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India to launch Mars mission: PM

By AFP
Published: August 15, 2012

This NASA close-up image of a dust storm on Mars released August 2, 2012 was acquired by the Mars Color Imager instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on November 7, 2007, around 3 p.m. local time on Mars. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: India plans to launch a space probe that will orbit Mars, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh confirmed on Wednesday after press reports that the mission was scheduled to begin late next year.

The project would mark another step in the country’s ambitious space programme, which placed a probe on the moon three years ago and envisages its first manned mission in 2016.

“Our spaceship will go near Mars and collect important scientific information,” Singh said in his annual Independence Day address, heralding the plan as “a huge step for us in the area of science and technology”.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is expected to launch the unmanned orbiter as early as November next year, the Press Trust of India news agency reported earlier this month.

According to one ISRO official, the cost of the mission has been estimated at four to five billion rupees ($70-90 million).

The United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and China have all sent missions to Mars.

The US robot Curiosity is currently on the surface of the “Red Planet” after landing last week to hunt for soil-based signs of life and send back data for a future human mission.

India’s planned Mars mission comes as the government has been under pressure over issues such as massive power shortages and the nation’s poor transport infrastructure.

Blackouts on two consecutive days this month knocked out power in vast swathes of the country.

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Reader Comments (161)

  • Hafeez Pasha
    Aug 15, 2012 - 2:57PM

    Why not feed the 600 million Indians who live below the poverty line first!

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  • JoinHands!
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:03PM

    lol.funny!

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  • daactar
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:15PM

    khanay ko paisy hain nai aur mars pay chalay!!feed your dying 800 million people who live on less than a dollar a day

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  • Oracle (India)
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:17PM

    its ok to send rocket to space, than launching rocket to each other…

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  • BaBa Blacksheep
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:28PM

    Half of the population under the line of poverty and half of the population AROUND the line of poverty and they talking about to go to Mars.
    Honestly speaking they should launch “MASH KI DAL” mission to feed the poor.

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  • Reddy
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:46PM

    @Hafeez Pasha:keep your croc tears to yourself.

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  • Khan101`
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:51PM

    This “Mars” could be a desert Name in Rajhistan India ………lolz

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  • Someone
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:56PM

    And on the other side, 600 to 800 million Indians are living on slums/footpaths with nothing to eat. The irony, she burns

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  • Human
    Aug 15, 2012 - 3:59PM

    Tch Tch Tch…..i feel so bad for Pakistanis, they are using the same line for every thing about India…while India is growing leaps and bounds, Pakistan is still trying to find speech of Jinnah to teach its citizens the real motive of Pakistani existence……

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  • Rajendra Kalkhande
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:00PM

    As the number of comments increases, the number of hungry in India will also increase from 600 million to 800 million and finally to 1.2 billion. Whenever India plans such technical missions, Pakistanis respond by quoting the number of hungry Indians. Instead of having a long argument, I would say that we Indians are planning to grow food on Mars to feed our hungry people. Any problem??

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  • mr. righty rightist
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:04PM

    600 million, 800 million? where do u get these numbers from?

    Anyways, it’s funny to see Pakistanis burning with jealousy. This is what they said when IPL started, today your cricketers shamelessly apply again and again to be a part of IPL even after repeated snubs.

    When Indian moon mission failed abruptly, Pakistanis were overjoyed. But when they learnt (or probably not, given their education) that Chandrayan discovered water on moon, your tails went between your legs.

    Be afraid. Be very afraid of India.

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  • Human
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:08PM

    This is an article about pathetic state of Pakistani space programme….
    http://tribune.com.pk/story/415738/lagging-behind-2040-pakistans-space-oddyssey/

    seems you didnt invest in Space ships as you might have got your priorities right then why Pakistan is a failed state..
    ‘yahan to ghar ke rahe na ghat ke’……space bhi gaya desh bhi gaya… ;)

    May be you could have invested something into space dreams to have something to boast….;)

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  • PaKHtoon
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:12PM

    According to UNESCO India is still a home to largest illiterate population in the world , I am very sorry for the poor Indian people, their leaders always making a fool out of them….

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  • nay sayer
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:16PM

    Now some frustoos will say about Hunger and poverty in India . Fact is we don’t need to feed so much people , that’s why we export large quantities of wheat and rice .People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stone at others….

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  • Milestogo
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:28PM

    Missions like this will actually help reduce poverty. It establishes technological expertise and attracts foreign investment and business. It also inspires the youth to excel in science and technology. Overall it enhances the positive image of the country.

    Corruption is where the money must be saved and re-directed to programs for reducing poverty.

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  • Vikas
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:33PM

    @Hafeez Pasha:
    They are poor because they reproduce more than they can feed. They say that the Almighty has given them so many kids, but they forget to ask Almighty to feed them

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  • jerry
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:33PM

    @Hafeez Pasha:
    Mr. Hafeez, why you people are always jealous on us. Each and every achievements of India, you people are pointing our poorty. You are right, we have poor people, but they are living without fear of Bombs and Hafeezes and terrorism. By God’s grace we will do that. Thank u for the advise.

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  • Vikas
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:35PM

    I smell something burning over here

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  • Proud Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:38PM

    Don’t worry about proverty in India,because India is not a international BEGGAR.

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  • Aug 15, 2012 - 4:39PM

    @Khan101`:
    @BaBa Blacksheep:
    @daactar:
    @JoinHands!:
    @Hafeez Pasha:

    Propaganda is a powerful thing. The Pakistani media in general regularly quotes India’s poverty figures in excess of 600 Mil. If that were the case India would have already been counted among the failed states in the world. But, its not, not even near. Why?

    Because the numbers are imaginary.

    http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/indias-poverty-will-fall-from-51-to-22-by-2015-un-report/articleshow/9152967.cms

    To quote directly from the UN report:
    “In Southern Asia, however, only India, where the poverty rate is projected to fall from 51% in 1990 to about 22% in 2015, is on track to cut poverty in half by the 2015 target date,”

    So, guys here you go from the Horse’s mouth.

    Wanna know Pakistan’s poverty figures? Hint: Its above 40% mark.

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  • unbeliever
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:41PM

    @Rajendra Kalkhande:

    don’t say this…..it’s like rubbing salt on their wounds….

    and yes, within a matter of two comments the no. of hungry indians increased from 600 millions to 800 millions. Lol! they added an entire pakistan within matter of minutes.

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  • Rahul
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:42PM

    To my dear pakistani friend’s …. Yes 37%of ur population lives under poverty ,but we have ‘Talent’,'Intelligence’,'IQ’ to do mission like Mars. So no one can stop that. That’s why so many Indians work in NASA. Unfortunately you country doesnt have anything.We believe in hardwork and not beg infront of USA or China. I can list 100 things which India has achieved inspite of poverty since our Independence. What has pakistan done after its Independence ?. Please ask this question to yourself. Ask anybody in the world(Not Indian) what they think abt pakistan.Then you will come to reality. No one in the world has ever or will put India in negative frame. But world will hardy put pakistan in positive frame because of her past deeds. We will and continue to do things like Mars mission and No one can ever stop us . Jai Hind!

