Pakistan advised Iran to harass Israel

stone_cold · 05-12-2006, 21:27 PM

Quote:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's former army chief says Iranian officials came to him for advice on heading off an attack on their nuclear facilities, and he in effect advised them to take a hostage — Israel.

Retired Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg said he suggested their government "make it clear that if anything happens to Iran, if anyone attacks it — it doesn't matter who it is or how it is attacked — that Iran's answer will be to hit Israel; the only target will be Israel."

Since Beg spoke in an interview with The Associated Press, echoes of his thinking have been heard in Iran, though whether they result directly from his advice isn't known.

Mohammad Ebrahim Dehghani, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander, was quoted last week as saying that if "America does make any mischief, the first place we target will be Israel." The threat was disavowed the next day by Brig. Gen. Alireza Afshar, deputy to the chief of Iran's military staff, who said it was Dehghani's "personal view and has no validity as far as the Iranian military officials are concerned."

And on Tuesday, Israel's vice premier, Shimon Peres, warned that "Those who threaten to destroy are in danger of being destroyed."

In the AP interview that took place several weeks before these threats were exchanged, Beg said a delegation from the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan had come to his office in January, seeking advice as Western pressure mounted on Iran to abandon its nuclear effort. Beg said he offered lessons learned from his experience dealing with India's nuclear threat.

He said he told the Iranians, whom he did not identify, that Pakistan had suspected India of collaborating with Israel in planning an attack on its nuclear facilities. By then, Pakistan had the bomb too. But both countries had adopted a strategy of ambiguity, he said, and Pakistan sent an emissary to India to warn that no matter who attacked it, Pakistan would retaliate against India.
"We told India frankly that this is the threat we perceive and this is the action we are taking and the action we will take. It was a real deterrent," he recalled telling the Iranians.

He said he also advised them to "attempt to degrade the defense systems of Israel," harass it through the Hamas government of the Palestinian Authority and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and put second-strike nuclear weapons on submarines.

Although analysts are divided on how soon Iran might have nuclear weapons, Beg said he is sure Iran has had enough time to develop them. But he insists the Pakistani government didn't help, even though he says former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto once told him the Iranians offered more than $4 billion for the technology.

Ephraim Asculai, a former senior official with the Israel Atomic Agency Commission, said he didn't think Beg's remarks reflected official Pakistani policy.

Asculai said he believed Iran learned more from Iraq than from Pakistan, recalling that as soon as the 1991 Gulf War broke out, Saddam Hussein fired missiles at Israel, even though it wasn't in the U.S.-led coalition fighting Iraq.

Beg became army chief of staff in 1988, a year after Pakistan confirmed CIA estimates that it had nuclear weapons capability. He served until 1991 and now runs his own think tank. He speaks freely and in detail about the nuclear issue, but many critical blank spots remain and the subject remains one of great sensitivity, clouded by revelations in 2004 that A.Q. Khan, who pioneered Pakistan's nuclear bomb, sold nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
The bigger picture has also changed radically. Pakistan is now a U.S. ally in the war on terrorism, and Asculai said "Pakistani government officials have often suggested that they would be willing to have ties with Israel under certain conditions."

In the AP interview, Beg detailed nearly 20 years of Iranian approaches to obtain conventional arms and then technology for nuclear weapons. He described an Iranian visit in 1990, when he was army chief of staff.

"They didn't want the technology. They asked: 'Can we have a bomb?' My answer was: By all means you can have it but you must make it yourself. Nobody gave it to us."

The United States imposed sanctions on Pakistan in 1990, suspecting it was developing a nuclear bomb. In 1998, confirmation came with Pakistan's first nuclear weapons tests.

Although Beg insisted his government never gave Iran nuclear weapons, Pakistan now acknowledges that Khan sold Iran centrifuges to produce weapons-grade uranium, though without his government's knowledge.
In a televised confession Khan insisted he acted without authorization in selling nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, saying the proliferation took place between 1989 and 2000.

Khan has been pardoned by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and Pakistan has refused to hand him over to the United States or the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency for questioning.

