September 11, was just another day in the life of an American until two planes crashed into the twin WTC towers, followed by another plane crashing into the Pentagon and one hijacked plane crashing in Pennslyvania. President George Bush declared this the first war of the 21st century'.
The loss of lives and damage to property is so collosal that the US public has called it another Pearl Harbour. The US government, backed by the NATO, is planning on a sustained campaign not just to hit the terrorists but also terrorist-supporting nations. Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan are the names that have been mentioned again and again by various US officials.
The Bush administration has asked Pakistan for the use of their military bases, an act that will put Pakistan in direct confrontation with their Taleban ruled neighbour.
The Indian government has already announced their unstinted support to the Bush administration in the possiblity of a strike.
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But what will be the implications of a US strike on India, Pakistan, China, and the rest of the world? Is this the beginning of another general war? How will it affect India?
Brahma Chellaney, one of India's foremost security analysts, holds the last view and is vehemently opposed to the talks. Chellaney, a rediff.com columnist, and has written for various international publications, including The New York Times, often advocating defence policies and arguing India's case for a powerful defence position.
Sreedhar of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses and an expert on Afghanistan, will speak on the implications of a US strike when he appears on The Rediff Chat on Saturday, 18 September, 2001, at 1400 hours (0430 hours EDT).
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