|
|
|
|
|
by Raj Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Security of Pakistan’s N-arms questionable PROFILE
On record
|
Security of Pakistan’s N-arms questionable Prof. Shaun Gregory has reported that in the past five year militants have attacked three Pakistani nuclear facilities/store houses at Wah, Sargoda air base, and Kamran, exposing loopholes in Pakistan’s security regime for its nuclear weapons. In August 12, 2008, two suicide bombers attacked the gates of a Pakistan ordnance factory wall, killing 70 people. It was the deadliest terrorist attack on a nuclear installation in Pakistan’s history. On October 24, 2009, eight persons were killed in a suicide attack on Pakistan’s air base complex at Kamran, which also stores nuclear weapons. Today Pakistan has the world’s fastest growing nuclear arsenal. In the last four years it has expanded from 60-80 warheads to over 110. Some in the West believe that Pakistan started preparing nuclear-tipped missiles in the middle of the 1999 Kargil war. Pakistan nuclear warheads used the implosion design with a solid core of 15 to 20 kg of enriched uranium. Pakistan now produces about 100 kg of enriched uranium in a year, but is rapidly expanding its nuclear infrastructure with the help of the Chinese. Pakistan reportedly has several nuclear storage facilities though their exact locations are not known. They are mainly in the military bases. Although separate storage may provide a layer of protection against an accidental launch or prevent the seizure of an assembled weapon, it makes easier for unauthorised people to remove the weapons fissile material cores if they are not assembled. When the US decided to launch an attack on Afghan Taliban after Sept 11, 2001, President Parvez Musharraf reportedly ordered that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals should be redeployed to at least in “six secret new locations.” At that time, the Islamabad leadership was uncertain whether the US would decide to strike at Pakistan’s nuclear assets if Pakistan did not assist against the Taliban.
Reliability tests Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are handled by the army’s Strategic Planning Division (SPD). This force comprises around 12,000 personnel. The SPD personnel have to pass a personal reliability programme and a human reliability programme before induction. Screenings are reportedly done every two years and some times randomly. After the A.Q. Khan scandal in 2004, these tests are applied to senior personnel. The weapons are stored in underground sites with multiple security rings and guarded by heavily armed SPD personnel. Experts are of the view that physically overwhelming these weapons’ sites will be very difficult but a highly plausible scenario is the theft of fissile materials or fusing components used in the bomb by radicalised personnel in the SPD. The pilfered materials could be used as a radiological device or what is called a “dirty bomb”. It is a conventional explosive used to scatter radioactive materials. It spreads panic rather than inflicting mass casualties. Another possible use for the fissile materials is for building a “simple implosion device” and targets could be an Indian city. Today Pakistan is producing nuclear weapons as well as fissile materials. The larger the number of weapons, the greater is the threat of leakage. Previously India and Pakistan used to reassure themselves that neither side could use a nuclear weapon because the aggressor would suffer from the fallout. That may no longer hold good after the 2008 US decision to give India civil nuclear technology. This has led Pakistan’to strengthen its nuclear arsenal. It has now tested a new mobile missile with a miniaturised nuclear warhead designed to destroy tank formation with little radiation beyond the battlefield. This has also increased the risk that border tensions may escalate into something far more serious and lethal. Pakistani Generals are of the opinion that this tactical weapon would be able to meet the threats of rapid and punitive conventional thrusts by the Indian forces against Pakistan.
