Denigrating our Mentors

OPINION
Denigrating our Mentors
	Merit is a great disqualifier in Pakistan, in a system used to nepotism and favouritism merit is suspect. Columnist Dr SM RAHMAN makes a passionate defence of those who have served Pakistan selflessly and who deserve better
Pakistan's hard earned identity on 28th May 1998, as the first nuclear Muslim power, brought the nation to that pitch of elation, when this country was born on 14th of August 1947. What was a formal declaration of independence, against all odds and obstacles, after a lapse of fifty years, Pakistan felt a real taste of freedom, the ability to defy all pressures, and not to remain tied down to the apron-strings of the formidable power - USA. Subservience and docility had become the character-traits of those who wielded political power - civil or military. This state of affairs was practically taken for granted for the past half a century. It was indeed a shock and bewilderment to USA, that Pakistan, which was expected to dutifully comply to, by not detonating nuclear weapons, in reaction to India's five successive blasts, pronouncing its sixth nuclear state status, chose a different course. Instead the will of the people prevailed and Pakistan took a courageous decision not to barter national honour for the sake of meagre material rewards. It gave a befitting answer to India's irresponsible bullish nuclear behaviour, by a credible demonstration of its all rounded capabilities. The impressive six blasts, practically stunned the Indian strategists, who were under the illusion that Pakistan had yet to cross the threshold which transforms the non-weaponised stage to a weaponised one. There were even speculations among those, who were averse to Pakistan's overt nuclear status, that it would back-out from the nuclear arena, as it had not yet acquired the requisite capability. The euphoria in India, proved short-lived. In fact, Pakistan's response not only brought the professed claims to be truthful and not a bluff, but also established a superior edge over India due to detonation of war-heads, ready to be fitted in the Ghauri missile. This credible achievement, we owe to Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan - a scientist who is a legend in his own lifetime - a rare honour for any creative individual to attain. Just when the nation's morale had sky-rocketed, and patriotic fervour had infused a new zeal and determination there came a very surreptitious and viciously planted theme that the architect of our nuclear glory was not Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan but some other unknown entities. The purpose was to divide the scientific community in Pakistan, so that internal bickerings, personalized orientations dilute their unity and commitment and detract them from ambitions and goals, which run counter to those who do not wish a Muslim country to emerge a nuclear power in the region and break their monopoly. Divisive propaganda is a very insidious game, far more lethal than any weapon known to mankind. It is indeed a great tragedy that some self-seeking individuals are so prone to playing into the hands of our adversaries. Our enemies from without, perhaps cannot do us as much damage as those who operate as agents from within. We must remain very vigilant against this breed of so called scholars, who under the cover of freedom of expression, are out to shake the pillars that sustain our nation's pride. Dissent is indeed vital to any democratic polity to be able to give it resilience and strength. There can be very genuine differences with respect to any national policy, even crucial ones like retaliatory nuclear test blasts. But enemy sponsored dissents fall all together into a different category. They must be identified and countered through effective intelligence system. The controversy as to who is to be crowned for this spectacular breakthrough in the nation's image, is a contrived issue. Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has not suddenly emerged on the nuclear scene. A tirade of propaganda was steered by the overly influential Zionist press, to tarnish his image and label his efforts as a nuclear piracy and mobilize world opinion so that pressures be brought to wean Pakistan from its nuclear programme. A fictitious case was instituted against him in the Netherlands and he was even declared guilty and sentenced to imprisonment in absentia. It was through the efforts of gifted legal counsels - Mr. S. M. Zafar of Pakistan, being a very effective member of the team - that this great scientist was exonerated from the fake charges. What is intended to convey is that such psychological pressures would have been totally unnecessary if our scientist was not authentic and genuine or capable of delivering the goods. If the West is after some one in Pakistan and launches a smear campaign against him, as a rule of thumb, it should be taken for granted that he is working in the supreme interest of our country. A similar logic was given by the Quaid-i-Azam that whenever, the Indian Congress (covertly working for the cause of the Hindus) was opposing any proposal made by the Muslim League, it was a sure indication that the latter was protecting the rights of the Muslims. A very pernicious theme has been floated that Abdul Qadeer Khan's contribution in Pakistan's nuclear capability does not exceed more than five percent. It is 95 percent false. Credit cannot be amassed through such wilful lies manufactured in the tradition of Dr. Goebbels. It always boomerangs. No one even in the wildest imagination can ever contend that any person singlehandedly achieve any remarkable scientific achievement. The Manhattan Project which produced the atomic bomb, did not have only Oppenheimer. But he stands out. The individual is always a symbol of collective effort. Not only do the scientists matter, but even technicians (nuclear mistrees) have their roles to play. To contend that Atomic Energy Commission's contributions were only peripheral would be equally wrong and presumptuous. This is a systematic vilification campaign against Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan that he tends to project himself a bit too much. It is no secret that during the days when Pakistan was developing the nuclear capability, he shunned publicity and he was not even seen anywhere. It is only when Pakistan acquired the capability - a non-weaponised status, it had to be announced to the world. Nuclear weapons cannot have deterrence value, unless a credible message is sent to those who nourish military ambitions. Who could be a more credible communicator than this internationally acclaimed scientist? History would testify that the much maligned interview with the Indian journalist Kuldip Nayyar, was a brilliant psychological manoeuvre which did save a fourth round of war - under the smoke-screen of Brass Tacks. Bharat, which was itching for an encounter, equipped with massive conventional weapons got the shock of its life, when Pakistan's nuclear retaliation became a palpable reality. The jingoistic mercury which had soared so high, came to a sudden fall. This nation, as well as the entire region owes a great debt to this outstanding scientist. There is also a human side to it, which needs to be taken into consideration. Khruschev, in his diary notes an incident when he had once counselled an eminent Russian scientist to join the defence establishment, which he had declined to accept. The reason he gave was interesting. He said that in the military establishment he would be put into a closet. His researches and discoveries would never be made public. Scientists he said, took pride in making their experiments and ideas known to the scientific community. They would like to be photographed. Communication was an integral part of all creative work. One can only understand the agony of a nuclear scientist, who must remain tight-lipped. The successful demonstration of the Ghauri missile is indeed a commendable achievement for Pakistan, which hit the bull's eye, in a single trial, whereas Indian Prithvi required a number of tests. Pakistan's competence in the missile technology is also a patent reality which is entirely due to the dedication of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and his team. We owe several other sophisticated weapons in our military arsenal to his untiring zeal and commitment, eg, Anza missile, anti-tank (Buktar Shikan) missiles, 30mm, barrel Rocket Launcher, Laser range finder and mine clearing devices. All these have been accomplished in record time. We surely need to build institutions and not to shower laurels only on individuals. But to deny them the credit and to undermine their achievements would be very immoral. It is because of them that we have achieved strategic leverage, which if properly capitalized, would put us on the highway to progress and a respectable existence, besides fortifying our security. W.H. Auden, had once said that we tend to praise only horizontals (the dead individuals); it was time that we praised the Verticals (the living ones). Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan is indeed that vertical - tall and high - who needs be praised for his spectacular accomplishments so as to induce him for yet greater glories for Pakistan. Let us remember what J.P. Kennedy said: More men die of jealousy than cancer.