are repacked there and are smuggled into north eastern states to support insurgents of India and terrorists of Bangladesh,

The main villain in this whole game is supposed to be the Black House Syndicate based in China's Yunnan province, it is known for illegally shipping weapons to many parts of South Asia after eradicating Chinese marks from the weapons.

Looking into past few months Chinese intentions doesn't look so positive. Invading Indian territory and claiming a large part of Indian territory in North east India is a bit worrying. it is not known what China is going to do with India. but whatever it is going to do, will be done very soon.

India is not prepared for a war with China. Air Chief Marshal of India has already said, India's Air power is nearly one third of China's. If China attacks India, hardly anyone would come forward to help India daring China's strength. And till U.N comes with a solution after a long procedure through diplomatic channels it will get too late.

Reports says that illegal shipping of Chinese arms into India escalated after Pokhran II. James Intelligence Review named United Wa State Army, an eastern Myanmar based insurgent group as the link between Chinese suppliers and Indian insurgents. The international Security Database say UWSA has around 20,000 soldiers.

The Black House, suppliers and smugglers get funds through drug trafficking which generates hard cash. Taking drugs using needles has become the cause of increasing HIV AIDS in the region. Drug seizing worth crores of rupees in north east India by they Indian Army is becoming a daily story. Both India and Myanmar are concerned to curb the drug menace, both feels that fencing the border might be the best solution.

If black house is the market of illegal weapons. The drugs comes form the notorious golden triangle which lies in Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.

This is another game being played by China to destabilize India fro the root. China is indirectly attacking the people of India making them habitual to drugs and then leaving them worth for nothing,

Myanmar's opium cultivation grew from 27,700ha ion 2007 to 28,800ha in 2008. Since Thai government initiated a crackdown along their border with Myanmar a few years back. The drug barons in Myanmar turned to India.

The chemical Acetic anhydride which can also be used to purify heroin goes not surprisingly from India says The Week magazine. The illegal heroin conversion laboratories on the Myanmar side grew to 42 since 1993 when they were only 21.

Such a huge system made to destabilize India seeded by China has been working for so long without coming into the picture. it is shameful for the Indian government that China has now got access to Indian and Bangladeshi militant who shares same interest with China of destroying Indian Union. Neither a peaceful dialogue nor a war will help in this situation. What India need is a sense of greater self security, advanced infrastructure, education and lower poverty.

Russia to rule the sky once again

2009-10-01T16:02:00.001+05:30

After ruling the sky for almost a decade 1997 to 2008 with Su-30MKI (Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski / Modernized Commercial India) Russian dominance was taken over by US by introducing F-22 the only active stealth main combat aircraft present in the world which makes it a true fifth generation aircraft. Stealth aircrafts can remain hidden even from the scanning radars present on the land or space.

Russia is keeping an eye on the American project. After the successful join venture of Brahmos cruise missile with India, Russia proposed to start developing a fifth generation aircraft jointly with India.(Source :Asia Times, India, Russia still brothers in arms) On October 27, 2007, Asia Times quoted Sukhoi's director, Mikhail Pogosyan, "We [India and Russia] will share the funding, engineering and intellectual property [of the new project] in a 50-50 proportion.The two variants of this aircraft will be made, one will be twin seater and other will be single seater. The FGFA (Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft) will be predominantly using weapons of Indian origin such as Astra, a Beyond Visual Range missile being developed by India, although special measures will be taken to fit Russian missile in it also at the time of need.

HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) chairman on 16th September, 2008 said that India will be mostly contributing in composites, cockpits, avionics and arming the fighter. The Indian and Russian fighter will slightly vary according to the requirement of each nation. As India is making a deal of 126 Medium Role Combat Aircraft which will be mostly single seater, India is thus choosing a twin seater FGFA fighter fleet in its airforce for now. It is believed that this aircraft will make its first flight within the next 4 months from now.

As the aircraft is still in making, it is hard to say which one will be better F-35/F-22 or Sukhoi/HAL FGFA/PAK FA. With a range of upto 5,500KM compared to 3219 KM of F-22. 9 g limit and speed of Mach 2+ this aircraft is expected to bring revolution in the aerospace industry. The world i still surprised over the Russian Technology, how they make it so cheap? The estimated unit cost of FGFA is around F-22's including much more features than F-22

Incorporating features from MIG's Su-47 and Su-30MKI, India and Russia are heading forward to nuetralize the current U.S supremacy.

Reactions

On this new development concerns are growing in Pakistan, they have asked U.S to give them F-22's as a part of aid to maintain the regional military balance. America, which itself has inducted only few f-22 aircrafts in the military due to high build, operation and maintenance cost has denied donating it to Paksitan. Also U.S is in mood of keeping this aircraft with itself atleast for the next 10 years to avoid reverse engineering of it by other countries and to maintain air supremacy. U.S has cleared that even if a country somehow manages to pay for it. U.S will not sell it.

Chinese evil plans to balkanise Indian Union

2009-10-01T15:58:00.000+05:30

Many reports are are coming in about the deep incursion into the Indian Territory by the Chinese Army, painting the rocks red and writing China in Cantonese (China's Yin Yang Behavior)

China has been adopting an ominously aggressive anti-India posture for quite some time now. India and China has hold many meeting for a solution but the talks which have gone on for years have not taken India and China a millimeter nearer to the solution.