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  • Jag Nathan
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:45PM

    When Pakistan spends billion it practically borrows or begs to build nuclear weapons it can and will never be able to use, that’s smart. Doesn’t matter if 70% of the Pakistani kids never have a proper school to go to or never complete high school. Do I hear “Sour Grapes”? When India launched our first 5-year plan way back in 1956, the Americans preached a similar sermon. It’s a good thing our then PM Nehru just ignored the free advice. For all our poverty and problems, we are many miles ahead of most nations that exited the colonial world 1947. The poverty levels in India and Pakistan are pretty comparable, possibly, Indians are 10% better off, which is nothing to write home about. However, holding back progress in fields of science and technology will not resolve the issue of poverty. If that was the case, Pakistan should have been a super rich nation.

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  • Bharath
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:47PM

    Why Pakistan don’t have Mars mission?

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  • Pak1
    Aug 15, 2012 - 4:52PM

    Where is Engineer Waqar and Scientist Qadeer Khan sahab? We need a water rocket to compete the Indian chilghoza.

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  • John B
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:05PM

    Now I understand the use of 5000+ KM rockets dubbed as missle. Good luck.

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  • Hassan Ahmed
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:14PM

    hahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahaha.. Please try fixin this first .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX9QGCrkQKw

    and what happend to your moon mission?

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  • Aarvey,india
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:17PM

    At a time when India is reaching out to Marsand hv already reached out to the moon, Pakistan still has problems sighting the moon at eid. Yet to read the comments of some very patriotic Pakistanis is at best amusing. it’s just jealousy!

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  • THE
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:28PM

    Keep it coming ET!!
    This is so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing for the last few hours.
    At least we in Pakistan care about our poor people and don’t come up with stupidity that can reach other planets. LOL

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  • Aug 15, 2012 - 5:28PM

    Huh.. India should first feed its 2200 Million people (numbers increased to accommodate Pakistanis and Bangladeshis).

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  • Aug 15, 2012 - 5:30PM

    China.. China where are you.. See the Indians are doing it again.. can we have another join project please?

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  • Acorn Guts
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:31PM

    By the time the probe gets there we’ll probably know everything that can be learnt by just orbiting the planet. NASA is well ahead on all aspects concerning Mars. A pretty pointless exercise to be honest.

    If the purpose is get some recognition, go for Pluto or some other unknown entity .. detailed analysis of a planetary moon or even Sun will get you that.

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  • Doctor
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:33PM

    @Rahul: Please don’t worry about us, we will find our own solution. By the way Pakistanis are excelling all over the world, we cant help if you are ingorant. In America, Pakistan is the fourth largest source of doctors and dentists. What have Indians done after independence? I still see half a billion people in poverty.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:50PM

    I wish India all the best in achieving this mission. NASA has many scientists of Indian origin and due to the emphasis Indians paying towards education I am confident that they will accomplish this mission.
    I apologise to all Indians for the abuse you are reading here. I am afraid it is part of the brain washing most Pakistanis get when they are at school especially towards hindus (see http://dawn.com/2011/11/09/pakistan-schools-teach-hindu-hatred/). I recommend all these haters to read independent media and they will conclude that especially in the West, the hindus are more superior then muslims. Being a British citizen, having had UK education, I have accepted that.

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  • sabi
    Aug 15, 2012 - 5:56PM

    Good luck india you must and why not!

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:01PM

    @Doctor:
    Where did you get your facts from? At least prove them.
    I live in UK and can confirm that Pakistanis are at the bottom of the ladder. You should perhaps read the UK parliament’s report which will send shivers to your spine. To prove may point see these articles:
    http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhaff/165/16507.htm
    and
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/feb/20/race.immigrationpolicy
    One of the conclusion reads “One in 20 Indian men is a doctor compared with one in 200 white men” and perhaps this will rattle you: “Hindus are four times less likely to be unemployed than Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims”.

    In the West the hindus have become the super race. Pakistan, at least in UK, is known for something else – I will not repeat it here.

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  • It Is (still) Economy Stupid
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:14PM

    Such missions create jobs, inspire students to become scientist and brings lots of soft power. Here is n example of soft power. Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams on Tuesday displayed the Tricolour on board the International Space Station and wished Indians on the eve of their 66th Independence Day. “I wish India a very happy Independence Day for August 15. India is a wonderful country and I am very proud to be a part of India,” she said in her message.

    It is interesting all those referring to poverty are not saying that US should reduce its budget deficit instead of sending mission to Mars. I forgot no vehicle is available from North Korea for a while. I am sure a fire cracker will be launched shortly.

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  • Rajendra Kalkhande
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:16PM

    @Doctor:“In America, Pakistan is the fourth largest source of doctors and dentists. What have Indians done after independence? “

    And fellow Pakistanis travelling to India for treatment?

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:18PM

    @Hafeez Pasha:
    @ daactar
    600 million, 800 million!!

    Your jealousy is understandable because we Indians are sooooo very jealous of the water run cars invented by a Pakistani which will cure its electricity problems!!!! Please continue doing this… The more you do this, the more ambitious and successful we Indians shall be…

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:23PM

    @THE:
    At least we in Pakistan care about our poor people and don’t come up with stupidity that can reach other planets.
    Yeah!!! You care for the poor people of Pakistan so much that no one can stop you from begging any country in the world… . May be you guys can generate food out of water than just run a car on it against the very basic principles of physics!!Recommend

  • amit
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:26PM

    @Doctor:
    last time i heard in last report pakistanis in uk/canada was one of the poorest community in these country and indian’s was one of the richest and more educated community(pakistani in uk/canada) by the way in US indian’s are one of the highest income and educated ethtical group(asian american in US) .so please don’t lie

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:31PM

    But India is poor…
    Pakistanis need to make this their national anthem….

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:32PM

    i request all Pakistanis to refrain themselves from showing their great love towards poor Indians,honestly, if India could give around 20 million dollars to Pakistan,when Pakistan was facing it’s worst floods,surely we can take care of our people.

    the money for space program is not taken out from the money allocated to welfare of the poor,the budget for space program is the result of economic boom which gives you all the room to exercise your new powers.

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  • LionOfPunjab
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:32PM

    All this indians bragging about their technology superiority over pakistan. Let me ask you all, has any of your ‘brilliant’ scientist been able to make a car that runs on water?? Your cars still runs on old technology using diesel and petrol!! Get a life!Recommend

  • Reddy
    Aug 15, 2012 - 6:53PM

    @Doctor:“In America, Pakistan is the fourth largest source of doctors and dentists. What have Indians done after independence? “

    let me laugh for the next 15 mins to give you a reply.that’s some kind of rib tickling comment

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  • THE
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:03PM

    @LionOfPunjab: hehehehhehehehheheheheh
    Love you my friend! For real, that’s the best answer!!

