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Antiterrorism measures

Former CIA Officer Warns Pakistan of Conventional War Consequences

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A former CIA officer, who served in Pakistan, has warned that the country will lose in a conventional war with India, emphasizing that provoking Indians will bring no benefits. John Kiriakou, a 15-year veteran of the CIA, shared his concerns in an interview with ANI, stating that Pakistan's constant provocation of India will only lead to their defeat. Kiriakou also revealed that when he was stationed in Pakistan in 2002, he was told unofficially that the Pentagon controlled the Pakistani nuclear arsenal. He added that the US could have taken out Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani nuclear physicist, if they had adopted the Israeli approach, but he had the support of the Saudi government.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former CIA officer John Kiriakou warned Pakistan that they will lose in a conventional war with India, emphasizing that provoking Indians will bring no benefits.
  • Kiriakou revealed that he was told unofficially in 2002 that the Pentagon controlled the Pakistani nuclear arsenal, adding that this information was not shared with India.
  • The US could have taken out Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani nuclear physicist, if they had adopted the Israeli approach, according to Kiriakou.
  • Pakistan has been accused of using nuclear blackmail, with India taking strong action against terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including surgical strikes on terror launchpads.
  • Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure, was also mentioned by Kiriakou as an example of India's decisive response to terror attacks.
  • Kiriakou spent the first half of his CIA career in analysis and the second in counterterrorism operations, and was involved in the CIA's torture program, which he blew the whistle on in 2007.

Statistics:

  • Pakistan has been accused of using nuclear blackmail.
  • India has taken several strong actions against terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including surgical strikes on terror launchpads and airstrikes.
  • Operation Sindoor targeted terror infrastructure.
  • Abdul Qadeer Khan was a Pakistani nuclear physicist who was deeply involved in Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, "John Kiriakou, former CIA officer, warns Pakistan of conventional war consequences" (without date)

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