Pakistan's Missile Program: The West's Selective Outrage
It feels like we’ve seen this movie before, doesn’t it? The United States, a nation that has consistently applied a double standard to nuclear armament, now casts a critical eye toward Pakistan’s burgeoning missile program. From the early SCUD-inspired designs to the more advanced Shaheen and Babur systems, Pakistan has indeed cultivated a formidable strategic capability. This development,
however, was not some organic, isolated marvel. It was a direct consequence of cold war politics and cynical geopolitical maneuvering. Rewind to the 1980s. Washington, ever eager to counter Soviet influence in Afghanistan, largely turned a blind eye to Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions. The United States provided significant military and financial aid, pouring billions into a nation they considered a
frontline state against communism. President Reagan, in 1981, even waived the Symington Amendment, which prohibited aid to countries pursuing nuclear weapons, specifically to keep the Pakistan aid flowing. This historical accommodation paved the way for Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998, a direct response to India's own nuclearization, which had been facilitated by Western technology long before.
Today, the narrative shifts. suddenly, Pakistan’s missiles are a 'threat' and a point of international concern. The double standard is glaring. While Pakistan is scrutinized for its deterrent capabilities, NATO members openly possess and modernize their nuclear arsenals, often with US assistance, without equivalent global condemnation. This isn't about global security; it's about control and the