[Pakistani Shaheen III MRBM]
Talk of volunteering one’s neck for the Israeli chopping block! Pakistan has gone and done it.
At least two things, known for quite some time now, have come out of the nuclear closet. Firstly, that Saudi Arabia has finally owned up, formalised an arrangement with a nuclear proxy. Having financed Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear weapons and missile technology from China in the 1980s, Riyadh is now asserting its seignorial rights to the Pakistani Bomb but cleverly putting Pakistan up as its nuclear front man to face Israeli ire. And secondly, that it is, in fact, what was always claimed for it but mostly by foreign analysts — an “Islamic Bomb”, meaning that it will be at the service of shia and sunni rulers alike, enlarging in a very real sense the role of Jinnah’s “New Medina” as the literal protector of the Prophet’s estate — the old “Medina” spreading over South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Gulf, and the Maghreb.
The statements by an Iranian general and Pakistani ministers support just such a reading. “Pakistan has told us that if Israel uses nuclear missiles, we will also attack it with nuclear weapons.” So declared Mohesen Rezai, Senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general to the Press in Tehran (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/121873943.cms). Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif dilated on the topic some more. “We have not named any country whose attack would automatically trigger a retaliatory response”, he stated coyly. “This is an umbrella arrangement offered to one another by both sides…not an aggressive pact”, he clarified. “This agreement will not be hegemonical arrangement…We don’t have any plans to conquer territory or attack anyone” — which must come as a relief to someone — but who, it isn’t at all clear! Further, he described offering its nuclear weapons to other Islamic states as a “fundamental right”, and “sacred duty” to protect the holy Islamic sites in Saudi Arabia. Not to be outspoken by a cabinet colleague, foreign minister Ishaq Dar disclosed, more mysteriously, that “some other countries want to enter into an agreement of this nature.” Abbas then topped of by going overboard. “What we have, our capabilities, will absolutely be available under this pact” to the regime of the Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, before iterating Pakistan’s bonafides as a “a responsible nuclear power” — a status, he claimed, has “never” been challenged. So all the regular N-sabre rattling emanating from west of the Radcliffe Line must be sounds of one hand clapping — do you hear it?!
It is plain that it was Riyadh that put Pakistan upto it — though the grand opportunity to project Pakistan’s “power” in the Islamic world and beyond must have appealed strongly to Asif Munir FM, because he is thus annointed the “Guardian of Mecca and Medina”! That such a treaty has been in the works for a while now is a load of nonsense. A couple of things happened that made Salman want a nuclear weapon at his beck and call: The Israeli air strike on the Hamas leadership in Qatar carried out with Trump’s consent, showed that the “good faith” notions cementing the September 2020 Abrahamic Accords between Israel, UAE and Bahrain that Trump orchestrated his first time around, has come unglued. Indeed, Trump now wants to expand these Accords to include Saudi Arabia, Syria and Lebanon. That won’t succeed. What Riyadh has realised is Israel can’t be stopped, and America is only a bystander once Tel Aviv decides to act. In the event, Salman apparently believes that having a live nuclear option offers him better leverage with the US and in the region than relying on Trump’s word, which counts for nothing — a view his “good friend” Modi no doubt now agrees with! That was the fun part for Munir and Pakistan.
Now comes the hard part – MOSSAD!
Ever since the news got out in the Eighties — I was the vehicle for this bit of news being made public, courtesy my chance meeting in the Kiryat Shimona kibbutz during the June 1982 Lebanon War with the redoubtable Major General Aharon Yaariv, former Head of Military Intelligence — that Israel, in cooperation with India, had almost pulled off the bombing of the Pakistani nuclear weapons labs at Kahuta in early 1982.
General Yaariv, who cut his teeth in the pre-Israel paramilitary, Haganah, in 1948, at the age of 63 was called up from the Reserve for active duty, for the Israeli advance into Lebanon. He relayed to me the details of the planned joint Indo-Israeli air strike operation that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi pulled out of at the last minute, creating no end of frustration in Tel Aviv. Yaariv, who directed the mission to hunt down and execute the killers of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, was exasperated as hell, telling me, as I remember vividly, that India doesn’t seem to know its own interests. Who is to say he was wrong? The Indian goverment is like that only!
Incidentally, the Kahuta op was to be a near repeat of the Israeli strike to take out Saddam Hussein’s nuclear power reactor — Osiraq, near Baghdad in June 1981, an attack ordered by PM, Menachim Begin. It too involved F-16s for ordnance delivery, and F-15s flying escort, and was to be staged out of Jamnagar and Udhampur.
