ISLAMABAD: As Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday consulted his top military and intelligence aides, the likelihood of an imminent conflict with India seemed to loom over Pakistan’s security agenda.
PM Khan, the prime minister’s office said, “chaired a high-level meeting to review the interior and external security situation”. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Nadeem Raza, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence Lt Gen Faiz Hamid and Director General Military Operations Nauman Zikriya.
From the list of the participants of the meeting, it looked considerably sort of a National Security Committee session except that it didn't include secretary of state Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who has quarantined himself after contracting Covid-19 infection, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, and Special Assistant on National Security — all of whom would are a part of a routine NSC meeting.
The meeting happened within the backdrop of what FM Qureshi, during a conversation together with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the day, described as a fast “deteriorating” regional security environment. The secretary of state blamed “India’s belligerent posture and expansionist policies” for jeopardizing the region’s peace.
The India focused language of the media statement issued after the meeting clearly pointed towards the annoying situation at the road of Control (LoC) being the most agenda point of the session.
“The meeting … resolved that sovereignty of Pakistan is going to be protected in the least costs. it had been also resolved that Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence with its neighbors but we've both the desire and therefore the capacity to defend our people and territorial integrity,” it said.
“The meeting expressed serious concern over the continued human rights violation by Indian forces within the IOJ&K and urged the international community to require notice,” the statement added.
Pakistani strategists fear that India, which has did not restore normalcy in Occupied Kashmir since its illegal annexation in August 2019, is being pushed towards a conflict with Pakistan by a confluence of military, health and economic crises, which have badly dented Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s standing reception.
Indian troops were recently involved during a fatal clash with Chinese troops, the primary in 45 years, during which a minimum of 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
The flaring from India-Nepal border conflict, and deteriorating economic conditions due to Covid-19 could have infused frustration in Indian leaders, who may act in desperation, it's feared.
Taking on Pakistan, analysts believe, is a clear choice for India within the current circumstances as its government knows well that anti-Pakistan sentiment sells well among its constituents. The Indian government had last year exited from the military stand-off with a bloody nose after losing two fighter jets and one among the pilots getting captured, yet the Bharatiya Janata Party presented it as a hit to its public and gone on to win elections.
They again used an equivalent Pakistan ploy after the loss of 20 soldiers to China last month by asking Islamabad to halve its diplomatic presence in Delhi and simultaneously cutting its high commission’s strength in Islamabad after accusing officials of Pakistani mission in Delhi of espionage.
India has, meanwhile, been building an environment for a conflict with Pakistan for several months. it's regularly been accusing Pakistan of infiltration across the LoC and publicizing virtually daily clashes with Kashmiri freedom fighters to mislead the planet that it's faced with a terrorism problem.
There has also been a dangerous arms build-up by India, security officials say as they point to a heightened threat of a conflict. India has lately also ordered major defense acquisitions despite the Covid-19 situation in its country.
Mr. Qureshi told Mr. Yi during a conversation that Pakistan was exercising restraint despite Indian provocations.
A statement by the ministry said both foreign ministers “resolved to implement the consensus reached by the leadership of the 2 countries to deepen strategic consultation and coordination in the least levels so on collectively promote shared goals of peace and stability”.
The two decided to possess face-to-face meetings for discussing challenges confronted by the region, it added.
0 Comments