Operation Safe Homecoming

Operation ‘Safe Homecoming’ gets underway – update # 1 of 27 Feb.
Over 530 Indian nationals have arrived home safely from Tripoli in two Air India flights, the second of which landed in the wee hours of the morning today. They are all in good health and cheer. The passengers included a large number of women and children.
The Indian nationals were greeted on arrival by the Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. E Ahamed, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Secretary MOIA Didar Singh, senior officials of various central Ministries and state governments. Ten state governments have set up help desks at Terminal 2 to assist with food, accommodation, medical check up, transport and further travel arrangements of the passengers to their final destinations. All these facilities are being made available free of charge.
Terminal 2 was reactivated in just 24 hours by DIAL (Delhi International Airport) for the returnees from Libya and will be operational exclusively for handling all future dedicated flights. All concerned Ministries, Central Agencies, and State Governments have worked closely to put the reception arrangements in place, including the security agencies, BCAS (Bureau Civil Aviation Security) and CISF (Central Industrial Security Force).
Last evening, 88 persons have crossed over by road from Libya to Ras Jedir (Tunisia). They were received by officials of Embassy of India, Tunis, who have set up a camp there. All 88, who work for Punj Lloyd, have since been housed in ‘Best Hotel’ in Djerba (Tunisia), from where they are likely to be flown back to India soon. Another 170 persons are likely to reach Ras Jedir today.
Particulars of Embassy officials manning the Ras Jedir camp:
 Counsellor Balachandran Nair +216 9833 3403
 Vijay Khanna + 216 2496 2800 

Contact particulars of Ambassador P.S. Randhawa in Tunis:

 Tel: + 216-71-781229
 Fax: + 216-71-281189
 Email: amb.tunis@mea.gov.in

Government of India has charted a second passenger ship LA SUPERBA with a capacity of 1600. It is presently berthed in Sicily (Italy) and ready to sail to Libya as soon as port preparations are completed.

MV Scotia Prince set sail from Port Said (Egypt) at 2200hrs on 26th Feb and is reaching Benghazi (Libya) tomorrow, 28th February.

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India To Evacuate Citizens From Libya By Air, Sea

The Indian government has issues the following press release:

“In view of the sharp and unprecedented deterioration in the situation inside Libya, the Government has decided to immediately commence evacuation operations for our citizens in that country. Evacuation is being arranged by sea and air. Government has chartered a passenger ferry with capacity to seat 1200 persons for this purpose. The ship, “Scotia Prince” is already in Egypt and readying for sail to Benghazi which will be the initial focus of the evacuation operations. MEA personnel and medical team will be on board to assist the evacuees.

SCOTIA PRINCE is expected to reach Benghazi by the 27th and bring back at least 1200 persons to Alexandria (Egypt) by 1st March 2011. They would be flown home from Alexandria thereafter, by special Air India flights, which are being arranged.
In Tripoli the focus will be on air evacuation. Aircraft are on stand by for this purpose. Libyan landing clearance is awaited and should be received soon. Preparations are also in hand for evacuation of our nationals from cities in the interior where air access is possible subject to Libyan clearance. Indian companies, many of them working in Libya for decades have also offered to work with our Embassy in Tripoli in facilitating evacuation. Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating closely with other Ministries including Defence, Overseas Indian Affairs and Shipping in making evacuation arrangements. Round the clock situation rooms in MEA and our Mission in Tripoli are functioning smoothly and addressing queries from families of our citizens in Libya. Our Embassies in Egypt and Tunisia are also alert to the situation and extending all assistance.

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US-PAK Nuke Deal: Why India Should Welcome It

The Indo-US Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement took years to turn into reality.

It did, because it served multiple interests, in multiple countries.

It did, to a great extent, because President George Bush decided it was time for India to come in from the cold. And he did everything and more, to ensure that not only his staff in the Whitehouse and State Department, but also reticent countries in the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group saw his point and agreed with him.

For India, a relatively good track record (except for our two nuclear tests) and an absolutely spick-and-span track record on nuclear proliferation, helped greatly. Of course, together with the fact that India happens to be the most tolerant and stable democratic force in the region. Not to forget also, that India has the largest and fastest growing market, making it a destination of choice and logic for American capitalist interests.

But if you look at the fine print, and the actions it has forced upon India over the past few years, you come to see that re-entering into international nuclear trade, has done wonders for transparency and accountability in our nuclear establishment.

The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal has got us to separate our civilian and strategic nuclear assets, clarifying what is where and intended for what use.

It has also got us to enter into safeguarded reprocessing agreements, streamline our nuclear industry (even if it is Government run and controlled), and yes, even move decisively towards a Nuclear Liability Bill.

This of course is in addition to the obvious benefit to India’s long-term energy basket and the obvious environmental benefits.

Last but not the least, by opening our nuclear industry and nuclear cycle to stringent international safeguards and inspections, we have allowed transparency at levels like never before.

Now lets consider Pakistan.

Years spent in the shadow of India’s largely indigenous nuclear industry, have forced Pakistan to allow the likes of A Q Khan – and his Khan Research Laboratories – a free run for decades.

Today as Pakistan seeks the crown of credibility, when Islamabad pleads for a copycat civilian nuclear deal with America, and an international status as a responsible nuclear power, it is time to reflect on what these really mean for a country that has been a rogue nuclear state for much of its existence.

Lets also consider the impact of undergoing a transformative process of accountability and transparency – which would be necessary to be eligible for international civilian nuclear trade – on Pakistan’s rogue nuclear establishment.

If Pakistan can bring A Q Khan and his Khan Research Laboratories, together with the rogue elements in its nuclear establishment to book, in a transparent and verifiable manner; if Islamabad can convince the Army and the ISI to allow him to reveal the highly complicated clandestine nuclear proliferation routes he fed and how he helped countries like North Korea and Libya move closer to nuclear weapons, it will be a big step forward towards acceptability.

There’s been wide speculation for a while now, that Pakistan has successfully – with American technological assistance – managed to separate the trigger mechanisms from its nuclear weapons and install safety protocols for the same. There’s also been talk of America helping to raise, train and equip a special Pakistani force to secure and protect its nuclear establishments and assets.

Now, if Islamabad can separate its civilians and strategic assets, while also declaring them formally; if Pakistan’s leadership can be persuaded to accept stringent international and IAEA/US-led verification processes; if Islamabad can be persuaded to sign the NPT and CTBT, would it not herald a new era of relative nuclear stability and security in the region?

If the world’s primary source of nuclear weapons and technology proliferation is reformed and brought in line under stringent international inspection regimes, would it not substantially lead to a much more stable South Asia, and a more stable and secure world?

If the US can examine the option of allowing a civilian nuclear programme in Iran, with reprocessing of spent fuel by a thrid country, why not Pakistan, which is perhaps America’s most valuable ally in the War On Terror?

Who knows? Perhaps one day, given the needs of Pakistan’s electricity grid, New Delhi may very well end up selling indigenous PHWRs to Pakistan!

Now wouldn’t that be sweet!