A news coming out of China, showed the evil plans of Balkanising India into 20 to 30 separate nations. The news came out of an article which was first published on the website of China Institute of International Strategic Studies in April 2009. The article says disintegration of India is necessary for China's security and greater position in Asia. China is thus seeking help from Pakistan, nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

China believes Bangladesh will take West Bengal and help China taking Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in. Sri Lanka will help free Tamil Nadu from Indian domination. China and Pakistan are together supporting insurgencies in India and are pushing terrorists, fake currency and are exporting duplicate Indian products in the international markets.

The threat is of a piece with rcent hardening of Chinese attitude to India as shown by its minatory postures and repeated intrusion along Indian northern borders and repeated claims of Arunachal Pradesh in north east India.

China considers Arunachal pradesh its territory even in history China has never ruled that area. China doesnt ask for passport and visa for the people of Arunachal Pradesh who wants to enter China. China tried to block India's application for an ADB loan of $2.9 billion for a flood control project. Later China lost this case.

China has been upgrading infrastructure, military, surveillance systems on the borders. The centre responded by deploying Su-30MKI in the region and around 55000 soldiers alone in Arunachal pradesh.

State of Tamil Nadu is already showing signs of seperation, a recent statement by Jayalalitha proposing a new Tamil state for Tamilans in Sri Lanka raised many eyebrows as it was a bit worrying thinking about what to follow next (Source: Call to create a Tamil state). Also the Anti hindi Agitation protests coming in the years of 1938, 1948, 1952, and 1965 is a bit worrying for the Indian Union.(Source : Anti Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu)

Many Think tank believes another south Indian state of Karnataka may ask for separate nation. Rich in flora and fauna, minerals, gold, and multinational companies makes people of the state believe that they can self sustain and can do much better separated from India as the state of Punjab thought in 1984

China hopes to replace U.S and emerge as the sole superpower dominating the world by 2050. It will never like to have its competitor strong in economy, technology and political structure to be its neighbour.

5. India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Clinton delinked Indo-US deal from CTBT

2009-09-22T18:01:00.003+05:30

The Indian government is not in a position of further testing of nuclear devices. The government has already signed many treaties of peaceful use of nuclear power. It tried too hard to win the faith of Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), IAEA, and other countries like Australia, Russia, France, and U.S. by signing the Indo-U.S nuclear deal. India if continued testing the nuclear device might upset these group of nation and may fall under imposed sanctions once again losing trust of the international diplomats.
The good news in between for the government is the declaration by the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who made it clear on July 18, 2009 that the Indo-US nuclear deal is not linked with India signing CTBT.
"No. not at all," Clinton said in an interview to a TV channel when asked if the deal would be held hostage to India signing the CTBT.
"I worked very hard for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. I am very committed to its full implementation," she affirmed.
She in discussions with Indian leadership in New Delhi explored how India and US can work together to prevent the rogue states to steal and acquire nuclear material and technology. She is worried about the Pakistani nuclear bomb falling in the wrong hands as it is not exactly known who controls and runs Pakistan since militants, Army and non-state actors posses more power than the government in that region.

4. India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Admission by the director after 11 years

2009-09-22T17:57:00.002+05:30

After 11 years of the Pokhran II test, K. Santhanam then director of the preparation site for the nuclear test told the leading English daily in India (the Times of India) in an interview that the yield of thermonuclear explosion (Shakti I) was much lower than expected. A test is described to fail or fizzle if it doesn’t meet the desired yield. The device expected to have yielded 45KT but the seismic centres stationed outside India believed that the yield was mere 20KT describing the test as fizzled.
K. Santhanam recently advised the government to not to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), as India needs more test to fully develop the thermonuclear device.
Security expert Bharat Karnad supports the Santhanam’s admission as this is the first time a nuclear scientist and the one who was closely associated with the tests in 1998 said something against the government’s statements.

"This means the government has to do something. Either you don't have a thermonuclear deterrent or prove that you have it, if you claim to have it," said Karnad.
The Indian government is maintaining that the test of the thermonuclear device gave the desired result. The government argues that the three tests were done simultaneously and hence there was a conflict between the seismic waves released from different devices that could have altered the results recorded by the Seismic stations which were located very far from the testing sites outside India.
Challenging the claims, British experts declared the combined yield for the fission device and thermonuclear bomb not more than 20 KT.
The government has already signed many treaties of peaceful use of nuclear power. It tried too hard to win the faith of Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG), IAEA, and other countries like Australia, Russia, France, and U.S. by signing the Indo-U.S nuclear deal. India if continued testing the nuclear device might upset these group of nation and may fall under imposed sanctions once again losing trust of the international diplomats.
Hearing the news of failed thermonuclear test by India, Pakistan celebrated the day with fireworks and music.

Read More:
India's failed thermonuclear weapon - beginning and preparation of Pokhran II
India's failed thermonuclear weapon - International and Domestic reactions
India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Devices and Detonation
India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Admission by the director after 11 years
India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Clinton delinked Indo-US deal from CTBT

3. India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Devices and Detonation

2009-09-22T09:49:00.003+05:30

In May 1998 India carried out its second nuclear device test. Three devices were tested on 11 May, 1998 and other two on 13 May, 1998. The devices were code named as Shakti I, Shakti II, Shakti III, Shakti IV and Shakti V. The word Shakti comes from Sanskrit meaning strength. It is also the name of Hindu Goddess of strength

Shakti I was a two staged thermonuclear device with a theoretical yield of 200KT was downgraded to 45KT for test purposes. It was a device designed mainly to produce data to analyze the performance of India's Hydrogen bomb technology for future computer simulations and actual weaponisation and was not actually a nuclear warhead. This is the device which is now believed was failed and fizzled during the test.

