By Imran Ali SandanoThe killing of five Indian soldiers has flared up new tensions between India and Pakistan. In fact, it has become a fact that every time both countries negotiate for peace such sort of incidents end up souring dynamism. Earlier, the third round of secretary level bilateral dialogue on Tulbul Navigation Project was suspended in January when an Indian soldier was beheaded and another injured in border clashes. Pakistan rejected the Indian allegations that its troops were involved in border clashes. Since then diplomats on both sides have hold several meetings to normalize relations. The newly elected PM Nawaz Sharif took office in June and showed interest in improving relations with India through increased commerce and trade.
According to an updated statement of Indian Defence Minister AK Antony, a group of 20 heavily armed men led by Pakistan Army cross the Line of Control (LoC) near Poonch sector in Indian held Kashmir and attacked patrolling Indian troops killing five and injuring one. He believes without the support of Pakistan army it was not possible to attack the Indian troops. Antony demanded and warned that those responsible for this incident should be punished. These attacks can not only impact the LoC, but also on the future relationship between two nuclear-armed states. Previously he stated that ‘terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform attacked the Indian forces.”
Pakistan strongly and categorically rejects any involvement in the killing of Indian soldiers. While, it alleged that the Indian forces opened fire at the LoC and seriously wounded two Pakistani soldiers and one civilian. The death of five Indian soldiers has been considered an ambush of New Delhi on Pakistan.
Premier Sharif called an emergency meeting on the LoC incident and condemned the killings of Indian soldiers and expressed sadness at the event. He emphasized that both India and Pakistan should take effective steps to ensure and restore ceasefire at the LoC. He said he was looking forward to meeting the India PM Singh on the sidelines of the UN Assembly next month, as previously planned.
On the other hand, opposition parties and Indian media have created hype on this issue and leading opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has pressured the government not to meet Pakistan PM Sharif in New York. They feel PM Singh should take an example of US President Obama who had cancelled his meeting with the Russian President Putin on the asylum issue of Snowden.
Hindu religious extremists have started their campaign against Pakistan. Baba Ramdev (vocal advocate on Indian political issues) called for adopting an eye for an eye approach and killing at least 50 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for the 5 Indian soldiers. The Pakistan High Commission has been attacked by religious extremists in New Delhi. In such situation, the Indian government had summoned Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner for explanation of LoC killings and cancelled the peace celebrations on August 14 at Sindh-Rajasthan border.
Indian analysts believe that the policy of conciliation has failed and we need a new bipartisan policy which will impose overheads on Pakistan for terrorism. It is right time for New Delhi to cancel all proposed talks with Islamabad. Pakistani analysts are of the view that LoC incident could be the act of anti-Pakistan elements that want to tarnish its image. Indian opposition propaganda against Pakistan is just a coin for their upcoming elections which will be held by May.
Whether the killings were done by the state or non-state actors, it is clear that they are not happy with the peace process between both countries. Pakistan always continues its peace efforts to improve relations with the neighboring state through a comprehensive dialogue on all issues. If the planned meeting between both the Primers canceled and the blame game continues they may not get their way. – Eurasia Review
