Destructive rivalry must end

While visiting the forward locations along the Working Boundary near Sialkot on Thursday, CoAS General Raheel Sharif delivered a strong warning to India saying "let there be no doubt that any provocation along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary will meet a befitting response." The statement comes in the wake of repeated Indian provocation's on the LoC and WB. Some 300 Indian violations were reported during the last year alone, in which at least 18 civilians and two Punjab Rangers personnel were killed. The retaliatory fire has also claimed several lives on the other side. Over 10 incidents of shelling have been reported in the first two months of the current year, fortunately though, without any loss of life. Aside from the sector commanders and troops, the Army Chief also met with people in different villages and towns affected by Indian shelling, telling them that the entire nation backed the Army in its defence of the motherland.
Tone of the speech and the timing are significant. Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is to arrive in Islamabad on March 3 to discuss resumption of the long-suspended peace process. The Modi government has been rebuffing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's overtures, maintaining his old hard stance towards this country. It is on the urging of US President Barack Obama during his recent trip to New Delhi that Foreign Secretary is coming, that too as part of a visit to different South Asian countries. The least Islamabad expects from resumption of the dialogue process is an end to unnecessary provocation's. It is worthwhile to note that most of the violations have been taking place along the WB rather than the LoC, where the usual Indian excuse for firing is to claim militant intrusion. There is no logical explanation for frequent shelling across the WB. Pakistan has good reason to believe that violations of the LoC and the WB at a time its forces are engaged in fighting militants in the tribal areas are aimed at destabilising this country and weakening its security. According to a press report, during his recent visit to the Washington, the DG-ISI shared information with his hosts about Indian support for some TTP groups as well. Islamabad has also long been complaining about Indian involvement in fuelling the Baloch insurgency. It needs to be said though that if Pakistan has enough evidence of Indian role in inciting militant violence, it should present the same before relevant international forums. Allegations will remain mere allegations unless backed by proper proof.
In any case, India's far right Hindu nationalist Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, needs to understand that fomenting trouble will not bring the desired results. First, because unlike India's other South Asian neighbours, Pakistan will never accept its hegemony. Second, neither country can afford a war because of the danger of a nuclear disaster. Pakistan has made up for Indian superiority in the conventional warfare sphere with its tactical and other nuclear weapons. Third, creating instability in Pakistan through proxies carries repercussions for India itself. The best way forward is to resolve all issues of conflict through negotiations. Pursuit of a destructive rivalry will drag down both countries.