Austrian historian and defence expert warns against Pakistan’s misuse of religion, poor nuclear oversight, and ongoing military dominance — says India remains sharply vigilant.
Vienna, May 16:
Prominent Austrian military aviation analyst and historian Tom Cooper has made strong remarks against Pakistan’s internal structure and international behavior, accusing the country of “massively misusing religion” to foster jihadist movements. In an interview with ANI, Cooper expressed deep skepticism that the situation in Pakistan would improve any time soon.
“They are massively misusing religion — effectively creating breeding grounds for jihadism,” said Cooper, referring to Pakistan’s alleged role in funding, organizing, and commanding extremist operations across a vast geographical span. “From Nigeria in West Africa to the Philippines in the Pacific, their influence is clear. I don’t expect anything to change,” he added.
Military Dictatorship and Civilian Weakness
Highlighting the fractured relationship between Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership, Cooper noted that the country has spent much of its history under military rule. “There have been several coups. The armed forces in Pakistan have always had their own objectives and maintained dominance,” he said, describing this imbalance as a persistent source of instability.
India’s Intelligence Capabilities
Cooper praised India’s intelligence community for its effective surveillance of Pakistani activities, particularly around sensitive nuclear sites. Referring to recent comments by India’s Defence Minister, he stated, “It is now evident that India has a precise understanding of what’s happening at Pakistan’s nuclear facilities. The intelligence picture appears to be crystal clear.”
Cooper recalled past Indian strikes on suspected nuclear storage sites in Pakistan, and added that concerns about Islamabad’s reliability as a nuclear power were raised long ago. “These issues should have been flagged at least two decades ago — many scientists had already voiced such concerns back then.”
Strategic Surveillance and Deterrence
On India’s broader military and intelligence reach, Cooper remarked that Indian agencies are likely using advanced satellites and long-range surveillance to monitor strategic targets inside Pakistan. “This confirms India’s operational dominance in terms of intelligence and strategic monitoring. Pakistan appears unable to counter this oversight,” he said.
Cooper’s remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after Operation Sindoor and growing international scrutiny over terrorism and nuclear security in the region.