According to Beg, Iran first sent emissaries to Pakistan in the latter years of its 1980-88 war with Iraq with a shopping list worth billions of dollars, mostly for spare parts for its air force. It offered in return to underwrite the development plan of Gen. Zia-ul Haq, then Pakistan's ruler.

"Gen. Zia did not agree," he said.

Much of what Beg says cannot be independently confirmed, and the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Beg's version of events.

Another angle on these early contacts comes from Tanvir Ahmed, Pakistan's ambassador to Iran from 1987-1989. He said he had a rare meeting with Iran's nuclear inner circle in January 1988.

"It was the only time I was allowed in the inner sanctum of the nuclear discussions. I was asked to a lunch. ... they wanted to know whether Pakistan would help them on the nuclear side. They never said they wanted nuclear weapons. They said they wanted to master the nuclear cycle," Ahmed recalled.

Ahmed said he told them it was unlikely, but promised to relay the request to Zia. He said Zia told him: "You gave them the right answer."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/...kistan_nuclear

alokindia2020 · 05-13-2006, 11:36 AM

Israel will just kick theA** of these 2 nations if a war erupts!

Hari_Om · 05-13-2006, 13:19 PM

Morally reprehensible bit of advise.

I am however not surprised that this advice emanated from out of Pakistan

.

This kind of advise is to be expected from products of a society that can sentence a 2 year old girl to 3 years in prison for crimes allegedly committed by family members. (See here)

.

Punishing the innocent is the way of justice in Pakistan and the advice proffered to the Iranian’s on how to tackle an American attack merely follows that path.

Akshay · 05-16-2006, 07:16 AM

Mirza Aslam Beg is on a suicide mission.

Fatima · 05-17-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alokindia2020

Israel will just kick theA** of these 2 nations if a war erupts!

Well, Isreal cannot even Kick the A*** of phalistanians who have been fighting with stones and not weapons. Nor Iran or Pakistan is an easy target as you think. I personally admire the courage of Iran for standing up for the United States. Who ever made them the rulers of the world???

Just a punch of idiots who are ruled by the biggest idiot earth has encountered. I do really feel sorry for Americans.

**Officer of Engineers** · 05-17-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Just a punch of idiots who are ruled by the biggest idiot earth has encountered. I do really feel sorry for Americans.

Idiots don't make the most powerful country the world has ever seen.

troung · 05-17-2006, 10:29 AM

Quote:

I personally admire the courage of Iran for standing up for the United States. Who ever made them the rulers of the world???

A bunch of idiots...

Major Dad · 05-17-2006, 23:33 PM

What if it's the Israelis themselves who attack it?

Confed999 · 05-18-2006, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Just a punch of idiots who are ruled by the biggest idiot earth has encountered.

And still doing better than you and your country. So what does that say about you?

bull · 05-18-2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Well, Isreal cannot even Kick the A*** of phalistanians who have been fighting with stones and not weapons.

How on earth can take on a moder army with stones, you shud be kidding right. U shud be thanking the israelis for letting the Palestenians live.

Fatima · 05-18-2006, 07:34 AM

First of all I am not from Iran nor Phalistine. That's not the issue in here anyway. Well from what's going on today i can't see Isreal being capable of beating the rebels in phalistine. U people even miserably failed in Vitenam. Ya surely the States is the most powerful country in the world. A country whose people cannot even locate on the map where Greece is. I still do feel sorry for you as your government is not showing you what's truly happening in the world and the blood baths they shed everday in Iraq. Isreal was formed on the ashes of innocent people. Would you Americans like it if someone invaded your country and claimed it belonged to them originally. No you wouldn't.

The true reason American went to Iraq was for oil. There is no nuclear weapon or whatsoever. But i guess Americans don't know that as they are not smart enough to realise it.

I come from a place where sadly they glorify eveything America does, but i am luck enough to have brains and make up my own mind. And after Iraq they started harrassing Syria. Why Arabic countries out of all? What does America has against them. Just let them live peacefully.