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  • venkat
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:06PM

    450 crore is less than 0.001 percent of india’s reserves , it will not make any difference , on the contrary already 2000 crore has already been spent by india in establishing its colonies in artic and antartica , pakistanis should not feel worried abt our poverty , we will solve it our own way , they should rather concentrate on battling poverty in pakistan itself , just 18 crore tiny population yet more than 75 percent are poor , wonder what would have happened if it was 120 crore like india , shameRecommend

  • venkat
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:08PM

    difference between pakistan and india is ” pakistan has a moon on its flag while india its flag on the moon since 2009

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  • Human
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:08PM

    @ Zaid Hamid….you rock man….simply Hilarious….:D

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  • venkat
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:11PM

    @LionOfPunjab:
    haha…….didnt you read the report published in the tribune earlier , that water car is a sham and a lie , and besides fuel cell technology has been in existence since 1998 when honda corporation of japan first introduced it , cars are already running on water at speeds of 80 miles per hour , it is an expensive technology and hence not in production

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:17PM

    @LionOfPunjab:
    “Your cars still runs on old technology using diesel and petrol”. Hopefully you do know that its the oil which is keeping the Arab world moving. When the time comes (note I did not say ‘if’) when oil is no longer needed the Arab world will be back in the stone age probably using camels to travel from A to B. As per ex President Musharaf the muslims are “the poorest, the most illiterate, the most backward, the most unhealthy, the most un-enlightened, the most deprived, and the weakest of all the human race”. He could not have said it better.
    We must now start from scratch.

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  • PK
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:20PM

    @THE:
    Check your defense budget as a percentage of total budget and then try laughing.

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  • 1984
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:28PM

    I’m deeply moved the concern my fellow Pakistanis show towards our poverty especially when India launches a space mission or an ICBM..

    I think you should all remember that when India was overflowing with wealth…The Mughals were burning libraries,whereas in poverty ridden Britain,they were building libraries..

    We know what happened after that

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:36PM

    @LionOfPunjab:
    Let me ask you all, has any of your ‘brilliant’ scientist been able to make a car that runs on water??
    You wordings demonstrate the innocence of a kid.. So, look kid unless the basic principles of physics on which the universe runs have changed or Pakistanis belong to altogether another universe, this is simply not possible…. Or if you were cynical, you were right…
    If you still continue to believe this ‘CHEAT’ called Agha Waqar Ahmed, i can only say ‘I AM A VERY JEALOUS INDIAN WHO CANNOT STOP LAUGHING AT YOUR INNOCENCE’…

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  • Doctor
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:38PM

    @Iqbal @amit: It’s funny that you choose the United Kingdom for comparison. Pakistanis in UK are mostly Kashmiri (Mirpuri) villagers who came from rural backgrounds and had no educational background whatsoever. Only the Kashmiris have poverty levels that you quote, the Punjabi Pakistani community on the other hand is actually quite well off and has contributed positively to British society. Research by Teesside University has found the Punjabis as “one of the most highly educated and economically successful ethnic minorities in the UK”; Please read ” “Pakistani Migration and Diaspora Religious Politics in a Global Age” by Pnina Werbner and “Punjabi Communities in the North East”. by Dr Steve Taylor to refresh your knowledge and also cure your Indian mindset.

    Coming to USA, the median income for a White American is $57,000 whereas an average income for Pakistani households is $70,000. There are a whopping 17,000 doctors in the USA of Pakistani origin. Pakistan is the fourth highest source of IMG doctors http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/international-medical-graduates/imgs-in-united-states/imgs-country-origin.page and also fourth highest source of foreign dentists in USA. Their role has been lauded by the likes of American Congressmen and Congresswomen. We are the manpower of America’s health system and we are rapidly growing. It is up to you now, if you want to accept the hard fact or follow the head in sand approach/denial policy which is de facto Indian mindset/way of thinking.

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  • Zeeshan
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:41PM

    @Rajendra Kalkhande,

    Somebody needs to remind you about the reality of your country. Lest your desire to grow food in Mars failed, there are still 47% of you real citizens who are malnourished. It’s easy to enjoy the bravado talk about Mars and how brilliant your fellow country men are which I found to be more talk than actions, but there is this reality of India as you walk out of your gated community.

    @Human

    “while India is growing leaps and bounds, Pakistan is still trying to find speech of Jinnah to teach its citizens the real motive of Pakistani existence……”

    India is not growing by leaps and bounds. It is growing slowly. Pakistanis know the real motive why Pakistan came into existence; only Indians and Pakistani Liberals have hard time comprehending why Pakistan exists.

    @Proud Indian, @BruteForce,

    That’s not true. A British newspaper exposed India’s hypocrisy and “international beggar status” if I might use you word :http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068930/How-India-squanders-British-aid–1-4bn-country-space-programme.html

    “They are concerning findings, given that David Cameron has decided to give India £1.4 billion between now and 2015. The sum is almost 1 per cent of Britain’s own £159 billion debts.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068930/How-India-squanders-British-aid–1-4bn-country-space-programme.html#ixzz23crgJIFI

    So, I assumed your former colonizer is helping you out from that poverty too?

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  • Doctor
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:45PM

    @Iqbal: Funny that you’re quoting a 2002 report :) Anyway, here is something more up to date to soothe your ego: “Pakistan becomes largest exporter of young doctors to UK” http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-125569-Pakistan-becomes-largest-exporter-of-young-doctors-to-UK

    Although I still believe Pakistanis should come back and serve in their home country.

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  • Someone
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:46PM

    @venkat: I believe you’ve miscalculated. 75% is not the poverty rate of Pakistan, that appears to be closer to India’s statistics :)

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  • 1984
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:48PM

    @Hassan Ahmed:
    Anyone can create youtube videos maligning others..That doesnt mean that its true

    Regarding our mission to moon…Please have burnol ready…It was successfull and we even found presence of water on the moon..
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-1

    As someone said ” Some countries have moon on their flag,but very few countries have flag on the moon”

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  • Asif
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:56PM

    Indians can go one step further and, in the interests of exploration, export its people to mars too. It will also solve the world’s population crisis and fulfil India’s dream of exploration. I see a win-win situation :p

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:57PM

    @LionOfPunjab:
    All this indians bragging about their technology superiority over pakistan. Let me ask you all, has any of your ‘brilliant’ scientist been able to make a car that runs on water?? Your cars still runs on old technology using diesel and petrol!! Get a life!

    what we can we say,we are not brilliant enough to invent a car running on water,but we are talented enough to send a research probe to Mars and Moon located millions of kilometers away from earth, to study and explore their atmosphere.

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  • Slumdog dreams
    Aug 15, 2012 - 7:59PM

    @Khan101: Haha hilarious :p There must be a desert in Rajasthan named Mars :D :D

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  • Aug 15, 2012 - 8:01PM

    pakistanis cannot even produce a single engineer and critising india.Look after your poor people firstRecommend

  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:03PM

    @THE:
    when was the last time you cared for your poor people?was it during the famous speech of “we’ll eat grass,but we’ll develop a nuclear weapon” ?.

