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Dragon Fire scenario possible, say experts

The fictional scenario of Chinese nuclear strikes on New Delhi and Bombay drawn in a book written by a veteran BBC journalist was termed as "plausible" by leading defence experts, lending support to the controversial views of Defence Minister George Fernandes.

Commending the book Dragon Fire by Humphrey Hawksley, Fernandes had expressed the hope that nobody dismisses it as "one more work of fiction". The political and historical backdrop against which the book is written "is real", he said.

Defence analysts said the scenario of nuclear strikes by China on the two Indian cities in 2007 was "plausible" and the import of remarks by Fernandes was not out of place.

They felt that a "strategic collusion" between China and Pakistan could be a "real threat" to India particularly with Beijing being a "more potent factor".

Former home and defence secretary N N Vohra said the tale of Sino-Pakistani aggression against a restrained India portrayed in Hawksley's book could be "consequently credible" while former foreign secretary Mani Dixit maintained the author's conclusion was "somewhat oversimplified" but could be "logical".

Vohra, Dixit, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis director Jasjit Singh, former deputy chief of army staff Lt Gen Satish Nambiar and Rear Admiral (retd) Raja Menon were among others participating in two separate discussions for Doordarshan and SAB TV anchored by Karan Thapar on the book.

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