ISLAMABAD – The Balakot strike was designed to demonstrate that India hadan upper hand because of its military superiority and it had the space toescalate if it wanted to. If India had been able to do so thissuccessfully, it could have fundamentally changed the India-Pakistandynamic as it could have setup a template for future Indian militaryaction. In a major development, a credible report was received regardingthe launch of an attack on Pakistan on Feb 27, by India and Israel, alongwith a third an unnamed nation from another side. India had planned tocarry out a missile attack on Pakistan’s two cities Karachi and Bahawalpurvia Rajasthan. It was learnt that Israel had an aim to dent Pakistan’snuclear assets.
If history is any guide, Indo-Israel nexus is not something new when itcomes to strategic cooperation between the two. Israel provided militaryequipment and surveillance to India in 1965 and 1971 wars, in 1999 Kargiland many other times. According to Dr Tughral Yamin, Intelligence reportsin 1986-87 suggested that the India, Israel and Soviet Union were colludingto attack Pakistani strategic installations. Another case of high tensionknown as the Crises of spring 1990, led to the deployment of troops alongthe borders. By the spring 1990, the revolt in Jammu Kashmir was in fullflow. V. P Singh the Indian PM, gave a speech calling upon the Indians tobe psychologically prepared for war and warned Pakistan. Indo-Israel forceswere planning to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear assets.
In December 2001, India mobilized forces against Pakistan in retaliationagainst an assault by alleged Pakistani backed Kashmiri militants on itsparliament. India’s demands were met and a set of militants were handedover to them on Dec 20. But India mobilized forces with threatened warshowing India’s aggressive attitude once again. On Nov 26, 2008, in Mumbaiattack, the Government of India blamed terrorist groups based in Pakistan.Pakistan offered a director level officer to go India and be part ofinvestigations but India suspended the Peace process. Two airspaceviolations by Indian aircraft were reported, one towards Muzaffarabad andother towards Lahore. The Pakistani air bases were alerted to thepossibility of Indian strikes and combat air patrols were flown over Lahoreand Islamabad.
In a major development, a credible report was received regarding the launchof an attack on Pakistan on Feb 27, by India and Israel, along with a thirdan unnamed nation from another side. India had planned to carry out amissile attack on Pakistan’s two cities Karachi and Bahawalpur viaRajasthan. It was learnt that Israel had an aim to dent Pakistan’s nuclearassets
Pakistan has perhaps taken more risks than any other nation in America’s“war on terror.” Yet it remains most insecure about its relations withWashington. Pakistan remains exposed to the dangers of pre-emptive strikesfrom two of America’s close allies in the war on terror and they are Indiaand Israel.
Thousands of people have been killed in Pakistan due to terror attackssince the beginning of the war on terror. Over 140 children were killed inan Army Public school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014. Wave ofconspiracies, intrigues and terrorism ruined Pakistan’s peace but Pakistannever showed such an aggressive attitude for the neighboring country asPakistan always seek for region’s peace and stability. As far as Pakistan’snuclear program is concerned, it is conceived as an essential safeguardagainst the Indian nuclear weapon capability and for Pakistan’s security,while India wanted to have an image of great power and threaten Pakistan.Good fences make good neighbors.
History simply does not support the hypothesis that religion is the majorcause of conflict among nations. Mostly these wars were to control bordersor for territorial conquest .But this is not to say that religion is not acause of conflict. Obviously it is. It is evident that India and Israelhave anti-Islam nexus. India has occupied the territory of Kashmir, whileIsrael is occupying a vast area of Palestine.
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Israel is considered a key weapons supplier to the Indian army, and thedeals between the two countries in recent years are estimated at a billiondollars.
Pulwama attack either an inside job for winning elections and to facilitateBJP or something else, but it is clear that India with her allies wants toindulge Pakistan in war to make Pakistan’s economy weak. Recently, KSA andPakistan signed several MoUs with investments worth $20 billion acrossdifferent areas. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s state visit is theclear indication of the fact that Pakistan has succeeded in providingsecure political and economic space for investments across differentsectors. When Pakistan is going to be hub of cultural exchanges witheconomic development, war is going to be imposed.
The conflict in South Asia has global implications. India and her alliescannot enhance their own security by making Pakistan feel insecure. IfIndia chooses to escalate from here, it will not be about India Pakistananymore, it will be about the region. It is obvious that the creation ofstability may not necessarily be motivated by noble sentiments.
*BY: Aisha Noor The writer is a columnist*
