News Analysis |
After the cancellation of the Pak-Indian FM meeting at the UNGA by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, the Indian army chief Bipin Rawat on Saturday threatened Pakistan with ‘retaliation’ over its alleged involvement in last week’s killing of a border guard and policemen in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). General Rawat told reporters that they could not inform them about their next action. “Yes, it’s time to give it back to them in the same coin, not resorting to similar kind of barbarism,” he said. “But, I think the other side must also feel the same pain,” he added.
These statement by the Indian army chief came after one day of India’s refusal to hold a meeting of foreign ministers of both states at sidelines of the United Nations session. On the eve of 21st September Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar confirmed that the expected meeting has been called off. Indian official pointed fingers at Pakistan’s intentions and the role of PM Khan. “It is obvious that behind Pakistan’s proposal for talks to make a fresh beginning, the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new Prime Minister Imran Khan has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office,” he said. “Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless.”
PM Modi cannot afford cooperation and peace with Pakistan if he is certain to maintain his extremist version of politics. This is, however, not in the interest of Indian society which is highly heterogeneous and complex.
Later on, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mr. Shah termed the development as unfortunate and reaffirmed Pakistani narrative that the country was ready to take two steps if India takes one. Recently in an interview, the Indian defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman had openly accepted that India was cutting the heads of Pakistanis but was not displaying it to the world. The confession of the Indian official is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention and customary norms of international law on armed conflict. It is also important to mention here that it is for the first time that any Indian official has confessed their involvement in the killing and mutilation of Pakistani soldiers.
Pakistan rejects the Statements by ‘Warmongers’
The Director General of ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor responded to the Indian army chief while giving an interview to a local TV channel. “We are always ready and prepared for war. War happens when either side is unprepared for it,” DG ISPR said. Moreover, the army’s media wing spokesperson said that the country’s desire for peace shouldn’t be perceived as its weakness, adding that the Army won’t let peace be derailed.
Armed forces fully prepared to respond to any aggression, warns that Pakistan's desire for peace should not be construed as its weakness: DG ISPRhttps://t.co/2KxW2Mi1uD#IndianGovtAgainstPeace #DGISPR pic.twitter.com/pru0SahY9F
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 22, 2018
The DG ISPR has further said that since the Indian government has failed to suppress the freedom movement of Kashmiris now she is trying to divert the attention of the world to the use more force and hide its real face.
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Furthermore, the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry hit back at the provocative statements by saying that General Rawat should know that he is an army chief not a BJP secretary general. Mr. Chaudhry said that General Rawat is highlighting himself as a ‘tool’ of a political party (meaning the ruling BJP). He also said that it is unfortunate to see that where Pakistan is calling for peace between both sides whereas the Indian army chief is restoring to warmongering. “We reject warmongering by ruling elite of India everyone knows Indian Govt strategy is to use hate-mongering against Pak basically to bail Pm Modi from a call for resignation post-French jets Rafael deal and divert the attention of Indian public from this mega corruption scandal .” Ch. Tweeted.
We reject war mongering by ruling elite of India everyone know Indian Govt strategy is to use hate mongering against Pak basically to bail Pm Modi from call for resignation post French jets Rafael deal and divert attention of Indian public from this mega corruption scandal .
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 22, 2018
PM Modi cannot afford Peace with Pakistan
Analysts point out that PM Modi is doing all this for his vested political interests. India is all set to hold its general election in the next year and PM Modi is making all his efforts to retain the office. He is known for his nationalist, extremist, and divisionist policies across the world. He is now using anti-Pakistan narrative to maintain his political base which will help him win the general elections.
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Moreover, there is also another perspective that since India is using force to suppress the voice of Kashmiris and trying to eliminate the freedom movement, it cannot afford any friendly relation with Pakistan. According to details, the United Nation’s office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued its first-ever report on the situation in Kashmir on June 14. The report highlights the protests after the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016 and the brutal use of pellet guns against protesters among the human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir. PM Modi cannot afford cooperation and peace with Pakistan if he is certain to maintain his extremist version of politics. This is, however, not in the interest of Indian society which is highly heterogeneous and complex.