Threats remain US officials have so far conveyed confidence in the security of Islamabad’s nuclear weapons. American Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated in an interview on January 21, 2010, that the US “is very comfortable with security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons”. But a recent study by Mathew Bunn of Harvard University’s Managing the Atom Project asserts that Pakistan’s stockpile “faces a greater threat from Islamic extremists seizing nuclear weapons than any other nuclear stockpile on earth.” According to Davis Albright, a noted nuclear proliferation analyst, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are not thought to be “one point safe” or equipped with the Permissive Action Links (PAL) meant to prevent unauthorised use of such weapons. The PAL requires an entry code before such weapons can be armed and fired. Again Pakistan’s nuclear assets remain vulnerable for another reason. From the outset, they have been deployed to the west of Pakistan to extend the warning time of possible Indian attacks against them and delay the overrun from the ground. The nuclear installations in the volatile regions of West and North-West of Islamabad remain exposed to grave threats from terrorist groups. In Pakistan the control and decision-making regarding nuclear weapons is totally in the hands of the army despite periods of civilian rule. Former Prime Ministers of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are on record stating that they were clearly out of the decision-making loop with regard to nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, the Pakistan army is no longer a loyal professional and disciplined force as it was thought to be. The “beard count” in the army has increased. Many young officers of post Zia-ul-Haq era have been radicalised. There is also a growing feeling among sections of the army that they are fighting their own countrymen at the behest of the US. It is reported in New York Times that the army chief, General Kayani, is under pressure from anti-American, radicalised lower and middle ranks of the army for not adopting a tough line against the US. Reports of a “Colonels’ coup” may be overstated. However, if there is a collapse of the command and control situation, and emergence of different power centres within the army, each will view the strategic arsenal as a real prize and that will be in every sense a nightmare scenario.
The writer is a former Director, National Police Academy
|
|
PROFILE He interned with the Taj group of hotels in Mumbai and recalls that on his first day in the kitchen, he was shown a sack of onions, all 100 or 200 Kgs of them, and directed to peel them one by one. He was paid a princely sum of Rs 150 at the end of the month. Last month Cardoz won Rs 46 lakh ( $100,000) when he won the third season of the reality cookery show , Top Chef Masters, hosted by celebrity model Padma Lakshmi on a US channel in California. The Mumbai-born Goan floored the judges in the final round by whipping up the popular South Indian breakfast, Rava Upma. He beat two other celebrity chefs, Traci Des Jarin and Mary Sue Milliken, for the first place. The Wall Street Journal reported . Upma is now surely the ‘Ma’ (Mother) of Indian Dishes . Floyd’s mother, who had especially flown to New York from India, was among those who watched the finale. Cardoz’s Upma was served with tomato broth and had both semolina ( suji) and mushroom. It was loosely described as semolina pudding. The dish is known as ‘Uppumav’ in Malyalam, ‘Uppittu’ in Kannada and ‘Uppindi’ in Telugu. Although the prize money is being donated by Cardoz to the ‘Young Scientist Cancer Research Fund’ at the Mount Sinai Medical School in New York ( his father, who had opposed his plans to become a chef had, ironically, died of cancer), the award couldn’t have come at a better time for him. Because after his high-end restaurant, “Tabla”, had to close down due to recession, Cardoz is again taking the plunge to set up the ‘North End Grill’ at Manhattan. Cardoz underwent culinary training in both India and Switzerland, resulting in a blend of traditions, techniques, and flavour that would influence his cuisine for years to come. Landing in New York city, he was hired at Lespinasse, where he met his mentor, chef Gray Kunz. The two chefs shared a similar approach and philosophy, and during Cardoz’s five years within those hallowed kitchens, Kunz encouraged him to experiment with the Indian spices. Cardoz recalls that when he joined the restaurant, there were only four Indian spices in the cabinet but by the time he left, the number had gone up to 25. In 1998, Cardoz left Lespinasse to open Tabla with famed restaurateur Danny Meyer. Here he celebrated the sensual flavours and spices of his native land in his pioneering New Indian cuisine. It was the European training that instilled in Floyd a desire to begin experimenting with traditional Indian cuisines. The young visionary wanted to take European and American foods to new heights by enhancing these popular cuisines with Indian spices. Floyd returned to India, excited to unfold his plans, only to find India restaurants resistant to many modern ideas. So Floyd moved o New York where he knew gastronomic experimentation was encouraged. In October 2006, Floyd released his first cookbook, One Spice, Two Spice, which includes his favourite New Indian recipes from Tabla, demystifies Indian food and flavours and teaches how to expertly add Indian spices to American cuisine. In February 2008, Chef Cardoz launched a line of convenient “4-Minute Meals” and “Ready-to-Cook” entrees in collaboration with FreshDirect, one of the leading online gourmet food and Delivery services, available exclusively to FreshDirect customers. A portion of the proceeds from each purchase is donated to City Harvest, a non-profit organisation dedicated to ending hunger. Floyd lives in New Jersey with his wife Barkha and two sons, Peter and Justin. |
|
On record Eighteen year old Karthika Annamalai wants to become the Prime Minister of India one day. Given her journey – from a quarry worker’s daughter to a student of one of India’s top law schools – Karthika’s reasons are vastly different from the reasons that might be cited by the children of career politicians. Her story hit the headlines last month when the quarry worker’s daughter, her mother continues to work in a stone quarry, created a sensation by securing admission in a prestigious law school.
