The writer is a staff member
Pakistan and India have reached a new low in their relations after Thursday’s attacks across the Line of Control. Pakistan lost 2 soldiers in the unprovoked firing on the LoC and gave a befitting response to the Indian army.
According to Indian DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh “The Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on terror Launchpad’s along the LoC, resulting in significant casualties, it had launched surgical strikes on the LoC.”
While DG ISPR Asim Bajwa refuting the Indian claims said, “There has been no surgical strike by India, instead there had been cross border fire initiated and conducted by India which is existential phenomenon. As per rules of engagement same was strongly and befittingly responded by Pakistani troops.”
PM Nawaz Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Interior Minister Ch Nisar along with mainstream leadership of Pakistan strongly condemned the indian incursion.
In view of these developments The Nation asked Lieutenant General Ghulam Mustafa (Retired) a military analyst about his views:
“This is a very serious development in the present scenario. Since (PM) Modi took over, he has been raising the temperature, but after Uri attack it has gone out of control. India’s aim is to pressurize Pakistan so it bows down to its wishes, which will not happen.”
In his view the Indian government is trying to cover up their lapses by pressuring Pakistan, “India’s problem is that they are unable to defend themselves. Pathan Kot airbase attack had exposed their weaknesses, Uri attack on an army headquarter had shocked them totally and then Kashmir issue is getting on their nerves. They are just trying to cover up their mistakes and defeat by resorting to these actions, so as to convince their public that they have responded to those attacks.”
Regarding the Indian DGMO’s claim he said, “They have tried to play it very cunningly by saying these were surgical strikes, incase Pakistan responds to it they would be able to build pressure on Pakistan in the international arena.”
He praised Pakistan for playing it safe rather than reacting emotionally, “It’s very sensible of Pakistan to have not responded to the so called ‘surgical strikes’ and is still giving them space to cool things down, as escalating tensions will only result in further chaos. But if they try anything more than this then Pakistan will not tolerate it.”
Gen. Mustafa claims Pakistan will not stay silent if provoked further, “Pakistan wants peace in the region as for years things have remained unstable here, but if Pakistan remains silent on this provocation then it will start getting reaction from the quarters within the state. If India actually does go for ‘surgical strikes’ then Pakistan will not let them get away with it.”
“Regarding their next ‘strike’ if any, then it will be limited to LoC and Azad Kashmir. In case they try touching Lahore or another place then it will be an all-out war as it would violate the sovereignty of Pakistan,” he said.
He does not seem very hopeful of SAARC and in his assessment it may dissolve soon, “From the very start we all knew SAARC was India Pakistan centric. Even thou it was known nothing will ever come out of it but at least we met to discuss issues once in a while. India always aimed at discussing the flaws of Pakistan and wanted all other countries to isolate it. But after Uri attack it doesn’t seem possible SAARC will last for long.”
General Mustafa said that the political leadership of Pakistan needs to act boldly and responsibly instead of only issuing condemnation statements, “Political leadership of Pakistan has failed once again. Our PM has only condemned the attack, which is not how international business should be conducted. On the other hand look at PM Modi, since Uri attack he has been calling the shots. It is unfortunate that the Pakistani leadership has failed the nation once again, (at this critical juncture).”http://nation.com.pk/featured/29-Sep-2016/pakistan-is-playing-it-smart-against-india
Analysts Call for reading Modi mindset: by Sajid Zia in The nation, September 30, 2016
LAHORE – Defence analysts want the government to be proactive diplomatically and strategically to foil Indian designs against Pakistan as the hoax of surgical strikes exposes the Modi government’s mood.
According to them, the last year’s visit of Indian PM to Pakistan, Pathankot attack and Uri incident are preplanned steps to destabilise Pakistan and weaken it economically since a hope of prosperity has arisen from the projects like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
They found Modi mindset of India hoodwinked the world into this episode to cover its atrocities in Kashmir.
Former interior minister Gen (r) Moeenuddin Haider said Indian forces cannot dare conduct surgical strikes as they know well how Pakistan will respond to that.
He also rejected the Indian allegation of Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism, saying the UN observers are deployed to monitor activities along the LoC and they (the observers) have noticed nothing like that.
The former minister said the government should take up the matter with the United Nations and Pakistan should call upon the world body to send its mission to the bordering area.
At the same time, he insisted that Pakistan should not exercise any undue restraint over Indian aggression on the LoC.
“Indian aggression should have a befitting response from Pakistan which is fully capable of doing so.We must adopt precautionary measures as taking Indian aggressive designs lightly will let it continue with its hostile approach,” he added.
Former General Ghulam Mustafa said India is playing a very bad game and the world must not be kept in the dark (about it).He also rejected Indian claims of cross-border attacks, saying: “If India ever takes such a step, it will receive unthinkable response.”
However, he stressed that Pakistan should strongly defend its case politically, diplomatically and strategically.He also favoured involving America in the matter as was done in 2009 when India voiced for resorting to surgical strikes inside Pakistan.
However, he insisted that Islamabad must take every possible step to foil the Modi government’s designs against Pakistan.“Kashmir freedom movement has become a nightmare for Modi,” he added.
Maj Gen (r) Zahid Bashir said the US and India have joined their hands to frustrate the completion of CPEC, therefore, the possibility of Washington’s backing of New Delhi cannot be ruled out.
He said CPEC augers a bright economic future for Pakistan and hugely benefiting China, which is unacceptable to India and America.
As such India got a role to deny CPEC prosperity to Pakistan for which it was resorting to such actions.
He said India is facing embarrassment in Kashmir and wants to divert attention on its atrocities by any means.
Vice Air Marshal (r) Shahid Latif said India is perpetrating extreme terrorism in Pakistan but Pakistan government has failed to respond properly.
“Had we timely highlighted Indian terrorism in Balochistan and other parts of the country after the arrest of RAW Kalbushan Yadav, India would not have dared play this strike drama,” he added.
He said time has come that Pakistan should take up the case of Indian atrocities in Kashmir with the UN and tell the world about its evil designs.
Rejecting Indian attack claims, Brig (r) Ghazanfar Ali said the Delhi act follows severing trade, transports and other ties between the two countries.However, he said Pakistan must be wary of PM Modi’s hostile approach.
Under the patronage of Modi, he added, India is emerging as the worst terrorist state in the world.He said the world must realise the effect of the Chankya ideology being promoted by the Indian government.
Ali said Pakistan captured RAW agents and detected its network which should have been properly exposed to the world. He also ruled out the possibility of Indian attack on Pakistan, saying that India would never ‘commit such a mistake as Delhi better knows of Pakistani response. .However, he said, it is time to forge unity and stand one against Indian aggressive designs.http://nation.com.pk/national/30-Sep-2016/call-for-reading-modi-mindset
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