NEW DELHI – A leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and formerIndian minister for occupied Kashmir has said that the Modi governmentshould seriously consider a limited war with Pakistan to teach the Muslimcountry a lesson, reported *The Economic Times*.
“Time has come to make the cost of military engagement of any kind withIndia unaffordable for Pakistan and for that a limited war with Pakistan,which several military strategists have recommended, should be seriouslyconsidered and that too at the earliest,” Chaudhry Lal Singh was quoted assaying by the Indian publication.
The outburst came as Indian forces continued to heighten tensions on theborder with Pakistan by engaging in unprovoked ceasefire violations whichhave claimed the lives of many innocent civilians.
According to the former minister, the local stakeholders in Indian OccupiedKashmir (IOK) who were pleading for dialogue in the conflict-ridden valleywere blinded by political ambition, and should instead seek tough actionagainst Pakistan.
“They [political parties] have become vociferous advocates of Pakistan.They have doubled their efforts to prevent the central government fromtaking an aggressive stance against Pakistan,” said Singh.
He added that the proposal of the state government for peace was not apermanent solution but continuity of the status-quo.
“Killings will go on and we would be doing nothing but offering condolencesand paying homage,” he added.
The BJP leader was of the opinion that things would not go on for this toolong, and that people in India were losing patience.
Singh, who resigned following accusations that he supported Hinduperpetrators behind the Kathua rape and murder case in IoK, said “I do notunderstand why leaders of regional parties have a special place forPakistan in their hearts and minds?”
He said they were not worried about issues concerning their constituenciesand their focus was on how the central government has to be stopped fromgoing all out against Pakistan.
“Thousands of border dwellers are worried about their future and aredemanding ‘a permanent solution’ to the repeated violations of ceasefire onthe international border,” he said.
New Delhi should stop listening to Kashmir-based politicians, the seniorBJP leader insisted.
*This article originally appeared in The Economic Timeslink>*