Shakti II was purely a nuclear warhead using Plutonium with a yield of 15KT which can be delivered by jets, missiles or bombers. The device was the improved version of the device tested in 1974. Indigenous made supercomputer Param was used to test and analyze the data to improve the design. The 1998 test was intended to prove the validity of the improved designs.

Shakti III

This was an experimental test to study the possibility of using the plutonium used in the nuclear reactors to in warheads and also to prove India’s capability of controlling and damping an explosion by lowering the yield. As this boosted fission device was of primary yield of 0.3KT.

Shakti IV A 0.5 KT experimental device. The test's only purpose was to collect data about the explosion process and to study the performance of various bomb components. Shakti V A 0.2 KT experimental device that used U-233, an isotope of uranium not found in nature and produced in India's fast breeder reactors that consume Thorium. This device too was used to collect data. The production, designing, testing of the nuclear devices was done in three labs of defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC). From BARC they were taken to Mumbai Airport by Army trucks and from there by AN-32 transport aircraft of air force it was taken to Jaisalmer air base. From there again it was transported to Pokhran testing range all during nights. It was hot in the Pokhran desert; the temperature reached 43°C on the day of the test. But the critical factor was the wind. Although the tests were underground, they were shallow tests and the sealing of the shaft could not be guaranteed to be leak-proof as a number of shaft seal failures had already occurred during tests by USA, USSR and UK despite the shafts being much deeper. Winds blowing toward inhabited areas, as occurred on the morning on 11 May were not acceptable. But by early afternoon the winds had died down and the scientists decided to go ahead with the tests. The three devices (Shakti I, II & III) were detonated simultaneously at 3:43:44.2 p.m. local as measured by international seismic monitors. Seismic data collected by stations outside India have placed the total magnitude of the first event at 5.3 (+/- 0.4), making it one of the largest seismic events in the world during the 24 hr period during which it occurred. The measured seismic center of the triple event was located at 27.0716 deg N latitude, and 71.7612 deg E longitude, which places it only 2.8 km from the 1974 test site (which was at 27.095 deg N, 71.752 deg E). Just two days later on 13 May, at 2:51 a.m. EST, 12.21 p.m. local, two sub-kiloton devices were detonated underground. Due to very low yield this event was not detected by any of the seismic stations. The Seismic data collected by international stations claimed that the Indian nuclear device Shakti I didn’t worked well since the claimed yield by the government was not analyzed by the seismic centres and they believe the yield was much lower than expected that gives an idea about the failure of this first device. The Indian government reacted by telling that the testing of Shakti I was done simultaneously with Shakti II & III and hence there was a conflict between the seismic waves released from different devices that could have altered the results recorded by the Seismic stations which were located very far from the testing sites.

2. India's failed thermonuclear weapon - International and Domestic reactions

2009-09-22T09:43:00.002+05:30

After the conduction of Pokhran II nuclear device test on 11 and 13 May 1998 soon a press conference was invited at the prime minister’s residence. The long term silence on this issue broke out as the government admitted the conduction of tests. Vajpayee appeared before the press corps and made the following short statement:
“Today, at 1545 hours, India conducted three underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran range. The tests conducted today were with a fission device, a low yield device and a thermonuclear device. The measured yields are in line with expected values. Measurements have also confirmed that there was no release of radioactivity into the atmosphere. These were contained explosions like the experiment conducted in May 1974. I warmly congratulate the scientists and engineers who have carried out these successful tests.”
This news certainly brought cheers, not because India was going nuclear that meant superiority over others, but because of the research and development involved in this project as India had to do all this indigenously to keep the project secret. Most important of this was all doubts were removed on India’s nuclear capability after the first nuclear test in 1974. Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex also registered significant gains.
International reaction was almost opposite of the reactions received from within the countries. The United States took a strong stand, condemned India and warned about the following sanctions. The American establishment was embarrassed as there had been a serious intelligence failure in detecting the preparations for the test. UN also expressed its disappointment that it would trigger a nuclear arm race in the region. Canada was into a problem and reassured the world that the CIRUS reactor was not in anyway connected to the 1998 tests as earlier CIRUS reactor provided plutonium to India in 1974 test. China also strongly condemned Indian actions and was worried about its security thus it called upon to make India sign Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and erase all Indian nuclear arsenals. This gave rise to a new strategic dimension in Asia, particularly South Asia.
The storm of reactions also raised in Pakistan, India’s main rival. Pakistan blamed India for instigating a nuclear arms race in the region and challenged that it will give a tough reply to India. Soon after fifteen days Pakistan also tested its nuclear device with the help of China involving reverse engineering of the Chinese bomb. Pakistan also got strong reactions from Argentina to Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States, United Kingdom, Canada, United States, France, Germany and West Europe, etc though Pakistan got extreme appraisal by the gulf and other Islamic nations. The Pakistan nuclear bomb became hope for the nuclear bomb in Iran, Libya and North Korea. The US president Bill Clinton was quoted as saying "Two wrongs don't make a right", criticizing Pakistan's tests as reactionary to India's Pokhran-II
The decision by India and Pakistan to detonate a nuclear bomb resulted in severe and comprehensive economic and technology related sanctions by a number of states. Over a period of time, these sanctions proved to have exerted only marginal effects on India’s economy and technological progress, and most of the sanctions were lifted within five years of their enactment. Pakistan had to spend tough times and somehow made America to donate money to fund its falling economy. Pakistan till today gets monthly aid worth billions of dollars.

