Indian army chief General Dalbir Singh claimed that they were prepared to face any military action on the border with their ‘western neighbours’ if the need arises. His comments come in the backdrop of intense ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC). On Friday, cross-border firing between India and Pakistan killed at least nine people, including six civilians in Sialkot. More than 40 were treated for wounds in hospital in the town of Sialkot, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. On Tuesday, speaking at the Tri-Service Seminar on the 1965 Indo-Pak War, Singh said a high-level of operational preparedness at all times had become part of India’s strategy as short nature of future wars offered limited warning time. Without naming names, the army chief accused Pakistan of employing “new methods to create unrest in Jammu and Kashmir” and said the recent instances of terrorist violence are “clear pointers to extend this arc of violence to other areas”. It is time India and Pakistan stopped the blame game and sat down to settle their disputes earnestly. The insurgencies the two countries face are in the main an outcome of their own misgovernance, be these in the Indian controlled Kashmir, Manipur, and Chhattisgarh or the one in Pakistan’s Balochistan. Outsiders can play a role only when the inmates of a house are divided.The two countries cannot realise their economic potential unless they stop using the language of threats and agree to sort out their difference peacefully. Any war between the two started in the hope of a quick resolution might prolong beyond expectations and turn out to be highly devastating. Both Modi and Sharif are keen for foreign investments and fast economic growth in their respective countries. Any military adventure will scare away potential investors and destroy vital infrastructure. The gains made through years of hard work and self-sacrifice would thus be nullified within weeks.
Ceasefire violations have taken toll of the lives of several innocent civilians on both sides. The rising tensions are a source of worry to the international community. Instead of muscle flexing the two sides should undertake a serious and genuine exercise in brainstorming.
