The world is riddled with strife and wars and the world powers are talking of peace, but is it feasible for the countries who are the largest producers of these arms to want peace? According to an American news channel, US arms sales to other countries nearly tripled last year to $66.3 billion. Congressional Research Service has recently issued a report detailing that American arms sales hit a record high in 2011. US small arms trade also grew to $8.5 billion a year and Israel is one of the top importers of US weapons with sales worth US$12.9 billion.It is true that the in present modern world several wars, conflicts, militias are surviving thanks to US military industiral complex. Now un-manned drones, fighter jets, missiles and bombs are killing more people every year than natural disasters ever did. The reality is that several billion dollars worth of illegal weapons trade has become a big threat to peace and use of legal and illegal weapons is very common, not only in the third world countries, but also in modern countries such as US, France and Germany.Several bloody conflicts from Asia to Africa are being provided these high performing weapons through arms trade. According to a new estimate, seventy four thousand women and children lose their lives every year because of Illegal weapons. Despite killing of large number of people every year, the world community is silent and doing nothing to minimise illegal and legal arms sales or production because illegal arms trade is providing enough support to ailing economy of several countries including the USA.According to media, the UN member states have failed to agree on a common draft to regulate the multibillion dollar arms trade. However, they agreed to hold more talks on the matter in the future but things are going from bad to worse with lack of interest from the main stake holders. Many member nations accused the US of blocking agreement after month long negotiations. Now Washington is asking for more time to review its strategy.The recent failed negotiations also show that big powers have established their monopoly in UNO and it can do nothing without the approval of these powers which is unfortunate. Some big powers have still not signed on a legislation banning land mines for personal benefits. Thousands of people have lost their lives in war affected countries due to land mines and use of cluster bombs. The ban was to ensure safety to the civilian population, but these developed countries who keep harping over ‘Human Rights’ do nothing in banning these weapons.KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ, Jeddah, September 29.