It put the fear of Allah in Pakistan army Generals, because thereafter they began making representations to the Israeli government saying the Pakistani nuclear weapons would under no circumstances be used for other than against India. It was during Parvez Musharraf’s tenure as COAS and then President that Pakistan’s efforts to reassure the Israelis were at their strongest.
Neither Tel Aviv nor Mossad was ever convinced, however. Now with Salman flaunting his finger on the Pakistani nuclear weapons, and Rezaei in Tehran sounding off, guess who has been pushed up and centre into Mossad’s crosshairs?
Munir and cohort don’t quite know, to mix metaphors, the noose they have stuck their necks into. Watch out, and consider the ingenious ways other than the more straightforward tactics, the Israelis will now be mobilising against them. They would be well advised to at least become familiar with the methods that may be used to eliminate the more prominent among them who had a hand in this decision, along with the leading scientists and engineers working for the Strategic Plans Division, Chaklala. Strange things may begin to happen! Field Marshal sahab, order your copy fast of ‘Rise and Kill First’ — Mossad’s operational motto, and the title of a book by Ronen Bergman, on targeted Israeli assassinations! Some of these kill ops were nursed over years.
Israel is not India, Mossad is not RAW, and Benjamin Netanyahu is not Narendra Modi. Expect action.
Good Luck, Pakistan army flag rankers! You’ll need it.
Security Wise 
Sir, I am happy our interests will be served. Hopefully our leaders, RAW may learn some lessons but also from history — Subhash Bose never compromised on India’s interests.
Email from Air Marshal (Retd) Harish Masand
Harish Masand
Sun, Sep 21 at 2:40 PM
👍 Well said, Bharat
Regards,
Harish
@BharatKarnad
a great article the paki generals will very soon feel the wrath of Allah and hammer of mossad
but sir as you told about the planned joint strike on kahuta a video/article came in to my mind
there was this air commodore of PAF called Khalid Mahmood who was a fighter pilot and later on become a part of the operational command of PAF
he on record says that the PAF was aware of an incoming israeli attack as a result PAF increased its surveillance and sorties taking off per day so as a way to say that they are ready.
he then says that the Pakistani establishment had warned israel that they will attack israel’s dimona nuclear reactor in negev desert if they couldn’t stop the israeli attack on kahuta. And PAF had actually prepared a squadron of F16 that would go on a one way suicidal mission to take out the israeli reactor as a retaliatory measure.
and Israelis knew this and hence they didn’t attack kahuta
now this is what the air commodore said can he be trusted could the Pakistani f16 really reach dimona or can this be discarded as yet another nonsense
would like to know your views
One way, yes. But far short of the Negev site, PAF F-16s with little fuel would have to duel with Israeli AD aircraft. So fat chance of that counter-strike getting through.
@BharatKarnad
thank you for the book recommendation on mossad ops professor
Any updates on your upcoming title eagerly waiting for it. Can we get it by this year end.
Completing the manuscript
“Do you want to destroy Israel” These words were said by Musharraf and then he stopped the funds for Ghauri-III missile(IRBM) capable of reaching tel aviv
no doubt musharaff and all other pakistani generals till asim munir were very scared of israel and did not wanted to mess with them
https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/614125-musharraf-stopped-funds-for-ghauri-iii-missile-saying-%E2%80%9Cdo-you-want-to-destroy-israel%E2%80%9D
Professor karnad ,
In your opinion do you think that this is an arm twisting tactic of the United States to push and bully india to agree to its terms , as you very well know that both pakistan and Saudi Arabia are US vassal states and this defense pact is solely done for this purpose only (to bully and pressurize india despite showing friendly gestures out in the media ) . Would like to respectfully seek your opinion on this ?. Thanks.
Of course, these are US pressure tactics. Trump knows they’ll work because time and again Modi-Jaishankar have in the past succumbed.
Good points, Prof. Pakistan (read Asim Munir) is overreaching, after being amply pumped with gas by Trump. But their ambition of becoming a fulcrum of the Muslim universe will become a pipe-dream after all. First, they do not have the wherewithal nor the competence to play the role. Besides, having been China’s cats-paw all this while, they cannot act independently as a regional leader. On India’s part, we need to strengthen the relations with China and secure the northern/eastern border. Then we can take up Pakistan and if necessary Bangladesh in detail. When push comes to shove, China won’t lift a finger on their behalf.
“On India’s part, we need to strengthen the relations with China and secure the northern/eastern border” — No! The wrongest thing! COOPT Pak — doable & Best solution!