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  • Zahid
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:14PM

    Lol funny, that reminds me of a similar thing. its just like one having no water for the washroom and talk alot abt making DAM…hahahah

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  • Rajendra Kalkhande
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:16PM

    @Doctor : The very report (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/international-medical-graduates/imgs-in-united-states/imgs-country-origin.page) you have quoted has India sitting at the top. Did you care to look at numbers of India (19.9%) vs Pakistan (4.8%). Hope you know the Indian American (Sunita Williams) who has hoisted Indian flag on the Space ship today?

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:20PM

    @Zeeshan:
    international beggar status?
    you are talking about Indian hypocrisy by pointing to British aid of of 1.4 billion pounds,but you conveniently chose to ignore the fact that India is now third largest investor in UK, and India invests in UK more than what UK gives to India in form Aid or investment.
    did you forget the take over of JAG, land rover ant steel company where TATA invested more than 10 billion dollars into UK.
    recently India announced to give $10 bn for debt-wracked eurozone,while Pakistan still goes around the world asking for money, India is helping Europe to overcome it’s worst crisis by investing there.
    India announces USD 10 billion for debt-wracked eurozone
    India is the third largest investor in the UK
    India pledges $5bn to help African states meet the MDGs
    HCL Technologies to create 10,000 jobs in US & Europe over 5 years
    so the money you talk about,long back our finance minister called it a ‘peanut’, and even if they take it back ,it doesn’t make any difference to us,coz we are recognized as donors now,not as beggars.

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  • mr. righty rightist
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:21PM

    @LionofPunjab

    Hehehe! True. Our country has never produced a genius who could build a water-car.

    Also, our nuclear scientists are not as knowledgeable as A Q Khan, who approved the water-car.

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  • Zeeshan
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:25PM

    “According to one ISRO official, the cost of the mission has been estimated at four to five billion rupees ($70-90 million).”

    Given how corrupt ISRO is, I am betting the price tag will reach $2 billions. Good luck.

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  • mr. righty rightist
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:25PM

    @Asif who writes “Indians can go one step further and, in the interests of exploration, export its people to mars too. It will also solve the world’s population crisis and fulfil India’s dream of exploration. I see a win-win situation :p”

    That’s true. But by the time it happens, Pakistan will be non-existent. :(

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:29PM

    @Doctor:
    Funny that you’re quoting a 2002 report :) Anyway, here is something more up to date to soothe your ego: “Pakistan becomes largest exporter of young doctors to UK” http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-125569-Pakistan-becomes-largest-exporter-of-young-doctors-to-UK.

    well, you take pride in exporting people,we take pride when our companies invest and create jobs in foreign nations including UK,now, they are more dependent on us then we are on them.but the same is not true for Pakistan.

    India third largest investor and generate more jobs in UK
    if the current trend continues,that time is not far,when pakistanis living in UK will be standing in line to get a job in an Indian company.

    India was the third largest investor in Britain during 2010-11 with 97 new projects, generating several jobs in a country facing recession and major job losses, according to official figures released.

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  • roma
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:30PM

    someone quoted 600 million indians starving – where do you get such a number from ? it is more like 40 million (and that’s bad enough – a lot is being done to correct that )

    compared to china’s 29 million – yeah why not talk about china’s 29 million which is almost the size of the population of a major european country

    the answer is not penny wise pound foolish but seeking for technological solutions which india is seeking on its own

    unlike pak which expects to get it fee from higher that Himalayas heavenly neighbor

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  • rp
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:31PM

    hip hip hurray….India will reach Mars… Pakistan ??Recommend

  • venkat
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:31PM

    while pakistanis continue to talk abt ghazwa – e -hind,kashmir,jihaad,islam,zionism,israel,hindus,america,guns,bombs,missiles,zaid chacha,taliban,india’s poverty,mujahideen, and a hundred other useless things , we indians will continue talking abt science,technology,economy,education,progress,literacy,growth,development,secularism,and a hundred other positive things even though they do not have a short term output

    by the way as far as i know zaid hamid had said in 2009 pakistan will be a superpower, send its astronaut to the moon , organise the olympics and all major decissions of the world would be taken from pakistan in the next five years ……..2012 is going and pakistan is only a champion in murga ladai , perhaps it would be better for pakistanis to go back to their school history books (read false) , perhaps that would have a calming effect on their soulsRecommend

  • venkat
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:36PM

    @Someone:
    ya right , i forgot those figures are for 2015 , right now it is around 45-50 percent ,more than india’s 29 percent ,which itself is coming down very fast , worry abt the future rather than worrying abt the present of a foreign country

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  • venkat
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:40PM

    @Someone:
    ya right , those figures are for 2015 , current rate is around 45 percent , more than india’s 29 percent , our graph of poverty is coming down day by day while urs is going up day by day , get worried abt the future , thoughts of ghazwa -e – hind , kashmir ,islam and killing shias and other kaafirs will not take u anywhere

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  • LionOfPunjab
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:49PM

    I would like to comment further on my last post printed below:
    “All this indians bragging about their technology superiority over pakistan. Let me ask you all, has any of your ‘brilliant’ scientist been able to make a car that runs on water?? Your cars still runs on old technology using diesel and petrol!! Get a life!”

    Our space mission in 2040..the rocket will be powered by the same car ‘water’ technology..unlike your old solid fuel powered rockets. Your moon mission found water on moon? Our moon mission will deliver water to the moon when our rockets dumps its ‘water’ fuel in the moon’s atmosphere!! Get a Life!! Once again.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:54PM

    @Doctor:
    I think Rajendra Kalkhande has answered your query.
    However, let me remind you that I am of Pakistan origin settled in UK. I did few years of education in Lahore when I was young and I still remember the hatred the teacher use to teach us towards other minorities. You may want to live in world of denial but I can confirm that my link which is of 2002 is still “tame”. Since the atrocities by muslims on 7 July, 2005 the situations for muslims in UK has worsened. When I had to change jobs I had to mislead my potential employer that I was an atheist. I also had to tell them that I was from India. My colleagues at the office who are in managerial roles are very careful of hiring muslims especially from Pakistan due to terrorism links.
    In any case do your own research and you will find that in UK the Indians have done much better then Pakistanis. Your argument that these are Kashmiris is not correct. Whilst you are at it you may also want to check the prison population by religion. The 2011 statistics show that 12.5% of the prison population in UK is muslim (compared to 2.7% population).
    I note you have some objections in me using UK for comparison. Why not? Mr Jinnah, the Bhuttos and many others had their education here. It is one of the most advanced countries when it comes to education.

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  • dude108
    Aug 15, 2012 - 8:58PM

    it has nothing to do with poverty. this mission will need a budget which is fraction of our GDP and doing this India develops lots of state of the art and cost effective technolgies and then sell it to the world. it has collaboration with NASA too. remember Sunita Williams furled Indian flag in a spaceship today. Its a win win situation. But you can connect 1000 Pakistani rockets to each other and the top one will definitely reach to Mars.

