arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

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