In the 55 years since independence from Britain, the two countries have fought each other on three occasions. Now that both have nuclear weapons, another conflict would have serious international repercussions. At the very least the coalition partners fighting the war against al-Qaeda in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan would have to be withdrawn.

This appears to be the intent of the Islamic fundamentalist terrorists who have operated from Pakistan in neighboring Indian-controlled Kashmir. Their aim is to stop Western moves against their terror network. They also seek the overthrow of Pakistan's military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, who has sided with the United States against Islamic extremists.

The overthrow of Pakistan's government could also begin a modern-day version of the domino theory. Instead of one country after another falling to communism, a ripple affect could begin throughout the Islamic world, with the fall of governments to the forces of Islamic fundamentalism. The fall of Pakistan alone would give fundamentalists control of nuclear weapons, posing a grave threat to what remains of the peace and security of the world.

India has three quarters of a million troops massed on the border with Pakistan, which has only one third of that number opposing Indian forces. With a population much smaller than India's, Pakistan seems likely to be the first to use a nuclear weapon. Estimates are that a limited nuclear exchange would immediately kill or injure 12 to 19 million people, with millions more dying within months from the aftereffects.

"Wars and rumors of wars" certainly abound at this time, but Jesus adds that Christians should not be alarmed (Matthew 24:6), "for this must take place, but the end is not yet" (NRSV). Our focus should be on being spiritually prepared for Christ's return. "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour" (verse 44, NRSV). (Source: The Telegraph [London]).