2.India's failed thermonuclear weapon - International and Domestic reactions

3.India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Devices and Detonation

4.India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Admission by the director after 11 years

5.India's failed thermonuclear weapon - Clinton delinked Indo-US deal from CTBT

1. India's failed thermonuclear weapon - beginning and preparation of Pokhran II

2009-09-22T09:37:00.003+05:30

India conducted its second nuclear test on May, 1998. Referred as Pokhran II the country tested its five nuclear devices three on May 11, 1998 and two on May 13, 1998. The tests resulted in variety of reactions from within the country and from abroad, and also invited sanctions against the country by some major states. On May 18, 1974 India conducted its first nuclear device code named Smiling Buddha declaring itself as a nuclear power.

The bitter defeat in the 1962 Sino-Indian war where India lost a part of its territory in Kashmir (Aksai Chin) to Pakistan triggered the development of such system in India. Pakistan then gifted a part of its occupied Kashmir to China. China and Pakistan are hence connected and have built a highway which China uses to deploy its navy in Arabian sea close to India. It underscored the need to have a strong military with a comprehensive capability to deter enemy forces. In 1964 China tested its nuclear device at Lop Nur. After this India kick started its nuclear program. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre started developing bomb grade plutonium and other bomb components. The project was stopped after the death of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru but was resumed during the period of Indira Ghandi in 1968.

In 1995 further needs of testing the bomb aroused. P.V Narsimha Rao, then prime minister in 1995 decided to carry out the tests, but the testing movement were detected by American spy satellites and soon the pressure was put on India to stop the testing. Now the task was to test nuclear bomb without letting anyone know. On 11 May 1998, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee India carried its second nuclear device test. The detection of preparation of such test in 1995 by American satellites alerted Indian scientists and this time extensive measures were taken in order to deceive intelligence agencies around the world. The decision to test was not disclosed even to senior cabinet ministers. The preparations were managed by a closed group of scientists, military officers and politicians. Much of the work was done at night. The equipments were always returned to the same spot at the onset of dawn to deceive American satellites that the equipments never moved. . Piles of dug-out sand were shaped to mimic the wind shaped dune forms in the desert area. The shafts were dug under camouflage netting. When cables for sensors were laid they were carefully covered with sand, and native vegetation was replaced to conceal the digging.

India adopted a policy of ambiguity. Statements by Indian diplomats gave an impression to the world that India has not yet decided its future nuclear plans.

China's Yin-Yang Behaviour

2009-09-22T09:27:00.004+05:30

Though the Indian side keeps maintaining the statement that the China border has been the most peaceful among all other Indian border, but something is not going well on the northern frontier.

In early September of this year a delegation to China lead by former minister of state of external affairs Rao Inderjit Singh was quashed as the reports of People’s Liberation Army’s intrusion in India came in. The Chinese army violated the international border line and infiltrated deep into the Indian Territory in Ladakh.

The week Magazine quoted P. Stobdan saying “Chinese soldiers entered Indian Territory; they painted the rocks red and asked the shepherds and the local people to vacate the place.”

It is not the first case of intrusion. There have been many such incidents, according to Ajeet Kumar Sahu, District Magistrate of Leh (District headquarter of Ladakh), Chinese helicopters also invaded the territory last June. The government is putting curtains on this whole issue. The reason might be the unpreparedness of India for a war with China. And that will be there for the next 15 years or more.

Both Pakistani and Chinese army has far greater autonomy than Indian Army. The Indian army is totally under government and cannot take any decision without notifying the government. Whereas the power of other two armies is so great that they can even overthrow the government and establish a military rule as in the case of Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

At one side in the field of business, China and India are doing well together and for one another. China also participated in the first BRIC (Brazil-Russia-India-China) summit in Yekaterinburg. Two major auto companies of India Bajaj and Mahindra have started production in China. (That’s another thing that China has made fake version of Bajaj’s Pulsar and is selling in cheap prizes which has turned the Bajaj Auto’s sale down.)

On the other hand China is surrounding India from all the sides, making bases everywhere. Number of airbases on the border and missile silo is increasing every day. China talks about peace in the region with India but then also provides Pakistan weapons, ammunitions, training, nuclear fuel and money in billion dollars. China is also making a naval base in Pakistan few 100KM away from India. And we know how China is pushing fake, duplicate and its cheap quality products into the Indian markets. After the reports of production of duplicate drugs of Indian pharmaceuticals companies by China and exporting contaminated milk to India and to other countries. India has banned few of the Chinese products like dairy products, toys etc. On this China says it will do a tit for tat.

After the Chinese government took over Tibet which was strongly opposed by India. The conflict between India and China raised. However both nations were newly established hence they explored the ways to avoid wars hence in 1954 the two countries signed Panchseel (5 Agreements).

Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty
Mutual non-aggression
Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs
Equality and mutual benefit
Peaceful co-existence

But in 1962 China violated this agreement and launched an offensive attack on North India without giving any warning. India lost that war and lost a part of its territory to China.

The relation with China is half good and half bad. It is like yin-yang. One side of China is good but other side is bad. India doesn’t want to spoil the bilateral trade with China worth $15 billion during the hard period of recession. But it should be cautious about its own geopolitical and economic security.