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  • dude
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:03PM

    even with such low population compared to India, still 45% of pakistanis are below poverty line.
    45% population living below the poverty line, reports BISP Recommend

  • amroodkhan
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:05PM

    C’mmon..

    you can work but we are better in arguing .we watch late night shows on WAQT NEWS,DUNYA TV and Brasstrack youtube . we have full knowledge that you are a poor nation , the numbers can be different but there is absolutely no second thought in my mind that india is a supper dooper pooor country and we are a progressive islamic deeni nation .The argument ends at this point..Recommend

  • Slumdog dreams
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:06PM

    @Rajendra: From what I know, India population is seven times more. So even when you compare the number of US doctors, India’s ratio in comparison to Pak is rather disappointing. #justsaying.

    But anyway, I think the point he was trying to make is that Indians always questioning Pakistani’s abilities is something that is thoroughly debunked. Rather India should worry about its own people, more Indians are living in slumdog conditions than any other Asian/ South Asian country.

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  • sadia
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:07PM

    LOL.
    These indians are getting good at PR

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:08PM

    @Zeeshan:
    Given how corrupt ISRO is, I am betting the price tag will reach $2 billions. Good luck.
    Ask Zardari…. He is showing you stars and moons in day light…. Good luck!!

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  • Jhoom
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:08PM

    @mr. righty rightist: Oh, Pakistan will stay on earth like all other human beings. I assure you. But the idea of exporting Indians is not a bad one. The only concern is that Mars doesn’t become another slum ;)

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  • pakvoice
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:09PM

    we should add mars on our national flag before Indian flag on mars. and soon we will send our latest indigenous satellites from moon to pluto and to all over the universe with the help of our all weather friend china.

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  • Mihir
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:09PM

    @PaKHtoon:
    I do respect Pakistan, and Pakistanis, but the illiteracy rate is higher in Pakistan, than in India.

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  • Hasan
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:12PM

    @jism: Over optimism is not good. Truth is that any Indian would love to run to a Western country if give the opportunity any given day of the week. Other countries are not as heavily dependent on India as you make out, rather we are still far away and things will likely stay like that until India becomes a developed nation (good luck with doing that with hundreds of millions of people. It’ll take a century at a minimum, even then you wont solve all issues)

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:16PM

    @Doctor:
    It is up to you now, if you want to accept the hard fact or follow the head in sand approach/denial policy which is de facto Indian mindset/way of thinking.
    if you had read and analysed the facts carefully and you would have never posted this comment.
    especially, this coming from a Pakistani was a bit weird.

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:17PM

    Just to put in perspective the expenditure of this project to all my Pakistani friends who are talking about India’s poverty being an impedance for this project – This project as mentioned costs 70-90 million dollars and US/Walmart is fighting for the domestic retail market of India which ‘ALONE’ is worth 450 billion dollars……………..
    Now do the equation yourself……..

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  • pakvoice
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:18PM

    after water car, our next aim is to make a car that run with human power- just push it from behind, as by considering water scarcity in future and efficient use of ever increasing population.

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  • Enlightened
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:26PM

    ‘What Pakistanis envy is Indians pride.’

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:26PM

    @Doctor:
    Your comment “Pakistanis in UK are mostly Kashmiri (Mirpuri) villagers who came from rural backgrounds and had no educational background whatsoever” is incorrect. The latest released UK census is of 2001 and it reads “43 percent Pakistani, 16
    percent Bangladeshi, 8 percent Indian and 6 percent of other Asian ethnic
    background.” (See http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/london/03682.pdf)

    This report which was written in December 2005 has some unpleasant readings as well. Most of which confirms the 2002 report of UK Parliament and reported in the Guardian.
    Its one of those wake up calls.
    That should soothe your ego by miles.

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  • Gen: Kayani
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:32PM

    Lol !!! India trying a proven technology to send rockets to mars…the great scientists of Pakistan with blessings of allah and mullah have invented a rocket that reaches to any moon, sun, planet, stars that too only by the strength of takbir !!Recommend

  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:40PM

    @Rajendra Kalkhande:
    “Did you care to look at numbers of India (19.9%) vs Pakistan (4.8%). ”
    I get the impression that Doctor was brainwashed at a madrassa and did selected reading. Why cannot he accept that bigotry has no place in this modern world.
    I dont think he is a real doctor, but just suppose he were then I can confirm he would be barred from practising in UK where the great Mr Jinnah and the Bhuttos had their education.

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  • Zeta
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:45PM

    This is funny. Massive malnutrition, 800 million below poverty line, 800 million don’t have toilets in their home, massive defence expenditure, half of country under maoists, freedom movemeents from Assam to Kashmir and look at them, They can’t even make one indigenous fighter plane or Tank and talking about mars.

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  • Dinesh Chetti
    Aug 15, 2012 - 9:58PM

    NHAPPY MUSLIMS Don’t you think I am genius? because The Muslims are not happy! They’re not happy in Gaza. They’re not happy in Egypt. They’re not happy in Libya. They’re not happy in Morocco. They’re not happy in Iran. They’re not happy in Iraq. They’re not happy in Yemen. They’re not happy in Afghanistan. They’re not happy in Pakistan. They’re not happy in Syria. They’re not happy in Lebanon. So, where are they happy? They’re happy in Australia. They’re happy in England. They’re happy in France. They’re happy in Italy. They’re happy in Germany. They’re happy in Sweden. They’re happy in the USA. They’re happy in Norway. They’re happy in every country that is not Muslim. And who do they blame? Not Islam. Not their leadership. Not themselves. THEY BLAME THE COUNTRIES THEY ARE HAPPY IN! AND THEY WANT TO CHANGE THEM TO BE LIKE THE COUNTRY THEY CAME FROM WHERE THEY WERE UNHAPPY. Recommend

  • Truth Bites
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:01PM

    @iqbal and other Pakistani bashers. Hindus or indian are not superior they simply more in numbers everywhere in the world where they could find a place they will be there. Pakistanis in UK are mostly moved in 60′s from villages. So you cant compare both communities. later professionals moved in too and Pakistan is not UKs source number 1 for doctors.

    You live in UK and for your comments here, you can be reported to authortities under racism law of britain. You want me to do this honour?

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  • Ashamed
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:01PM

    @Doctor:
    You conveniently forgot that the reference you quote shows that India ranks number one as the source country of foreign doctors. SOUR GRAPES.

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  • Injun
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:01PM

    This is same as Pakistan’s expense on Nuclear weapons.At least gong to Mars is not for killing people.

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  • pork dreams
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:06PM

    @Slumdog dreams:
    just do a ratio comparison of both while chanting about Indian poverty. and Indian slums are richer than most of you people.
    @Asif:
    same to you, just kill others and explode yourself there by fulfill your dreams and save world’s population crisis in much better way.

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  • Desh premi
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:08PM

    The moot point here is, India is funding its space programme from its own earnings..India has become of major donors to IMF, which incidentally funds many poverty alleviation programmes in this part of continent..including Pakistan. Its for India to decide how to spend its earnings!! Surely, we know where the future is.. Pakistan can always ask India to help them in space research. India can launch Pakistani satellites at very nominal price as compared to US or even Chinese ( which are incidentally unreliable ).

