Real deal

THE article, “Indo-US deal and Muslims” by Aijaz Zaka Syed says that “the Muslims as well as other communities must oppose this unholy nuclear alliance with the neocons. Not because this accord is against the Muslims, as some of our politician friends in their excessive enthusiasm seem to suggest, but because this is against India’s long-term interests.”
I do not agree with the point that the nuclear deal is against India’s long term interests. On the contrary, it is a sure-fire guarantee that India’s long-term interests will be protected. The reasons are not hard to guess. India’s neighbouring countries China and Pakistan, with whom the country had fought several wars, are nuclear powers. Another neighbour, Iran, is in the process of becoming a nuclear power. It is also not a secret that China is providing nuclear know-how to both Pakistan and Iran. So what India needs at this hour is not isolation from on the global stage but a powerful allies and increased global support for its peaceful and development-oriented nuclear programme.
Ram Chandra
Via Email