But Pak serves TWO masters: China and US. Lately, Pak is even closer to US. Coopting Pak is quite possible, to be honest.
That’s among the reasons why I have been advocating the cooptation option for 35 years now!
u.s.a. = union of saudi america = evil e-slum empire = enemy of entire humanity.
what makes you think that mos-sad will attack the e-manis of e-slum-abad to serve the interests of goyims?
what makes you think that pent-agon will allow the mos-sad to destroy its nukes stored safely in bin-laden bins?
Hard core voters and workers of BJP, are in awe of Israel and they have voted Modi to power just so that he would take bold steps when it comes to national interest.
Modi, Shah had an image of being rutheless, cold hearted when it comes to dealing with there opponents. And so is Doval.
And even now you say R&AW is not MOSSAD. Why it isn’t? They have been in power for like 11 years now. This is what the majority Indian population wants!
@dhaitya221b- All three BJP leaders whom you have mentioned above are nothing more than paper tigers.
The whole world has seen how China annexed Indian land in 2020. What did your shoorveers do?
With Pakistan they had an excellent chance but one phone call from Trump and Modi stopped the war.
The whole world knows about India’s relentless efforts in destabilizing Pakistan through its proxies like BLA.
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.
(Not Sure about Chattur) Chamaar Bro,
First thing get your facts right there was NO phone call of Modi and Trump in between Op Sindhoor. As Modi reiterated in the meeting between him and Trump. Becuase of which turmp got pissed and hence the sanctions.”The whole world has seen how China annexed Indian land in 2020. What did your shoorveers do?”It is not confirmed and i don’t know about this thing for a fact so won’t comment on this.”The whole world knows about India’s relentless efforts in destabilizing Pakistan through its proxies like BLA.”- So What? Whole world knows about Pakistan pumping jihadi terrorist in Kashmir, with US money.Whole world knows about USA destabalizing Indian North East. Kukki Land For Christ.Whole world knows about USA destablizing many countires.i can go on and on….”Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.” – But bro i TOTALLY agree with your pov. Those who live in Glass houses should now just throw stones enemy won’t die with stone. You need to obliterate them.Nuke’em.Otherwise they will come back.About modi being Paper Tiger, the guy did 2002. the RSS planned Mosque Demolition when no one could have thought of it?GO back 10 years ago and ask people if they ever though article 370 would ever be abbrogated. They would have said No. It is unrealist. They did some increadible things. Are they enough NO. But are they far better then what Muk Mohan or the leftist cabal of Rahul would have done? Far better.The problem is i don’t know about you age but, people Bharat have interacted with are old they have seen India before 1991 reforms the communist, socialist India. They were not leathel. They were anything but leathel. But it’s not the same in our case. We will hunt them to the ends of the Earth. We will be Far Far more deadlier then Israel. Chinggis Khan would turn in his grave seeing the havoc upcoming genration is going to wreak on enemies.
@ dhairya221b- You get your facts right. Your whole nonsense classify you as a classic Bhakt.
Trump is on record saying that he intervened on the phone. Politicians and lying are synonymous with each other but what is the credibility of Modi? He declared himself as single in election affidavits while in reality he is a wife deserter.
Regarding your statement that it’s not confirmed. Geopolitical strategists like Bharat Karnad, Praveen Sawhney, Brahma Chellaney are on record saying that China has occupied Indian territory but Bhakts like you are akin to Ostriches burying their head in sand.
Furthermore, Subramanian Swamy a prominent BJP politician is also on record stating that Chinese have taken Indian territory and Modi isn’t allowing any discussions on this subject in the Parliament.
Yeah US is indeed involved in destabilizing many countries but it doesn’t send its politicians on a global tour reiterating it’s ‘holier than thou’ attitude like India.
Independent India has witnessed two major political assassinations of Indira and Rajeev. No Muslims were involved in any of them?
Demolition of Babri Masjid was a totally unnecessary move. India has no dearth of temples.
Regarding your point about abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir. What difference does it make to an average Maratha, Kannadiga, Rajasthani, Bihari, Tamil etc?
Previously Abdullah’s and Saeed’s were fattening themselves on governmental grants in Kashmir, and now ….
Oh by the way, you Bhakts should enlighten yourselves about the religion of Amit Shah. He is not even a Hindu but a Jain.
We will do this, that blah blah. Walk the talk. All this hot air blabbering has no significance.
I will give you a simple task. Ask your Masters in BJP to accomplish it. Indira Gandhi didn’t allow the bombing of Pakistani Nuclear sites as mentioned by Mr. Karnad in this composition.
