Unveiling the 1980s Israel Proposal to Dismantle Pakistan’s Nuclear Ambitions: Why India Hesitated

Hyderabad: Recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites have sparked a fresh discussion about India’s missed opportunity to act against Pakistan’s nuclear program in the 1980s. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently criticized the Congress-led government of that time, calling it a “historic blunder” for allowing Pakistan to attain nuclear capabilities.

In a post on X, Sarma pointed out that while countries today take bold actions to counter nuclear threats, India’s inaction decades ago serves as a cautionary tale. He highlighted that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, had clear evidence of uranium enrichment at Pakistan’s Kahuta facility. Israel had even offered its assistance, suggesting joint military action, but India hesitated. Instead of mounting a preemptive strike, leaders chose diplomacy, fearing global backlash.

Sarma noted that in 1988, Rajiv Gandhi signed an agreement with Benazir Bhutto, committing both nations to avoid striking each other’s nuclear sites. Just a decade later, Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests in 1998. This sparked an arms race that has led to ongoing tensions, such as the Kargil War and various proxy conflicts.

Interestingly, a report by the Wilson Center shows that Israel saw Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions as a significant threat not just to India, but to the entire Middle East. In a letter to Margaret Thatcher in 1979, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin expressed concerns that Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities could enable it to support other hostile nations.

The Israeli plan to neutralize Pakistan’s nuclear program mirrored their successful 1981 raid on Iraq’s Osirak facility. The strategy involved Israeli jets, refueled within India, coordinated with Indian military forces for a potential airstrike. However, several factors led India to retreat from this approach.

Domestic unrest, notably the insurgency in Punjab and instability in Kashmir, made military action risky. Relations with the US were also precarious, especially given the support the Reagan administration provided to Pakistan during its conflict with the Soviet Union.

The geopolitical landscape was fraught with tension. A strike on Kahuta could have escalated into full-blown war, with significant repercussions for India. The assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Zia-ul-Haq in 1988 further shifted priorities, leading to a mutually agreed stance of restraint.

This historical context reminds us of the complexities surrounding nuclear strategy and the difficult choices leaders must navigate. Today, as nations grapple with security challenges, the lessons from the past remain relevant in shaping future actions.



Source link

ISRAEL OFFER TO INDIA IN 1980S, IRAN ISRAEL WAR, ISRAEL INDIA RELATIONS, ISRAEL OFFER TO INDIA, ISRAEL PAKISTAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME, ISRAEL OFFER TO NEUTRALISE PAKISTAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME IN THE 1980S AND WHY INDIA BACKED DOWN'