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  • pork dreams
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:10PM

    @Zeta:
    another failed life.

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  • PK
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:10PM

    @Zeta and other Pakistani friends:

    Have you heard of the following – begani shaadi mein Abdullah deevana. It just fits on you. India is to send a spacecraft and that is India’s business, why don’t you mind your business and solve your own problems instead of giving unsolicited advise to what India should or shouldn’t do.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:18PM

    @Doctor:
    You seem to be obsessed with egos. I am glad I am now British (born in Lahore) but would like to remind you of the following:
    1. Based on 2001 census the population of UK includes 2.7% muslim and 1.0% hindu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DemographyoftheUnitedKingdom)
    2. The latest prison statistics of UK are of 2011 and it represents 12.5% muslims and 0.5% hindu (www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN04334.pdf) as per table D page 20. It some ways concludes that we are almost 5 times more likely to get involved in crime whereas hindus have about half the probability.

    From the above will you agree with me that I dont blame the British or the West to look at muslims with contempt? Also does it surprise you that the hindus have now become more employable then the local people? I just want you to take a deep breath and think and for once try to accept independent figures. The above are not my numbers but are factually collected – unless ofcourse you think they are a “conspiracy”.

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  • amalgam
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:23PM

    @indians

    C’mmon there is no point in arguing to those who believe earth is flat and made before heavens in 6 days .

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  • Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:27PM

    @Zeta:
    800 million below poverty line, 800 million don’t have toilets in their home
    Please update your knowledge from i don’t know – some latest information…
    massive defence expenditure
    The last i checked Pakistan spent 2.8% of its GDP on expenditure and India 2.5%
    half of country under maoists, freedom movemeents from Assam to Kashmir and look at them
    Half of country!!!!! We are not talking of Baluchistan and Pakistan… Are we??
    They can’t even make one indigenous fighter plane or Tank and talking about mars.
    Please ‘READ UP’ about Arjun MBT tanks… We talked about Moon and Pakistanis said – ‘But India is poor…’. When ‘Chandrayaan’ mission was a success virtually every country in the world appreciated it except for the one country, you know who is jealous…. No prices for guessing… Now, when we say – ‘Mission Mars’, Pakistani rhetoric continues – ‘But India is poor…’ November 2013 we will do it again and Pakistanis will continue to sing their national anthem – ‘But India is poor…’
    In between, Mr. Zahid Hamid the great(!!!!) is not visible any more…. We Indians are missing our favourite comedy show on youtube… Is he on a Mars Mission of his own?? You know using a Spacecraft which runs on water…..

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  • Hasan
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:46PM

    LOL…this news has cheered me up for the rest of the week.

    Hindustanis are known to house the poorest and filthiest majority population in the world – but apparently Pakistanis are jealous of that?!

    Yeah, in fact we’re also bitterly jealous of your crippling AIDS epidemic, your abysmal sanitation record, and your spiralling religious violence. Yeah, seriously, it makes us burn with envy when we see you launch these indigenous projects which take twenty plus years and end up as new-age junk, like the Tejas and the Arjun…we cry into buckets when we see you mobilise your army like you did in 2001, blowing up 900 of our own men in the process…ouch, the jealousy hurts so much!

    LOL, well with this sterling track record, we are holding our collective breath as we watch you pull a spaceship out of your sewers, while Shah Rukh Khan flies it up into space. Please get it ready for Baisanti, we love watching fireworks exploding in the sky at that time of the year!

    Hahaha too funny…

    Hasan

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:51PM

    @Slumdog dreams:
    From what I know, India population is seven times more. So even when you compare the number of US doctors, India’s ratio in comparison to Pak is rather disappointing.

    if you are interested in comparison,there are many countries in the world with which we can compare Pakistan,like isreal,srilanka etc. Afghanistan recently won a bronze in Olympics,and comparing Pakistan with these countries Pakistanis achievements seem minuscule.
    forget India,you have lot many countries to compare yourself with.

    @Hasan:
    Truth is that any Indian would love to run to a Western country if give the opportunity any given day of the week
    .
    you completely forgot that the same is the case for Pakistanis.unlike Pakistanis, Indians are not running away in fear of prosecution or fearing for their life.
    guess what,just a few days back,many Pakistani Hindus came into India seeking asylum.
    rather we are still far away and things will likely stay like that until India becomes a developed nation
    the same was said and read about china,now the entire american economy and entire global economic recovery is linked to Chinese economic performance,and china is still not a developed country.
    (good luck with doing that with hundreds of millions of people. It’ll take a century at a minimum, )
    it took china around 3 decades to reduce its poverty from 84 to 16 percent,with Indian economy being on it’s right path,it will probably take us around 2 decades to reduce the poverty levels
    even then you wont solve all issues
    is there any country where there are no issues related to poverty or economic downturn or is completely free of all issues regarding it’s society,economy etc.?

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  • Rahul
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:52PM

    @Doctor .. You became a laughing stock. You gave a link in which India tops the chart, mind you even China is behind us. So what are you talking abt achievements of India. Come out of your absurd,hypocrtic mindset and face the reality.We never shy away from poverty, malnutrition etc problems. I am damn sure we will solve them soon. There is a BIG reason why Pakistan is called a Failed State.Just like the Hafiz saeed is Professor in our country, your a doctor I guess.Recommend

  • Nand
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:55PM

    @Slumdog dreams:
    Check your facts. The biggest slum of the world is in Karachiie Orangi town.

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  • amit
    Aug 15, 2012 - 10:56PM

    @Iqbal:
    sir better u use word “INDIAN” rather than “HINDU”(by the way i am a atheist hindu)because INDIAN=hindu,sikh,buddhist,jain,christen,jews,muslims,animist.

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  • I'm an Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:03PM

    Many thanks to Pakistani friends for showing concern on Indian poor even in sarcastic manner.. And, hope you guys pursue your governments to take steps to make the country a welfare state….

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  • jism
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:03PM

    @Hasan:
    LOL…this news has cheered me up for the rest of the week.
    well,enjoy the the rest of your week then.
    “Hindustanis are known to house the poorest and filthiest majority population in the world !”

    @moderators,
    how could you let such dirty language to be posted,i mean, calling majority of people as ‘filthy’, by no means it can be treated as the language of the properly educated one’s, unless of course he/she has not been properly educated or there are no proper schools there to teach respect or proper manners.

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  • Nand
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:05PM

    @Zeta:
    Yes India is a developing Nation but is not on its knees with a bowl in its hand.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:07PM

    @Truth Bites:
    “You live in UK and for your comments here, you can be reported to authortities under
    racism law of britain”
    Sir, I have supported all my facts with government released statistics. Feel free to report me. Even our PMs (David Cameron and Gordon Brown) agree with me. Just to jog your memory Mr Brown famously said that over 90% of world’s terrorism is linked to Pakistan.
    Prove me I am wrong!
    Furthermore, why dont you report the authorities of this report which actually came from UK’s House of Commons: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhaff/165/16507.htm

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  • manish rohera
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:19PM

    @venkat:
    it’s sarcasm and quite a hilarious one

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  • Arijit Sharma
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:20PM

    A lot of our Pakistani friends have expressed grave concern about the Indian space program. Such concern can come from the closest of friends. Please rest assured, it is not wasteful expenditure. The amount of money that goes up in smoke ( as in the exhaust plume ) and what is spent on the hardware is negligible. The majority of the money is used for salaries, for developing capabilities in manufacturing, electronics, engineering, etc.