Iran's Nuclear Bomb

2009-09-14T17:52:00.004+05:30

The world’s eye is right now on the Iran’s nuclear bomb. Whether it exists or not? Or is it still underdevelopment? Why does Iran needs such weapon? What will it do of it?

It all started in 1950 with the help of United States. Iran began its nuclear program saying that it needs this power to satisfy its energy needs in the future as the oil in the gulf is soon going to be exhausted. This campaign was backed by many other gulf countries and Pakistan. But many others took a stand against this issue and presume that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon. The controversy over Iran's nuclear programs centers in particular on Iran's failure to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the IAEA

Weather the bomb exists or not it is very difficult to say as they don’t perpetuate transparency on this matter. But a U.S report claims that Iran is very close to making a Nuclear Bomb.

Iran has fear from only two countries, Israel and U.S. Delivering the nuclear bomb to U.S is out of question for Iran at least for the next 10 to 12 years as it doesn’t have Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and its bomb carrying aircrafts can be shot down much before they reach America.

But it can deliver its nuclear bomb to Israel. The rest of the Islamic states are so proud of Iran to be so audacious that it is giving a lasting challenge to Israel and America. It is also getting commendation from Pakistan. Pakistan gets funds from these gulf countries to continue its nuclear program.

It is viewed that Pakistan has illegally provided the nuclear technology to Iran which it itself got from China. When it comes to delivery system North Korea comes into the picture. Since North Korea provided Pakistan missiles in return of nuclear bomb making technology which it is believed has been transferred to Iran.

A.Q Khan Pakistan’s bomb man in his recent interview told that Pakistan got the nuclear fuel from the Sri Lankan Muslims via Dubai which he said is also the source of Iran’s nuclear fuel.

Iran’s nuclear bomb will disbalance the power in the region. Iran will use it mostly as a deterrent against Israel, but Iran may get offensive against Israel and nuke them as soon as they develop it. It is a problem for Israel as the gulf countries wants to wipe them off from this world. In such case an eye should be kept on Iran’s nuclear program, the world should not depend much on Iran’s oil. Venezuela, Russia, Central Asia should become more active in oil trade. There is a need to develop technology to harness clean energy. Otherwise their oil may become a blackmail tool for them. Which they can use as a weapon against anyone who is not in favour of them.

Fearing Taliban, Pakistanis takes shelter in India

2009-09-10T14:34:00.003+05:30

In the past four years since the Thar Express between India and Pakistan was flagged off, some over 5000 Pakistani has crossed over to India. The weekly train starts from Karachi, enters India at Munabao, a border town in Barmer, and runs up to Jodhpur.

The government figures says that in first year (2006) around 392 Pakistani including Hindus came to India. The figures increased to 880 in 2007, 1240 in 2008, this year till August over 1000 has crossed over. They just keep extending their visas and hope to become Indian citizens. Sources say there are many more who cross over and melt in the local milieu. And officials have a soft corner for these people, most of whom have harrowing stories to tell.

Ranaram, who used to live in the Rahimyar district of Pakistan’s Punjab, says he fell prey to the Taliban. His wife was kidnapped, raped and forcibly converted to Islam. His two daughters were also forcibly converted. Ranaram, too, had to accept Islam for fear of his life. He thought it best to flee with his two daughters; his wife was untraceable.

Dungaram, another migrant, says atrocities against minorities in Pakistan have increased in the past two years after the ouster of Musharraf. "We won't get permanent jobs unless we convert to Islam."

Hindu Singh Sodha, president of Seemant Lok Sangathan, a group working for the refugees in Barmer and Jaisalmer, says there's unfortunately no proper refugee policy in India even though people from Pakistan reach here in large numbers. (Source : Times of India, Bennett & Coleman, UK)

The condition of minority in Pakistan consisting of Sikhs, Christians and Hindus is really very bad, and the government is unable to take any action as they have soft corner for Taliban which is an indirect source of income to them. Every month Pakistan receives billions of dollars as aid from U.S, E.U, and other friendly nations to destroy Taliban, But Pakistan instead used that money in anti India activities (See : Is Pakistan using US aid to expand nuclear arsenal?) & (See: Pak Using US Aid for War Against India).

In 2007 the Indian government gave permanent citizenship to many such refugees.

U.S and Russia, undoing the 'cold war effect'

2009-09-10T14:00:00.005+05:30

Recently in July Obama made a visit to Russia. Unlike George W. Bush he mentioned that he is willing to press the 'reset' button on relations with Russia. He gave Moscow the priority over Tokyo, Beijing, and New Delhi. The two former rivals were on a brink of war last August when Russian troops entered deep into Georgia, which was strongly opposed by the U.S and NATO.

The major success came out of the July 6 to July 8 summit was that Russia agreed to help U.S in Afghanistan by opening its airspace for the U.S transport air crafts to fly weapons, troops, hardwares, etc. across its territory to Afghanistan without any navigational charge and security check. U.S said that this would save around $133 million per year.

Another agreement was signed to reduce the total number of nuclear arsenal in both the country up to 1675 warheads and delivery vehicles to 1,100. But the problem here lies with how the number of present warheads are counted. U.S says that they have around 2,200 warheads but Russia believes that U.S has more than 5,500 warheads. This is because U.S only counts the number of warheads which are deployed and are in ready to fire state. Another problem which came in Russia's way was that it didn't like the U.S proposal of excluding those long range missiles whose nuclear warheads have been replaced by conventional one.