Modi is very fond of Israel. Let him provide the facilities and Indian air space to conduct a joint operation (Israeli and Indian air forces) and obliterate the Pakistani nuclear infrastructure now. Haii Himmatt?
“You get your facts right. Your whole nonsense classify you as a classic Bhakt.”
→ When you cannot debate on valid points, you just call people Bhakt. That’s the classic lazy man’s argument.
I am NO fanboy of BJP or Modi. But are they better than Rahul’s leftist cabal — the same people openly demanding reservation in private companies? He has said it multiple times. What next, appointing DRDO and ISRO chiefs based on caste? Would I ever vote for such stupidity? No. So is Modi the only sane option left? Yes.
“Regarding your statement that it’s not confirmed. Geopolitical strategists like Bharat Karnad, Praveen Sawhney, Brahma Chellaney are on record saying that China has occupied Indian territory but Bhakts like you are akin to Ostriches burying their head in sand.”
→ He said, she said. That’s exactly how Pakistanis argue on TV: “Hum sab jante hain ki ISI no.1 agency hai.” Proof? “Hum sab jante hain.”
You want me to believe based on vibes? Give me hard evidence, not TV talk.
And you quote Subramanian Swamy? Your “prominent leader” also once said Sonia Gandhi was a W***.* Do you believe that too, or only when it suits you?
“Yeah US is indeed involved in destabilizing many countries but it doesn’t send its politicians on a global tour reiterating it’s ‘holier than thou’ attitude like India.”
→ Oh really? The U.S. does it ALL the time lectures us on democracy, lectures the Middle East on human rights, accuses others of terrorism.
India doing the same is not new it’s Nehruvian strategy continued. What do you expect Modi to do instead? Announce on foreign tours: “Yes, we fund the BLA, kindly note”? Be serious, fool.
“Regarding your point about abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir. What difference does it make to an average Maratha, Kannadiga, Rajasthani, Bihari, Tamil etc?”
→ Go ask them. For decades, common Indians thought Kashmir would remain like Gaza forever untouchable, unsafe, unstable. Article 370’s removal gave them confidence that Kashmir is truly part of India and can be visited and invested in like any other state. That psychological assurance matters, whether you get it or not.
“I will give you a simple task. Ask your Masters in BJP to accomplish it. Indira Gandhi didn’t allow the bombing of Pakistani Nuclear sites as mentioned by Mr. Karnad in this composition.”
→ Masters? I have none in BJP. And bombing Pak’s nuclear sites now? What for? That ship has sailed decades ago. They already have nukes and delivery systems. Foolish point again.
“Demolition of Babri Masjid was a totally unnecessary move. India has no dearth of temples.”
→ And if Hindus can’t reclaim their heritage in their own country, then where? Ram Mandir is not “one more temple.” It’s about civilizational survival. These are heritage sites they must be preserved and cherished.
Wisdom for Wise (though I know you won’t get it):
You want to end India? Destroy its civilizational core.
Look at history:
No amount of hard power or nukes will save a nation that loses its civilization.
But fools like you blinded by hate will never grasp this truth.
You shout “Bhakt” when your brain runs out of fuel.
That’s why I won’t waste another word on you. Debate over
@dhairya221b- Oh by the way, read the comment of Vikram Sharma
Watch out !
We too have a large Israeli influence network. Israeli’s, knowing where PM’s loyalty lies, have been massaging Gujarati lobby. They’ve been cultivating Ahmedabad cronies to sell their equipments, which has resulted in the destruction of domestic defense ecosystem.
PM has systematically underfunded the gov labs and institution to give his ethnics entry into def sector. Is it any surprising that a buffon like Rajnath Singh is far more preferable to the kabootarchaps and khakra-fafda gang than an IITian like Parrikar.
What one can expect from people who’ve the lowest representation in armed forces; the largest no.of defaulters and bankruptcies; historically been the beneficiaries and funders of invaders; and have always sought their own ethnic interests over national interest.
@BharatKarnad
1. Do you think Israel will now do on its own to Pakistan without India what you wrote at https://bharatkarnad.com/2016/11/14/solidifying-india-israel-relations-with-miltech-quid-pro-quo-1982-indo-israeli-plans-for-kahuta-strike/?
2. In view of point number 1, will Pakistan sensing and inability to retaliate against Israel attack India instead?
3. As and when point number 1 happens, what do you think Trump or whoever is the US president will do considering the fact that both Israel and Pakistan are US allies, client states and Major Non-NATO Allies?
4. With regards to point 3, will US in that case dump Pakistan considering Israel to be far more important, especially because of Pakistan’s betrayal in the past of the US in the War On Terror?