Here in the UK an inquiry has been set up to find out the real reasons behind the Prime Minister agreeing to go to Iraq. British people at least are not stupid. they never supported this war and never will.

But no matter what i say. Unfortunately Americans will remain the most stupid people on earth. Sorry again. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it.

Neo · 05-18-2006, 08:10 AM

Tone it down lady, thats quite a statement you're making about the US.
Ofcourse you're entitled to have and share your opinion, but do it in a proper way.
Just my two sents.

**Shek** · 05-18-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

First of all I am not from Iran nor Phalistine. That's not the issue in here anyway. Well from what's going on today i can't see Isreal being capable of beating the rebels in phalistine.

Israel has embarked upon the path to the two state solution. It's policy isn't to defeat the terrorists, just to prevent them from being able to attack Israeli citizens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

U people even miserably failed in Vitenam.

Are you inferring that the Israel Lobby controls the US, or just conflating the US and Israel? BTW, the NLF was basically defeated in Vietnam; however, the NVA was successful in defeating the South Vietnamese who no longer had US air support.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Ya surely the States is the most powerful country in the world. A country whose people cannot even locate on the map where Greece is.

I can. Ergo, your generalization is false.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

I still do feel sorry for you as your government is not showing you what's truly happening in the world and the blood baths they shed everday in Iraq.

Sorry, the terrorists in Iraq are the ones that are shedding the VAST majority of blood in Iraq.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Isreal was formed on the ashes of innocent people. Would you Americans like it if someone invaded your country and claimed it belonged to them originally. No you wouldn't.

Yes, the act to form Israel passed through the United Nations on the ashes of the 6 million innocent Jews that were murdered in a genocide planned by Hitler. This is the first statement of yours that I agree with. As far as the Palestinians, they never would have had a state without Israel. Riddle me this - why did the Arab countries invade Israel in 1948 - it's not because they wanted a one state solution for Palestine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

The true reason American went to Iraq was for oil.

Please provide the evidence. How much Iraqi oil has the US gained from Operation Iraqi Freedom? Where are all the profits from Iraq, then? We've spent more than $200 billion, so how much have we made off oil? As much as you want to believe this, you won't find anything to support your position.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

There is no nuclear weapon or whatsoever.

That's the whole point. Stop them before they could build a nuclear weapon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

But i guess Americans don't know that as they are not smart enough to realise it.

In your simple world seen through distorted lenses, you've missed the forest from the trees. Is Saddam Hussein still in charge? No. There's one objective completed. Is there a democratically elected governemnt? Yes. There's another objective completed. Is this democratic government self-sustaining? Not yet, and this is the one objective that's definitely not in the bag. Can Iraq be a safe haven for terrorists and a potential manufacturer of WMD? Not anytime soon. AQ is losing in Iraq and they know it. The remaining WMD programs from the Hussein regime are now completely dismantled instead of being dormant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

I come from a place where sadly they glorify eveything America does, but i am luck enough to have brains and make up my own mind.

Debatable. You provide no evidence to support your claims. This is a flawed debating technique. The burden of evidence is on the person making assertions, not the person refuting them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

And after Iraq they started harrassing Syria. Why Arabic countries out of all? What does America has against them. Just let them live peacefully.

Maybe because almost all of the foreign terrorists that enter Iraq go through Syria? Maybe because Syria has harbored Ba'athist officials from Iraq? Maybe because of Syria's interference in Lebanon? Take your pick, there's plenty of reasons why Syria is not a member of the international community with good standing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Here in the UK an inquiry has been set up to find out the real reasons behind the Prime Minister agreeing to go to Iraq. British people at least are not stupid. they never supported this war and never will.

That's funny, while they no longer have the huge majority, Blair's party is still the majority.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

But no matter what i say. Unfortunately Americans will remain the most stupid people on earth. Sorry again. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it.

I think we'll leave it. No facts, no logic, no sense. Thanks for playing, though.

