Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Head of Pakistan People's Party, Mrs. Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi, Pakistan today at 6.16PM PST.
She is survived by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari and three children.
Her Father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged by then Army Chief, General Zia ul Haq in 1979.
Within another year, her brother Shahnawaz was killed under suspicious circumstances in France.
The killing of another of her brothers Mir Murtaza in 1996 contributed to destabilizing her second term as prime minister.
Now, she faced a similar violent death in the hands of terror.

Possible suspects are the Taleban, Al Qaeda and particularly, Baitullah Mehsud, the head of the Pakistani Taleban.
People also blame the Pakistani Army in general and President Mushraff in particular for lack of security arrangements.
In October, around 150 people died in an attack aimed at Benazir Bhutto at a rally marking her return to Pakistan after a self imposed exile.

President Mushraff allowed back Bhutto after a deal with the later.
But, the deal fell apart as President Mushraff imposed Emergency in Pakistan.

Bhutto was shot as she was getting into the car after addressing thousands of supporters to canvass votes for the January 8 parliamentary election.
Before her supporters realized what had happened, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the rally at the Liaquat Bagh Park.
Two persons on motor cycles fired at her with AK-47 rifles hitting her on the neck and chest.
While she ducked, a suicide bomber blew himself up killing more than 20 people and injuring 40 others.
No one approached her car for 10 minutes suspecting more bombs.
Then, she was rushed to Rawalpindi Government Hospital where she succumbed to injuries after 40 minutes.
Final reports are yet to come and it would be more clear by tomorrow.

With the loss of Benazir, India lost a valuable partner who has vision to mend ties with India and take her country forward.
Now, Mushraff has no option but to make a deal with former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.

Dark days ahead for Pakistan and for the rest of the South Asia.
Only future will tell what's in store for the security and stability in South Asia.

Indo - Russian Relationship

Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh had a two hour one-to-one "secret" meeting with Russian President, Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 12th November. Only the National Security Adviser, Mr. M.K. Narayanan was with the two of them.
Singh's visit to Moscow is preceded by Narayanan's much more secretive visit to Moscow in August and that of Defence Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony's discussions with his Russian counterpart in October.

So, what's cooking ??

There has been a certain amount of concern in Russia following India's closeness towards the Americans, even though they are aware that this collaboration is not against Russia and rather towards containing China.

Thing to note is the fact that the American defence industries have been showing keen interest towards India and they are giving specific technological transfer offers to Indian defence industry.
For example, the Americans offered India, it's fifth generation aircraft, F-35, which is under development.

India is already developing T-90 tanker, Sukhoi Fighter Plane and Brahmos, the Supersonic Cruise Missile, which is one of the world's best cruise missiles. The American offer came after Russia's own offer of co-producing their fifth generation aircraft which would be world's best fighter plane, trouncing America's F-22 Raptor.

The deals on the anvil are the production of four nuclear reactors by Russia and also the much awaited sale of the Russian Carrier, Admiral Gorshkov (renamed as INS Vikramaditya).

Another important aspect is the "proposed" lease of one of Russians latest nuclear submarines. Neither the Russians nor the Indians are ready to comment on the news that the Submarine had already been deployed by the Indian Navy. It is one of the most advanced nuclear attack submarine which was inducted into the Russian Pacific Fleet this year which is equipped with 28 nuclear tipped cruise missiles. The lease, which may cost India about $650 million, will add a lethal edge to the Indian Navy's fighting abilities; there is speculation that Indian naval officers and sailors are already in Russia in training for this assignment.

Why is this sudden rush of acquiring highly sophisticated weapons secretly ??

One reason maybe the situation in Pakistan, which is of a very high concern for the world and particularly India. If Mushraff is toppled, India is concerned about the nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists and the worst case scenario, some mad mullah planning to lob the weapons into India.

Time will tell what's cooking !! We can only hope the best out of it.