Avert Nuclear War Over Kashmir

From: "Eli Pariser, 9-11peace.org" <moveon-help-550-701474-U6JbaWqesULWpPbbfvqqlA@list.moveon.org >

Date: 28 May 2002 22:37:27 -0000

Dear friend,

The conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed

territory of Kashmir is edging ever closer to a nuclear war. A

nuclear exchange between these rival nations could kill 12

million people and spread radioactive fallout around the globe.

Please join us in calling on President Musharraf of Pakistan and

Prime Minister Vajpayee of India to step back from the brink of

holocaust.

Sign a message from concerned citizens of the world to these two

leaders at:

http://www.moveon.org/nonukesoverkashmir/

Both leaders are currently banging the drums of war. Yesterday,

Pakistan tested its third missile in as many days, emphasizing

its ability to deliver nukes to the Indian capital city New

Delhi in under three minutes. Prime Minister Vajpayee told the

700,000 troops stationed along the border of Pakistan that he

was preparing for "a decisive victory."

While India has stated that it will only use its nukes in

the case of a nuclear attack, Pakistan has made clear that it

will strike first if threatened. And there's reason to believe

that it will follow through on this policy: in 1999, such an

attack was narrowly averted, over the protest of then-General

Musharraf.

More worrying still, India and Pakistan have broken their

diplomatic ties. Unlike the US and the USSR during the Cold War,

India and Pakistan have no direct line connecting the leadership

of each nation. The possibility exists that nukes could be

launched as a result of a mistake, since there's no easy way for

the leadership of one nation to verify the intentions of its

rival. With millions of lives in the balance and weapons on

hair-trigger alert, the lack of communication between the two

countries is just plain wrong.

If India and Pakistan were to go to war, the effects would be

felt around the world. The trade winds above the two countries

are ideally situated to spread nuclear fallout. Essentially

highly radioactive dust, fallout can cause leukemia and many

other kinds of cancer, as well as radiation poisoning.

Assuming either nation survived the attacks, it's unlikely that

the conflict would even be resolved. Instead of pushing their

countries toward Armageddon, Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Musharraf must

re-establish diplomatic ties, disavow the use of nuclear weapons

under any circumstances, and work toward a comprehensive

agreement on the future of Kashmir.

Please let them know that you're deeply concerned about the

escalating conflict today:

http://www.moveon.org/nonukesoverkashmir/

The lives of millions of Indians and Pakistanis could be at

stake.

Sincerely,

--Eli Pariser

9-11Peace Campaign Director

MoveOn.org

Tuesday, May 28, 2002

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