Opinion Nuclear,unclear

A statement from Pakistan’s foreign office was issued in response,as Dawn reported on November 6: “A statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs termed the cover story of The Atlantic’s December 2011 issue ‘pure fiction,baseless and motivated.’ The surfacing of such campaigns is not something new. It is orchestrated by quarters that are inimical to Pakistan’…”

The Express Tribune quoted on November 7 “a senior official in the Strategic Plans Divisions,the department charged with safeguarding Pakistan’s atomic weapons”,who termed the nuclear establishment as “very strong.”

“Secrecy of the nuclear arsenal is ensured at every level… There is also a Strategic Export Control Division at Pakistan’s Foreign Office and an Oversight Board for this division is functioning… Yet,all these efforts are sidelined by the international community in their passion for labelling Pakistan a dangerous nuclear state,’ he added.”

Ejaz Haider,in an op-ed for Pakistan Today titled ‘The (shallow) Atlantic’,attacked the article’s writers,Jeffrey Goldberg and Marc Ambinder: “both reporters are singularly ignorant of the technicalities of the subject they undertook… Security relates to the physical security,transportation and storage of a site,its weapons and their components. The secrecy of many of these procedures is in line with the IAEA security protocol… As someone said about foolproof measures,for every proof there is always a fool.”

Finally Friends?

India and Pakistan agreed at the SAARC summit in the Maldives,at least in principle,to strengthen ties. An editorial in The Express Tribune on November 10 wrote: “Even though no significant decisions with far-reaching effect were reached,the agreement to move ahead along the road to greater friendship is,in itself,an immensely important one. This is especially relevant given the history between the

two countries.”

This came against the backdrop of the foreign ministers of both countries agreeing on “a shrinking of the ‘trust deficit’ between the two countries,” reported The News on November 10. The clearance given by Pakistan’s cabinet to trade normalisation with India came days before this summit.

Minority report

On Eid,five Hindus,including four doctors,were shot dead in Sindh’s Shikarpur district over allegations of sexually assaulting a Muslim girl of the local Bhayo tribe. The newspapers carried statements from members of the Hindu community denying the charges. Strong condemnations came from the prime minister and president. The News reported on November 10: “Ten armed men of the Bhayo tribe… attacked the house of Dr Satyapal in Chak town… They started indiscriminate firing,killing Dr Ajeet,Dr Ashok,Dr Satyapal,Dr Mehander Lal and shopkeeper Naresh on the spot.”

Limited roles

Pakistani actor Ali Zafar,known to Indian audiences through the films Tere Bin Laden and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan,was discussed in The Express Tribune on November 10,in the context of him reportedly turning down a Hindi film where he would play a gigolo: “It was thought by many that once Ali Zafar crosses the border,he would change. However,there have been no drastic changes in his attitude as he climbs the ladder of success on the silver screen.” It also quoted his publicist: “He refused to kiss his co-star and the script had to be changed to suit his demands… He tries his best to keep the values of his home country in mind and work in a way where he can fulfil his professional obligations and not disappoint his fans at the same time. We have witnessed his choices to do this and make us proud.”