She wants to do away with the injustices prevalent in society – a goal toward which she wants to make her first step by becoming a human rights lawyer. Her story also throws light on the laudable work done by Shanti Bhavan, the organisation which was instrumental in bringing her up and providing her with the kind of education and exposure that only children from well-to-do families have access to. Congratulations on your cracking the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test). How did it all begin? Shanti Bhavan, a non profit organisation, took care of my education. They spot children with high IQ among children in the underprivileged sections. Whatever I am today, it is because of them. They took me in their residential school in Bangalore when I was four. Besides education, I got a lot of exposure also because of my stay there. I could meet a lot of foreigners and got to know about a lot of things. All this instilled confidence in me. How often would you visit home when you were at Shanti Bhavan ? I have finished my 12th class and right now I am staying with my mother at the Hennur area of Bangalore. My mother works in a stone quarry close by. When I was studying in Shanti Bhavan, however, I would spend most of my time in the school. Who else are there in your family ? Besides my mother, I have four brothers and sisters. My elder sister is married and lives with her husband. My elder brother works with my brother in the stone quarry. I have a younger brother who is in school. I have plans for his further education. We lost our father when we were very young. My mother had to give up being a housewife and look for work to support our family, once my father had passed away. Like my aunt and uncle, she too found work in a quarry. How are you going to manage the expenses for your higher education ? I am going to study Law at the National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata. IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access), an organisation floated by NUJS Professor Shamnad Basheer, will support me for my education and lodging in Kolkata. Why did you want to study law ? I decided years ago that I wanted to be a human rights lawyer and fight against the many social injustices that exist in India. I have myself witnessed more than a handful of these injustices in my family and community. I also hope that working in the field of law in India will provide me the skills I need to one day alleviate poverty and injustice on a broader scale, hopefully in a political position in India. Ideally, I will one day like to become the Prime Minister. How do you feel when you look back at your life ? Do you consider yourself lucky ? As I reflect on the past 14 years of my life (the years spent at Shanti Bhavan), I realise they are tied to one of my two lives – that of a village girl who grew up in a world of sadness, devoid of hope, and the other of an educated and confident woman, who was given an opportunity to aspire. You can call me lucky. What are your hobbies? I like to skate and cycle. I also like to draw and read. As a matter of fact, I am very fond of drawing. Books also are my faithful companions. “Tuesdays with Morrie”, a book by American writer Mitch Albom, is one my favourite books. “The Bridges on Madison County” is another favourite of mine. Right now I am reading a book called “Infidel”. It is an autobiography by Ayan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-Dutch feminist activist. In the book she wrote about her youth in various African countries and Saudi Arabia, her flight to Holland seeking political asylum, her political indoctrination and so on. Do you watch TV? Yes, quite a lot actually. I like to watch MTV and also Fashion TV (FTV). There was a time when I had seriously considered studying fashion designing, though I eventually gave up the idea. I also like watching movies on the HBO. I also watch “America’s Next Top Model”, the reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America’s next top model to start their career in the modeling industry.
 |
||
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
THE Science graduate from St Xavier’s College, Mumbai had taken his family by surprise with his decision to enroll in a catering school at Dadar. There were few chefs in India in the seventies but Floyd Cardoz passionately wanted to cook. Trained to be a biochemist, a chance reading of Arthur Haley’s novel “Hotel” changed his life for ever. He realised he could indulge in his passion and yet do well in life.