@dhairya221b- Calling geopolitical strategists akin to TV debates of sycophants like Arnab Gooswami. It says enough about your intellect.
You should realize that no outsider has invested in Kashmir. There are better places than it.
Indian culture is more than what you Bhakts refer to as Sanatani. Go educate yourself. I never called Congress any better but for you Modi cheer leaders, you bring Congress into every debate.
@BharatKarnad
Professor karnad sir may i suggest you pen down a new blog about the latest Agni prime launch by strategic forces command on the midnight of 25/9/25
this missile is unique because of its low CEP and maybe MARV potential
also can this be used as a carrier killer(like the chinese DF26) as many defense expert view it. the Chinese are planning to have 6 carrier battle groups to cover pacific and indian ocean region
it would be really appreciated if you write a article on the agni series the A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,AP and the upcoming A6 . How this family of missile has been the backbone of the indian detterent
Regards
Look, have written a whole bunch on the Agni’s. Look up my innumerable posts over the years. SFC’s firing A-P is fine
Dear Dr Karnad, Why did Israel actually bomb Qatar and that too with Trump’s approval ? Was it only Hamas leaders ? Also why don’t people try to take out Mossad officers or other Israeli scientists ? A lot of these Israeli scientists move in and out of the West a lot. They can be easy targets in the West. So why don’t people try to assasinate Israeli military leadership?
Superior Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence is why
@BharatKarnad
Professor I was just reading this book called detterence from depth its about the various SSBN forces around the world
in the indian section they talk about the targeting doctrine of the arihant class. The officers of strategic forces command have said that arihant class missiles are aimed at countervalue targets in pakistan . But the Pakistani SPD their analyst are not buying this .They have this fear that arihant can be used as a counterforce platform against pakistan
now what is the nature of the targeting doctrine of arihant i would love to know your answer . Like i am not asking the target lists but will it be countervalue , counterforce or counterforce plus
would like to know your views
Pak targets for Arihant? Nonsense and disinformation. Long range N-ordanance is targeted at value targets in China.
@BharatKarnad
Sir recently in a interview at Chakra rear admiral raja menon talked about this strategy of countering China’s offensive designs in Himalayas by strengthening indian presence in mallaca Strait and Nicobar islands
do you see this working what the admiral is trying to suggest
honestly I don’t think it will work. I would like to know your views on this.
link of the conversation. Its the same platform where you went.
My case against Raja Menon’s theatre-switching strategy in Why India is not a great power (Yet)
Seven Indian firms — including L&T, HAL, Adani Defence, Tata Advanced Systems, and Kalyani Strategic Systems — have submitted bids for India’s 5th-generation jet programme, the country’s largest military R&D project.
@Professor Karnad, at last it seems the government is heeding your advice. Since the publication of Staggering Forward — your critique of the Prime Minister — developments such as the abrogation of Article 370, the Balakot airstrike, Operation Sindoor, enhanced Tejas orders,standing to US pressure and now the push for public–private partnership in defence R&D for amca, suggest that your long-standing recommendations are beginning to shape policy.
With discussions also underway about opening the nuclear sector to private participation, do you feel more optimistic now about India’s future trajectory, and that the government is finally moving closer to meeting the expectations you had outlined?
I would love to hear your views on this
Of course, I’m pleased with the direction in which the Modi regime is moving, especially the “consortium approach” in the indigenous production, regarding the AMCA — that I had recommended in my 2015 book — Why India Is Not a Great Power (Yet). But many of the measures/policies suggested in ‘Staggering’ are still hesitant. Simply cannot understand why the PM is not going in for faster paced de-bureacratisation and deregulation of the Indian economy, and why the labour and land laws hve not been reformed, and remain still the main impediment for high-tech startups and to industrial growth.
@BharatKarnad
professor karnad one scenario regarding india’s nuclear force has always been in my mind. Suppose if the communication links between the SFC and the SSBNs are cut or cutoff .
what then when the sub is a independent platform loaded with nuclear warheaded tipped missiles?
That is a contingency and there is a protocol.
Prof, why is there a mood music of imminent war between India and Pakistan at present? One thought the botched Sindur operation would’ve counselled policy-makers on both sides against a repeat misadventure. It’s high time you weighed in not so much with a reply, but with a fresh column on the present-day dynamics involving 5 nations: India, Pakistan, China, US and Russia. Thank you.
This mood music is for internal consumption. Rest assured nothing will happen. Until the next terrorist incident, a few years from now!
Yes, particularly before election time.