This refers to the editorial, “Avoid panic, paranoia” (April 23). The deal to provide submarines to Pakistan by China is an attempt by the two neighbours to neutralise India. Pakistan has expressed its desire to have a capability to launch nuclear weapons from the sea to counter India, and now its ‘all-weather and time-tested friend' will fulfil its aspirations. It is highly irresponsible of China to arm a country like Pakistan that has a bad non-proliferation record. The latter’s links with North Korea's nuclear programme is well known.
The internal situation in Pakistan is messy. The country has turned into a near-rogue state, which is run largely by the jihadis, the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence. There is no real democracy and the Prime Minister is helpless. Given the law and order situation, there is a strong likelihood of its nuclear arsenal being taken over by the extremists and terrorists that Islamabad openly shelters.