India doubles its Uranium reserves

Uranium ore

India's Atomic Energy Commission disclosed a new uranium discovery in Tummalapalle in Kadapa district, state of Andhra Pradesh, with reserves of 150.000 tonnes effectively doubles India's Uranium reserves.

India's nuclear energy programme is under-supplied and the new source is most welcome to keep it viable and limit its dependence from foreign suppliers. On the nuclear weapons front, India's pursuit of a nuclear triad is also increasing demand: soon the first of its Arihant class of nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarines will be operational, more will follow.

Clearly good news for India, but may yet prove to be a factor in global instability. India first nuclear weapon was designated PNE, for 'peaceful nuclear explosive', such irony may fail to make its neighbours smile.

Pakistan, although lacking indigenous uranium, may feel compelled to compete. With the country on an uncontrolled downward spiral, some in Islamabad may take less than reasonable decisions, and more seriously we are all wondering when will a Pakistani nuclear warhead reach the wrong hands. China too, may see this as a threat, specially in terms of projected power and rivalry in the oceans, though we shouldn't expect any actions from the People's Republic that defy either prudence or intelligence.

INS Arihant - Indian nuclear submarine under construction (based on the Soviet Akula class)

Benazir Bhutto is gone - Pakistan on the way to be a failed state

Benazir Bhutto

The violent death of Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi is one more sign of a country tribalized and out of control.

So much worries about Iran, when the real danger is next door in Pakistan: a "country" that has nuclear weapons, controls only half its territory, persecutes its minorities and has vast stretches of the population embracing radical Islam and on the path of Jihad and terrorism.

Any other ingredients required for a failed state?

Lets always keep in perspective that Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, called the flag of his party, the Muslim League, the Flag of Islam, and had stated that it cannot be separated from Islam.

The US provided about $600 million in military aid to Pakistan in fiscal year 2006-2007. It would be interesting to see how much of this ended up in the hand of Jihadists. After all the Pakistanis are only continuing the American designed routines previously used to finance the Taliban against the USSR.