**Shek** · 05-18-2006, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

Well, Isreal cannot even Kick the A*** of phalistanians who have been fighting with stones and not weapons.

Funny, how do all those Palestinian suicide bombers explode? I've never heard of exploding rocks before!

HistoricalDavid · 05-18-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatima

British people at least are not stupid. they never supported this war and never will

The polls I've seen suggest that public opinion peaked at 65% in favour.

Quote:

But no matter what i say. Unfortunately Americans will remain the most stupid people on earth. Sorry again. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it.

How about refuting it? You might be forgiven for being ignorant - we all are of some things - but at least keep your mouth shut when you don't know what you're talking about, which you often don't as shek has proved to the point of nausea.

I'm ashamed to share this island with you.

05-16-2006, 07:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
Akshay formerly ab041937 *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 06-27-05 Posts: 1,523 Country:	Mirza Aslam Beg is on a suicide mission. __________________ If at first you don't succeed, call it v1.0!

05-17-2006, 23:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
Major Dad *Military Professional* Join Date: 05-03-05 Location: Oklahoma, USA Posts: 221 Country:	What if it's the Israelis themselves who attack it? __________________ The more I think about it, ol' Billy was right. Lets kill all the lawyers, lets kill 'em tonight. - The Eagles

05-18-2006, 08:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
Neo Silent lurker *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 04-06-05 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7,920 Country:	Tone it down lady, thats quite a statement you're making about the US. Ofcourse you're entitled to have and share your opinion, but do it in a proper way. Just my two sents. __________________ Administrator @ Defence.pk

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pakistan faces US heat on Iran	Endangered	South Asian Defense Topics	3	02-18-2006 11:56 AM
World Bank report on Pakistan water resources: Water economy: running dry	Ray	Political Discussions	2	01-19-2006 17:35 PM
40,000 Dead & Counting (Musharaf Pleads for help)	Gautam	Political Discussions	63	12-12-2005 14:37 PM
Pakistan: The State of Denial	Ray	South Asian Defense Topics	22	05-07-2005 08:47 AM
The EU, US, Israel and Iran	lulldapull	Israeli-Palestinian Conflict	24	01-03-2005 02:52 AM

05-13-2006, 11:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
alokindia2020 Banished Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: Hindustan Meri Jaan Posts: 150	Israel will just kick theA** of these 2 nations if a war erupts!

05-13-2006, 13:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hari_Om Banished Join Date: 09-30-04 Posts: 1,049 Country:	Morally reprehensible bit of advise. I am however not surprised that this advice emanated from out of Pakistan . This kind of advise is to be expected from products of a society that can sentence a 2 year old girl to 3 years in prison for crimes allegedly committed by family members. (See here) . Punishing the innocent is the way of justice in Pakistan and the advice proffered to the Iranian’s on how to tackle an American attack merely follows that path.

05-18-2006, 07:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
Fatima New Member Join Date: 05-09-06 Posts: 5	First of all I am not from Iran nor Phalistine. That's not the issue in here anyway. Well from what's going on today i can't see Isreal being capable of beating the rebels in phalistine. U people even miserably failed in Vitenam. Ya surely the States is the most powerful country in the world. A country whose people cannot even locate on the map where Greece is. I still do feel sorry for you as your government is not showing you what's truly happening in the world and the blood baths they shed everday in Iraq. Isreal was formed on the ashes of innocent people. Would you Americans like it if someone invaded your country and claimed it belonged to them originally. No you wouldn't. The true reason American went to Iraq was for oil. There is no nuclear weapon or whatsoever. But i guess Americans don't know that as they are not smart enough to realise it. I come from a place where sadly they glorify eveything America does, but i am luck enough to have brains and make up my own mind. And after Iraq they started harrassing Syria. Why Arabic countries out of all? What does America has against them. Just let them live peacefully. Here in the UK an inquiry has been set up to find out the real reasons behind the Prime Minister agreeing to go to Iraq. British people at least are not stupid. they never supported this war and never will. But no matter what i say. Unfortunately Americans will remain the most stupid people on earth. Sorry again. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)