Russia and the U.S. also agreed to open a joint early warning centre to share data on missile launches.

Russia in overall summit was seen to be a little reserved. Russian foreign ministry described the summit as"groundbreaking" stopped short of using the "reset" metaphor. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said that the two sides merely managed to halt the degradation of our relations.

For Moscow the main problem is that even after the collapse of the U.S.S.R, America kept treating Russia as its enemy and placed NATO forces on its border, made bases around and started interfering in the region of its influence, that made Russia feel a bit isolated and made it to 'blackmail' the Europe for energy. Also the proposed U.S missile shield in Czech Republic is seen by Russia as a security threat. Medvedev said if u.S moves ahead with its plan then Russia will be forced to deploy Iskander missiles in the Kalingrad region of Russia which is in west Europe, any missile launched from here towards west can not be destroyed by the missile shield placed in Czech Republic.

While Russia is helping U.S in Afghanistan. It doesn't like American presence in the former Soviet Union. Recently Russia praised Kyrgystan's decision to shut down the Manas air base, the only U.S air base in Central Asia. Russia's message to u.S was "if you want us to cooperate on issues of concern to you, then you should accommodate Russian interests."

Obama though refused to stop the talks with Ukraine and Georgia for NATO's membership.

Russia which remained quiet since the disintegration Soviet Union was seen hard against the superpower America. but what more important was seen in the summit that both sides were willing to cooperate and discover the new areas of common interest to work on.

Sri Lanka to train U.S, Pakistan Army.

2009-08-23T12:52:00.003+05:30

After its success in defeating the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan army has agreed to train Pakistan military.

Pakistan has already asked Sri Lanka to train its army told the Sri Lankan army's commander, Lt Gen Jagath Jayasuriya. He further added that he is willing to give a favourable response to them. A similar training has been offered by Sri Lanka to the United States, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, through the diplomatic channels.

The training to Pakistan will be given in south east of Sri Lanka, dismissing the reports that it may carry the training program in the newly captured parts of Northern Sri Lanka

India sent its Peace keeping Force to Sri Lanka to control the situation in 1987 which was withdrawn after two years in 1989. This time India was not in war mode, as India was not in favour of war due to human right violation of many Tamils in Sri Lanka. Also India was not in a position to send its army there as there was a danger of war with Pakistan. Instead of offensive arms India gifted defensive equipments to Sri lanka such as high powered Radars, Satellite images, and helped Sri lanka in keeping the Northern coastal areas safe and giving no Chance to LTTE leaders to escape via sea.

Pakistan supplied arms and weapons to Sri lanka when it needed. Pakistan and China have thus turned Sri Lanka to their side, gradually bringing it out of the Indian sphere. (under the Chinese String of Pearl Theory)

LTTE was responsible for the assassination of Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi. As India and Sri Lanka jointly launched an offensive strike against it.

Pakistan blames India of supporting and sponsoring LTTE in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan proposed making India as Islamic Republic of Pakistan by 2020

2009-08-17T23:49:00.007+05:30

This one can be somewhat funny. Pakistan apparently has come with some new plans to destabilize India by influencing some developments in the north, west and southern parts of the country, as part of its multi-pronged strategy. Terrorists who were caught by Indian Security Force in Kashmir revealed this information. ISI (Pakistan's intelligence agency) is the main culprit behind.

An article in the Power Politics magazine says that the ISI has passed two maps to the Pakistan Army to increase the moral of the troops by giving them a target to break and merge India in Pakistan forming Islamic Republic of Pakistan by2020. This will somehow increase the confidence of the public of Pakistan also who always dream of troubled India.

The map targets North India, and shows the region as 'IslamicRepublic of Pakistan' by 2020. It also projects South India as disputed territory and treats the Indian neighbours China (China has the responsibility of doing everything for Pakistan), Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka as their neighbouring countries. They also considered Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India as Islands of Bangladesh The map also indicates their desire of changing Mumbai's topography, turning the South Asia's economic capital Mumbai (Bombay) into 'Muslimabad' by 2012.

The terrorists are using alternative routes to India. From Pakistan they go to Dubai, Bangkok, Nepal and Bangladesh to enter India. The write up further says that ISI has been attempting to cover India both from sea and land routes just like the Chinese strings of pearl theory. ISI is already pushing fake Indian currency in to the Indian market thus creating a hole in the Indian economy.

Pakistan is time to time searching for chances and making excuses in front of the world to bring its force back to the Indian borders, currently under the pressure from U.S, they are fighting with insurgency near Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Moldova, Romania ties expected to improve

2009-08-01T11:57:00.009+05:30

Finally Moldova’s pro-Western parties formed a ruling government on Thursday after beating Europe’s last communist government.

Vlad Filat, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, expressed the Communists “will accept defeat and will withdraw into opposition and allow the winning forces to rule the country.”

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) commented on Thursday over the elections that it found no evidence of major fraud but raised concerns about media bias.

With 98% of the vote counted, the four opposition parties had 50.9% to the Communists’ 45.1 percent. 59% of total official turn out was observed.

It is very possible that now Moldova will move out of Russia’s orbit and closer to Romania, European Union and NATO, more free markets reforms, greater press freedom and independent justice system may be some other possible changes.

