“Dastardly ambush“, says Narendra Modi, over Indian soldiers’ killing.“Pak kills Indian soldiers. No talks if even a single bullet is fired,” BJP tells the Centre
India alleges Pakistan of firing at the de facto border, commonly known as LoC, of Kashmir and killing five of its soldiers.
The Indian media is also claiming through unconfirmed reports that the figure can be up to eight soldiers.
Earlier, the current government of Pakistan talked about resuming the talks and moving on CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) with India; but this incident once again will serve as a halt in talks. The Indian media and Indian politicians are all out and giving statements asking to stop the current Indian government from any talks with Pakistan whatsoever.
“Dastardly ambush“, says Narendra Modi over Indian soldiers’ killing. “Pak kills Indian soldiers. No talks if even a single bullet is fired,” BJP tells the Centre.
It is ironic that soon after an air space violation, which PAF pushed back forcefully a couple of days ago, the Indian media is coming up with such a story of an attack on its military post on the LoC in Jammu sector. The Pakistani officials, however, denied any such attack.
Such attacks only beef up the tension between the two nuclear armed countries; therefore, there is no reason that can be understandable from Pakistan’s side for such a misadventure. Also, it is to be kept in mind that Pakistan is already facing severe internal security issues. Therefore, such an attack is out of question; as it can only bring more attention towards Pakistan on the international media and diplomatic circles, and the Kashmir case will be dwindled behind such a hype of the LoC incident. It can also distract Pakistan’s security forces and agencies towards an uncalled for front.
On the other hand, some analysts have rather a different point of view – that such moves can distract the world’s attention from the human rights atrocities that are taking place within Indian occupied Kashmir. The recent events of the Ramban massacre and agitation in different parts of Kashmir highlighted the Kashmir cause once again with full throttle. This is purely an indigenous freedom movement, which the Kashmiri people have shown through their resolve and stone pelting in recent events. Earlier, the Indian forces also faced armed attacks by freedom fighters within Kashmir’s heart, when India tried to send a message to Kashmir by hanging Afzal Guru, which also depicted that India’s claims about suppressing the freedom movement were all based on suppressing the Kashmiri voice from reaching out to the international arena.
India used brutal force against peaceful protestors; and now, on a back foot in international forums and within Kashmir due to the agitation, is perhaps using such tactics such as the LoC incident to malign Pakistan and divert the attention of world forums towards the issue, which Pakistan denied categorically.
It is to be kept in mind that earlier this year, in January, the talks were called off between India and Pakistan due to another alleged attack on an Indian patrolling party at the LoC, in which India claimed that Pakistani forces decapitated one of its soldiers. Pakistan strictly denied such claims and even called for an investigation by the UN of any such incident.
This time around, India is beefing up the issue through opposition parties and media. Pakistan should remain vigilant, as an attack near the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and soon after, this incident at the LoC does not indicate a healthy pattern from the Indian security mindset. A new wave of terror within Pakistan can also be a direct result of such incidents, which can be used to convince the Indian political establishment for sanctioning terrorist attacks within Pakistan as a means of proxy warfare.
A recent book by Bruce Riedel, ‘Avoiding Armageddon’, also gives indications how the US pushed ‘India-Israel military entente’ in 2000. It also gives clear signals that because of Pakistan’s growing inclination towards a religious mindset; the US should use proxies from Afghanistan by affiliating with a country in the region – none other than India itself – to dismantle Pakistan from its nuclear arsenals.
These events are once again a message for Pakistan’s security establishment, its political establishment, its think tanks and, in particular, the Media – who is advocating for a peace deal while compromising on certain key national interests such as Kashmir and the Water issue. A peace deal should be made, but while keeping in view the true intentions of the arch rivals of Pakistan – India.