    The best way to think of it is as an additional outlay under the Education budget.

    I do not think anybody will have objections to that.

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  • Zeta
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:20PM

    @PK:
    I honestly have no interest of minutest scale what these indians do or don’t. However i do feel express myself and show them mirror on a supposedly Pakistani website. their blatant ignorance is unbearable. Recommend

  • I'm an Indian
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:27PM

    @rp:
    Sulking to reach North Waziristan…

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  • khalsa
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:47PM

    @Hafeez Pasha:
    thats being done better than pakistan feeding its 50% bpl population and even flood affected people
    @pakhtoon: Indias literacy rate is higher than pakistans even when population difference is so high. your nation have school being bombed everyday and even a quran reader considered educated who will in the end just brainwashing others to blow themselves in market

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  • Arijit Sharma
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:47PM

    @Hasan: ” … Truth is that any Indian would love to run to a Western country if give the opportunity any given day of the week. … “

    The environment in India is polytheist, so, life is seldom a this OR that choice; it is usually a this AND that choice. And for this reason, for Indians, there is no contradiction in having a commitment to India AND seeking a better life outside of India at the same time.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 15, 2012 - 11:47PM

    @Truth Bites:
    “Hindus or indian are not superior they simply more in numbers everywhere in the world where they could find a place they will be there.”
    Do you understand mathematics? Please read my earlier comment. The population of UK includes 2.7% muslim and 1.0% hindu. Since when was 1.0% more then 2.7%?

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  • suraj
    Aug 16, 2012 - 12:21AM

    @Iqbal:
    Bhai, you are taking so much strain to convince these guys.. Can’t you understand where they educated and got this kind of mindset..

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 16, 2012 - 12:38AM

    @amit:
    “sir better u use word “INDIAN” rather than “HINDU”…”
    I agree with you but the statistics given by the British Authorities do explicitily say “hindus”. I am therefore not going to twist the facts.
    As an ex Pakistani I would like to apologise to all you Indians for the bigotry you are reading. I have to confess I am ashamed and am glad to be in UK where these comments would never be dreamt of.
    Although I still have relatives in Pakistan, I do not wish to visit that place until the security situation improves. I have my own views of what will happen to Pakistan in 20 years time. Let me keep them to myself – but hope that I will be proved wrong.
    Best wishes to you all Indians for Indepence Day today. You have made fantastic progress in the last 65 years but sadly cannot say the same of my birth place. You still have lot to accomplish (such as corruption and poverty) but I am confident that you will get there one day.

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  • wise counsel
    Aug 16, 2012 - 1:25AM

    @Zeta:
    its a pakistani global newspaper..not a pakistani website.please stand corrected.it is meant for the whole world to read and comment on.Indians will comment on what matters or concerns them.

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  • wise counsel
    Aug 16, 2012 - 1:45AM

    hey all,
    time for facts…
    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-12/special-report/331669171mars-science-laboratory-mars-rover-mars-pathfinder

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  • i like it
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:04AM

    i hope we can one day become more mature as nations and appreciate each others achievements/ambitions. all this bickering sounds like a couple of adolescents comparing their biceps. i hope one day we are able to have joint missions to space and compete with the world rather than wasting time with these pointless taunts. just sit back and imagine what an amazing future that could be… we can either be salves to our pasts or masters of our future.. i like the sound of the latter more.

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  • Iron
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:12AM

    I think ET miss understood what India said is “India is going to launch mission to Mars looking place”.

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  • Singh
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:30AM

    @Doctor:
    I am sorry to disappointing you. Figure is as follow
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofethnicgroupsintheUnitedStatesbyhouseholdincome
    This is a list of ethnic groups/ancestries in the United States by median household income.

    Indian : $90,525
    South African : $80,786
    Filipino : $79,336
    Australian : $74,341
    Taiwanese : $73,596
    Russian : $71,333
    Sri Lankan : $67,683
    Chinese : $67,331
    Austrian : $66,460
    Japanese : $65,573
    Israeli : $64,639
    Swiss : $63,172
    Luxembourgian : $61,926
    Pakistani : $61,363
    Indonesian : $59,326
    German : $58,617
    Arab : $55,166
    Laotian : $54,618
    Vietnamese : $53,579
    Korean : $51,476
    US average : $51,222

    Thai : $50,787
    Cambodian : $48,854
    Bangladeshi : $48,711
    Hmong : $46,666
    American : $46,427
    Afghan : $42,682
    Hispanic or Latino : $40,914
    Mexican : $40,040
    African : $34,751
    & I hope you are not mad on me by showing the fact.

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  • Waseem janjua
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:39AM

    and MARS is the Eastward neighborhood of Sri Nagar……..

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  • Giri
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:45AM

    Pakistanis are sad that the money is not used to feed them for 100 days and rather spent on a mission where they no interest in setting up dar-ul-mars.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 16, 2012 - 3:03AM

    @Doctor:
    “Coming to USA, the median income for a White American is $57,000 whereas an average income for Pakistani households is $70,000″
    According to USA census of 2010 the figures read
    Indians $90,525
    Pakistani $61,363

    You may notice that Indians are a whopping $29,162 (47%) ahead of the Pakistanis and rank number one.
    (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ListofethnicgroupsintheUnitedStatesbyhouseholdincome)
    Once again, please report the facts. As you said and I repeat “It is up to you now, if you want to accept the hard fact or follow the head in sand approach/denial policy which is de facto Indian mindset/way of thinking.” (read Pakistani instead of Indian)
    I will repeat, I am not Indian – I wish I were.

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  • a_writer
    Aug 16, 2012 - 3:17AM

    @PaKHtoon:
    Looks like the Indian ‘Illiterates’ are smart enough to send spacecrafts to Moon and ,next, to Mars, while, recently, the super literate father of Pakistan bomb, AQK, proved that he is clueless about basic science and engineering !

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  • Milestogo
    Aug 16, 2012 - 4:08AM

    Mars is nothing in front of moon. Moon is the greatest of all and one day Pakistan will capture it.

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  • Indian
    Aug 16, 2012 - 4:37AM

    @Iqbal: As an Indian we don’t distinguish each other based on religion.. Secularism in India has made us respect each other religions and live peacefully though aberration happens in all society and we try to fight that. Its not a matter of hindu-muslims in India but unfortunately innocent Pakistani people are brain washed though their text books about hindu-muslim and hindus are shown as monsters.

    I just have one problem with Muslims in general that they are less tolerant compared to other religions. They think every move is a plot of attack Islam. Also the sense of superiority makes them feel that whatever they do is right.

