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'In the end it boiled down to the fear of annihilation'

Imran Aslam in Karachi

We have been debating the issue all these days, and the debate has been reasonable. We have discussed the possibility of sanctions, but in the end it boiled down to the fear of annihilation. There was a lot of domestic pressure, we needed to reassert domestic pride. Besides, reports coming from India indicated that the government was planning to develop more nuclear weapons, not as a threat but to be used under the umbrella of a nuclear state, for various issues. Like, to free Kashmir. Most Pakistanis felt naked.

Talking about the American's negotiations, okay, so you can offer me a carrot and some money, but when it comes to our security, we will have to look after it ourselves. We are already under nuclear sanctions because they think we have developed a nuclear bomb. As for their security guarantee, which American would like to die for Pakistan?

America's gave us very little leeway, today the American president says we lost a prize opportunity. Well, none of us could see any prize. One thing, however, has become very clear. I thought every move of ours was being scrutinised by the Americans, but with India and Pakistan both being able to conduct their tests in secrecy, it says a lot about the satellite surveillance systems.

We are now watching what will happen next. India got away with it, and in the long run India will be okay with the sanctions, they won't be really hurt. But now, after our tests, it's time for escalation of war of words, of looking at each other, eyeball to eyeball, with clear understanding of each other's power, in fact sharing intelligence. But once again the Kashmir issue has gone into stalemate, this problem will have to be resolved by the people of Pakistan.

The prime minister has asked us to tighten our belts, but where are the belts? He says we'll eat grass, we'll now eat grass instead of smoking it.

The future is a nuclear future. I wouldn't want to be in either side of Amritsar or Lahore. Now that both countries have conducted their tests, people can go back to sleep peacefully in their beds after taking their Viagra pills.

Imran Aslam, editor of The News, Karachi, spoke to Suparn Verma.

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