This victory may help Moldova to help improve its ties with its neighbour Romania. Moldova was a part of Romania until 1940, and became independent after the 1991 disintegration of the Soviet Union. Moldova imposed visa requirements on Romanians after Voronin accused the neighboring country of trying to overthrow his government during April 7 riots.

image source wikipedia.org

Can India and Pakistan Cooperate?

2009-08-01T10:16:00.006+05:30

TODAY still Indian political elements think that they can create harmony and good relation with Pakistan. The thing which couldn't be achieved in the past 62 years after so many dialogues and fighting four wars. People say war is not a solution but here dialogues have also failed many times. Even international interference didn't help, U.S, U.K and China all have tried and will keep trying till they have their own interest in the subcontinent.

It is not that easy to bring these nations closer because their thinking, approach and ideas are totally different and that was the reason of 1947 Indian partition, one of the largest even of migration in the world. Indians believed in secularism and democracy, where people who were going to be Pakistani believed in a Islamic state, there have been many dictators in the country and the country have fallen many times into a military rule. Their leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah came up with a new theory. The Two-Nation Theory was the basis for the Partition of India in 1947. It stated that Muslims and Hindus were two separate nations by every definition, and therefore Muslims should have an autonomous homeland. Thus he demanded the creation of new state Pakistan. Frontier parts of western India formed West Pakistan and a small part in East India formed East Pakistan, which then got freed when India and Pakistan went for war in 1971. This war was the dangerous of all after the second world war. It could have given rise to a IIIrd world war, as U.S sent its navy in support of Pakistan, In its reply U.S.S.R sent its navy to warn U.S. This was the most dangerous part, but both U.S and U.S.S.R were intelligent and U.S withdrew from the region and so did U.S.S.R.

Former Prime Minister of India Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee tried a lot for peace in the region. Bus services and Rail services were started between India and Pakistan which helped the separated families after migration to reunite. But illegal occupation of Indian heights and blocking of Indian highway in Kargil and attacking of Indian Parliament by Pakistani extremists made him to stop these services, These services were then resumed looking forward for another peace process.

Later on, few years back trade between the Jammu and Kashmir, and the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir was started. But recent cross border terrorists attack on Mumbai/Bombay on 26th November, 2008 made India to stop all talks with Pakistan.

And now Dr. Manmohan Sing still dreams of a peaceful Pakistan and India together.

On the other hand Pakistan will never like to make peace with India, because India is indirectly a source of income to Pakistan. By projecting unmatchable Indian growth, China provided Pakistan nuclear aid to control India. America throws billions of money monthly as aid to Pakistan for its development but Pakistan always used it against India (Read : Is Pakistan playing with the world)

62 years have been passed and almost 99% of the things have been tried to stabilise the subcontinental region but everything has failed. I guess the only thing which can help is the separation of tectonic plates between India and Pakistan.

China's New Weapon

2009-07-10T13:06:00.003+05:30

No China hasn't developed a new nuclear submarine, or a new bio weapon. But it is using a similar strategy used by Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, which pushes fake Indian currency in the market thus making a hole in the growing Indian economy. This time China is selling drugs produced in China but having "Made in India" tag. A test report by The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of Nigeria, said that the anti malaria drugs were made in China and are having "Made in India" tag. Africa including Nigeria is a big market of Indian pharmaceuticals companies. Indian pharmaceuticals brand like Ranbaxy and Cipla which are one of the top drug producers in the world are very famous in African continent.

A similar Indian report also confirmed this. Indians officials are alarmed. This action of China was plotted to defame Indian drugs in Africa and to capture the whole market.

China's economic expansion strategy is very different from the rest of the world. It includes exporting fake products, you will easily get fake iPods, Mobile phones, footwears, Computer hardware, etc. in a very cheap rates. This creates problem for the actual company, one of the main reason why almost all the companies are facing losses.

Recently Australia, Newzealand have banned Chinese dairy product imports as they contained melamine which is used to make plastics. This is compound is added to make the dairy products look richer in protein. Indonesia and Vietnam are also alert. Because of this milk over 300,000 were infected only in China, cases also came from America, Newzealand, Australia and many other

India has banned all imports of Chinese products for three months. India protested a lot against the flowing Chinese mobile handsets in the Indian markets. These handsets don't have International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). This code is required by the security agencies to track mobile phones of terrorists. Many Pakistani terrorists were found to be using such mobile phones. After this strict action by India, China is warning India for a tit-for-tat.

What is RSS?

2009-07-09T21:15:00.003+05:30

What is RSS?

Recently I have started offering RSS feeds on my blog to all you readers. But What is RSS? This question would be arising in many of you readers. there are number of ways and services to keep you up to date with Abstract Thoughts and World Today. And RSS is the one of the best way to keep connected.

What is RSS?

RSS is a technology which people use to keep them up to date with their favourite website or blog. In older days people used to bookmark their favourite websites but there are many limitations in that.
-It is hard to track number of sites
-After a week or two you find out that your bookmark has lost or has got mixed in a lists of other bookmarks
-You had to go again and again to the websites manually to check for new contents
-You might miss some important posts if not checked regularly
-Sometimes you don't see any updates at all.

RSS has a solution for all this problem. RSS can deliver you the posts as soon as they are updated right on your desktop or on any other web applications like Google Reader or Blog Lines and many more. You can also share an RSS with your friends on Social Networking sites like Facebook, Yahoo Profile, Orkut personalised pages like iGoogle, and My Yahoo. Bookmarking Websites like Stumble upon, Digg, Newsvine and many more. Not only this If you subscribe to an RSS via Email You will get all the updates mailed to you as soon as something new arrives.