    Finally just to add to your observation – let’s not make it hindu/muslim issue but rather progressive/failed society. I am sure muslims will do equally well if they have progressive society in their home country (and if values are right).

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  • Indian
    Aug 16, 2012 - 4:54AM

    @Doctor: Doctor have you read the article properly? Few facts from the article. I am not trying to put anyone down but we should talk on facts.

    1) Indian used to be the largest IMG in UK before the new law was passed. PERIOD. Pak was number 5.
    2) After new law came Indian decided they don’t want to gamble with their future and because of economic boom within India they decided to stay back. That doesn’t mean Pak doctors are superior as their number went up. It just shows Indian doctors are no more interested because of strict visa rules.
    3) “Dr Abdul Hafeez of APPS told The News: “According to new visa arrangements under Tier 5 doctors can come to the UK for a fixed term 2 years contract and at the end of this time they have to leave the UK as their visa will not be extendable.”
    Its only a 2 yr visa which means that they are not inviting Pakistani doctors because of their superior training/intellect. It just means that they will allows doctors when they need and send them away when they don’t.

    So I don’t see how you are scoring point over India with this article. Also just to add my brother.. We were one “quam (country)” before 1947. We share the same ancestry (Indus Valley Civilization).. we have same genes.. So people of both country are almost on same footing in terms of physical features and intelligence. So I don’t doubt that we all will do good when we go outside. I have met lot of Pakistani people in US and had a great chat with everyone. All seems friendly. I don’t know why this enmity? Lets cheer for each other rather than act like frogs in the well.

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  • Kapadia
    Aug 16, 2012 - 6:26AM

    Looks like Indians cannot stand the fact that there are 17,000 Pakistani doctors in US or that Pakistan is number four on US list of doctors. let them stay in their ignorance.Recommend

  • sabi
    Aug 16, 2012 - 6:29AM

    Indian,
    “But India is poor…
    Pakistanis need to make this their national anthem….”
    You have lowerd my temprament..hilarius.
    Regards.

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  • Aug 16, 2012 - 9:01AM

    @Zeeshan:

    “That’s not true.”

    How is that not true!! I am quoting the UN for God sakes!

    Britain gives aid, yes, so? We are still a developing nation and there is a lot of poverty, still.

    My point was even though India had problems, it is far far lesser than compared to Pakistan, especially on the poverty front.

    Another point was that India is halving poverty every 2 decades. So, in the next 20 years India’s poverty will be under 10%. Imagine a country where 1 Billion people are in the middle class!! That is why we say India is destined to be a super power.

    Cheers. :)

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  • Indian
    Aug 16, 2012 - 9:16AM

    @Waseem janjua:
    and MARS is the Eastward neighborhood of Sri Nagar……..
    In November 2013 It will be………… ISRO has delivered every thing it promised to Mother India till date….

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 16, 2012 - 10:30AM

    @suraj:
    “Bhai, you are taking so much strain to convince these guys.. Can’t you understand where they educated and got this kind of mindset..”emphasized text

    Agreed. Your theory also supported by this article http://dawn.com/2011/11/09/pakistan-
    schools-teach-hindu-hatred/#idc-cover

    I have given on my ex country. It has reached a point of no return.

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  • upkar gill
    Aug 16, 2012 - 11:11AM

    @Iqbal: no one is superior its your education that makes u one in my eye u r a very superior person who looks at the facts.

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  • Observer
    Aug 16, 2012 - 2:53PM

    ok here is what I think

    Poverty
    here are two similar families, both have limited resources and love eating biryani everyday. One family decides to cut on biryani and sent their children to school. The other ignore the education and enjoy their biryani’s every day. I don’t need to tell you which family is more prosperous after 15 year,’

    As a great leader said. “hum Ghaas khayein ge…..” , was that clever or did no one in pak ate grass(metaphorically).

    Water Car
    Now that is a real one. congrats to the engineer. I am sure he will be second pakistani to get a nobel price for his inventions. As the invention is so big it is no surprise to see the influx of car makes all over to world like Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki engaging the engineer to share this technology with them. After all which car maker would miss such an opportunity where they can offer which does not have any fuel cost. Image the Billions they can make.

    But wait, did any car maker came to meet the engineer….hmmmm wonder why. here is the reason from two prespective

    Pakistani one: world is jealous, they wont recognize a pakistani even if they can make billion by accepting a pakistani technology.

    World one: A car run by water, how? Electrolysis!!! no big deal!!!!!!

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  • IMTIAZ
    Aug 16, 2012 - 3:57PM

    india can do but pakistan can’t that’s why i see bove comments

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  • G. Din
    Aug 16, 2012 - 5:34PM

    @Iqbal: to Doctor
    “I will repeat, I am not Indian – I wish I were.”
    A person like you is welcome anywhere, anytime. This time Britain got lucky!

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  • Sid
    Aug 16, 2012 - 8:46PM

    No stats to quote.
    I am an Indian. We have poor people. Probably you guys don’t have any, good for you.

    But these projects are important. From so many different perspectives. They help us build confidence in ourselves, they increase our soft power. Other countries can use our GSLV and PSLV programs for missions, thereby earning us money to feed the poor.

    They create aspirations. We (Indians) are a group of people who did very well till the 8th century AD, until we were invaded our libraries burnt et al. We are coming out of a long long time of oppression and such projects help us get back on the path to success.

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  • Hasan
    Aug 17, 2012 - 5:04AM

    @Sid:

    You were flourishing in 3rd century BC under Ashoka – a Buddhist ruler who promoted equality and pluralism. You flourished again in 16th century under the Mughal warrior-kings. Outside of those times, you were an ailing backwater province, crippled with a primitive caste system and ripe for conquest. You Hindustanis should be grateful for the many invasions that you suffered; they are the only things that have given you any semblance of a national culture.

    This article is already funny enough, with dirt-poor Hindustanis pretending they have the capability to reach Mars – don’t make it even funnier with your shambolic knowledge of your own history.

    Hasan

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  • Jai
    Aug 17, 2012 - 6:16AM

    @Hafeez Pasha:
    They’ve hands and can feed themselves. If you’re born, you have to work to feed yourself. That is God’s law applicable on everyone right down to even the ants.

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  • Iqbal
    Aug 17, 2012 - 1:48PM

    @Hasan:
    Were you educated in a madarasa where hatred was taught against other people? I suppose you were part of this report: http://dawn.com/2011/11/09/pakistan-schools-teach-hindu-hatred/#idc-cover
    I note you have said “dirt poor Hindustani…” Let me remind you of how “poor” was described by ex President Musharraf: “Today we (muslims) are the poorest, the most illiterate, the most backward, the most unhealthy, the most un-enlightened, the most deprived, and the weakest of all the human race”. It seems the Hindustanis are not as poor as us.
    Also, let me remind you that NASA has a very high recruits from India and due to the emphasis they pay towards education I am confident they will do it. As a muslim I dont have any shame in confessing that. I will judge all individuals by their IQ.
    Remember, India does not beg looking for handouts like Pakistan does.

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