I read an interesting article [1] from Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. Dr. Hoodbhoy is a top Pakistani Nuke Scientist and is currently the Professor of High Energy Physics, and the head of the Physics Department at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He is also a social activist and has been a critic of the Nuclear programs of India and Pakistan both. He is an intellectual and a sane voice in otherwise paranoid Pakistani analyst community, there are many who are his critics in his own country, which is expected. I find his article expressing his thoughts but also fighting against the impressions that he has to give to not invite rash criticism. In doing that, he has written a rather contradictory piece in itself. These contradictions are the bane of any sane Pakistani analyst, for the rabid ones who are prone to controversy theories have no such qualms. They are fanatics and their agenda is clear. That they keep contradicting themselves in every interview is another matter. For example, Zaid Hamid and Hamid Gul keep labeling people they want to be seen as bad at any time as zionists or Hindu agents while these may be the same people they may have lived and worked with almost half of their lives. But that is how they are. I would have expected a little more openness from Dr. Hoodbhoy though..specially given the fact that he is from the Nuclear power elite in that country and no one knows the mess that is prevalent in that country as that part of the administration does. He starts off the piece by making some assertions, which are at best half-hearted: First, the bottom line: Pakistan will not break up; there will not be another military coup; the Taliban will not seize the presidency; Pakistan's nuclear weapons will not go astray; and the Islamic sharia will not become the law of the land. Why are they half hearted? Read more