What do you need for reading a RSS?

As I have mentioned above all you need is a reader like Google reader or Bloglines there are many option available on Internet. You can also display the RSS feeds on your Desktop using Google reader gadget of google Desktop. Well if yo dont want to do this, you can always share an RSS with others using Facebook and your other favourite websites. I have also included a button to do this. And yeah if it is something new for you and you don't understand RSS Readers and Sharing then you can simply subscribe via Email. which are like Email newsletters but yes no Spam in that and you can always unsubscribe!!!

How to Subscribe?

This is a good question. Now days some standard buttons are used for RSS subscription links including the one I have used above. for e.g

Even on some web browsers like Firefox you will see a button like the button used on the top of the post. Clicking on that also will subscribe you to that page without even searching for the button on a website.

If you are still unsure you can give it a try once on my blog or any other website whch you like. I am sure you are gonna love it. On my website you can subscribe here or you may like to subscribe via email. You may also follow me

on my blog if you are also a blogger that way even I can see what you post and what you like so that I can visit your web page too. You can do this by clicking on the new follow button on blogger's navbar that is a bar on the top of any blogger blog (if not removed by the blogger) you can also follow a blog by clicking on the Google's friend Connect Page element which you will find in my blog too.

Please feel free to share your views in the comments section

All new Enewsreport

2009-07-09T15:58:00.007+05:30

I am sorry for not posting any topic recently, I was busy in giving a new look to this webpage, and also I have started a new blog Abstract Thoughts. It is like my online diary, this time away from politics, diplomacy, news and all that. Then new blog is just about me, my life and the people around me. Since Yahoo! 360 is closing I have also transferred all my blogs there. If you wish you can join me there.

Now you can see Enews has now Become World Today. A new Logo, new colour scheme and a diiferent style, well I would like to thank Anshul dudeja who helped me with the makeover of Enews. I would like to have some feedback that how this new Blog looks?

Please feel free to share your views

Swine Flu, Al Qaeda and Taliban

2009-06-14T21:23:00.001+05:30

Swine Flu is generally found in pigs. the possibility of passing it to Human is very rare, people who work with pigs are prone to getting this virus. Also transmission of this virus fro human to human is very rare. But the virus H1N! is known to have caused more than 150 deaths. And WHO has declared it a pandemic. To develop an effective vaccination for this virus proper research has to be done on how it was transmitted to the human.

Some rumors are that in a factory farm run by a subsidiary of global food giant Smithfield Foods suspecting fumes were found from pig manure and flies. Smithfield foods says there is no connection between this and swine flu.

There China also denied that dead pigs found in its South Eastern province can be a cause of Swine Flu.

The discussion going around the world is that how much possible is the Al Qaeda’s hand in Swine Flu outbreak? Does Al Qaeda possess the technology of making bio weapon? You don’t need to have a big infrastructure to make a bio weapon. It is one of the most dangerous kind of weapon as it doesn’t leave behind any form of life. Also it is very easy to deliver this weapon for example smuggling or posting the infection causing powder in an envelop to target person. Unlike Nuclear or Conventional weapons the effect of bio weapon is not confined to some region. slowly slowly it spreads to many other places through transmission.

It has been found that Al Qaeda has developed good relations with the smuggler of Mexico. The US-Mexico Border is very prone to illegal migration. And the concentration of Swine flu infection is very high in New York. Reports says that there might be a possible hand of Al Qaeda and Mexican smugglers to deliver this virus to US.

Precautions to be taken

If fever is 100.5F or higher, call the doctor immediately and drink fluids. Stay well hydrated and get a diagnosis and treatment for whatever is causing your fever.
Cover your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing with a tissue paper and then throw it in dust bin. If Tissue i not available try to sneeze in a corner not to make germs fly.
Wash hands properly with Soap Water or disinfectant
Avoid people who have a fever, cough, or sneezing, or complain of any flu-like symptoms
If you feel like you are developing flu symptoms, don't wait to see if it will just go away. Call your doctor or nurse practitioner and ask for advice or an appointment

Can Romania and Russia Cooperate?

2009-06-08T18:43:00.001+05:30

I wont rule out the possibility of a nice cooperation between these two states but the conflict and asymmetrical relations between them far outweigh it.

Russia and Romania were allies at some point of time during Soviet era. After the dissolution of Soviet Union, Russia and Romania chosed different paths, Romania was very sure to join west, whereas Russia went through many phases and under the leadership of hon’ble Vladimir Putin, Russia gained that world’s respect once again.

Romania and Russia doesn't have a friendly history. Russia has invaded Romania 13 times and finally it was forced to be an ally of Soviet Union. Romania didn't like this, and even now it prevents the Balkan region from the Russian influence, whereas Russia is worrying that its former allies are joining NATO one by one, which has brought American army to the Russian frontiers. One more reason of conflict is Moldova, which was a part of Romania but was taken by the Soviets. Now Moldova is an independent country, whose appreciable percentage of population speaks Romanian. In recent years Romania has been promoting alternatives to Russian gas pipelines.

All this shows how difficult it is to bring these neighbors closer, together who can do a lot to bring eastern Europe out of the map and make an important economic and strategic region.

The only thing where Russia and Romania shares similar interest is Kosovo. Both of them for some reasons are against the independence of Kosovo. If they would cooperate well on this, they may develop some understandings. Peaceful dialogues makes the relations sweeter.

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