News Analysis |
On Tuesday in a tweet, Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley said that the [Indian] government fully supported alleged attacks of the Indian Army across the LoC, terming them as necessary for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Government supports the actions of #IndianArmy across LoC. Such actions are needed to ensure peace in J&K,” he tweeted.
Government supports the actions of #IndianArmy across LoC. Such actions are needed to ensure peace in J&K.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 23, 2017
This was a reiteration of Delhi’s stance that Pakistan is destabilizing the situation in the Kashmir Valley. Besides, it was in-line with the government’s resolve to teach Pakistan a lesson.
In another tweet, he said that they are taking pre-emptive actions to disengage Pakistani post as they are aiding infiltration.
Read more: Pakistan: No option but to hit back at India
“#IndianArmy is taking preemptive & measured actions to counter terrorism in valley & disengage Pak posts across LoC supporting infiltration,” he tweeted.
#IndianArmy is taking preemptive & measured actions to counter terrorism in valley & disengage Pak posts across LoC supporting infiltration
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) May 23, 2017
“As part of our counter-terrorism operations, punitive fire assaults across the Line of Control are being undertaken by the Indian Army.”
– Lieutenant General Ashok Narula
On Tuesday, the Indian Army released a video of a massive fire assault on Pakistani posts across the LoC who were said to have been aiding infiltration. According to India’s premier channel, NDTV, loud explosions were heard and thick smoke clouds rose as a Pakistani post was hit with heavy firepower from India including bunker-busting guns, rocket launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, automated Grenade Launchers, and recoilless guns.
Lieutenant General Ashok Narula, Indian Army’s spokesperson, said, “The Pakistan Army has been providing support to armed infiltrators by engaging our forward troops from their weapon emplacements and pillboxes closer to the Line of Control. At times they have not even hesitated to target villages in the proximity of Line of Control. As part of our counter-terrorism strategy and to ensure that infiltration is curbed and initiative remains with us, the Indian Army proactively dominates Line of Control.” He said Pak army posts were damaged.
This joint politico-military action comes at a time when the situation at the LoC and the overall ties between the two countries are deteriorating. It must be remembered that last week Arun Jaitley, along with the Army Chief, General Rawat, visited the forward posts on the LoC. After meeting field commanders and troops deployed on the Forward Defended Localities (FDLs), Arun Jaitley expressed his satisfaction over the morale of the troops and called upon them to maintain heightened vigil. Besides, he lauded the aggressive dominance posture and instructed the fighting formations to give a befitting response to Pakistan. One can establish a link between the visit and the attack, given the tone and toner of the Indian defense minister.
Read more: What halts India & Afghanistan from making peace with Pakistan?
The Pakistan Army denied the occurrence of such an incident.
“Indian claims of destroying Pakistani post along LOC in Naushera Sec and firing by Pak Army on civilians across LOC are false,” said Major General Asif Ghafoor, DG Inter-Services Public Relations.
PR275/17
Indian claims of destroying Pakistani post along LOC in Naushera Sec and firing by Pak Army on civilians across LOC are false.— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 23, 2017
Why is India flexing its muscles?
Fiery statements, military posturing, and the resolve to exert more pressure on Islamabad is well underway.
All this is being confidently done because countries like the United States have bought the Indian narrative and have discarded that of Pakistan.
It is reasonable to analyze that ramping up tensions on the borders is an attempt to deflect the brewing situation in Kashmir. Logically, Pakistan has nothing to gain by provoking India at a time when it is embroiled in eliminating terrorism at home.
Evidence of Indian involvement in subverting Pakistan is backed up by its blatant opposition to CPEC and military activities along the LoC, WB, and IB. The Indian military concluded a corps-level exercise on the Rajasthan border. 20,000 troops took part in the simulations, which involved the Air Force as well. The Army was said to be rehearsing battlefield mobility of troops “keeping in view the fluidity of scenario and insertion of troops by the third dimension”. “Fluidity of scenario” refers to the fast-changing environment that is going to be a characteristic of all future wars. It was meant to test the induction of troops into a tactical situation through the use of airborne platforms.
All this is being confidently done because countries like the United States have bought the Indian narrative and have discarded that of Pakistan. In the conclave at Riyadh, President Trump clearly labeled India as a victim of terrorism, but he did not mention Pakistan’s long-drawn fight against terror.
Read more: Situation on the LoC: Indian Army flexing its muscles
The nations of Europe have also endured unspeakable horror, so have the nations of Africa and South America. “Every country must ensure that terrorists do not find any sanctuary on their lands,” Trump said during his address in the Riyadh Summit.
Analysts opine that it was a veritable win for Indian diplomacy where their greatest grievance with Pakistan was taken up at the summit. An open support from the all-powerful US President may go on to make Delhi more brazen and tough with Pakistan. Even otherwise the new US policy for the region has Pakistan at the epicenter.