Syeda Mazhar
Relations between India and Pakistan have been complex and largely hostile due to a number of historical and political events. Referring to the recent spate Indo-Pak relations has hit a new low amid the harassments by India and Pakistan of their respective diplomats reflects the state of relations between the nuclear-armed rivals. The geopolitical foes have repeatedly complained of their diplomats being harassed by the security agents of the other nation.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Muhammad Faisal said New Delhi has failed to take notice of the increasing incidents of intimidation. In fact, the politicians are adding fuel to the fire by instigating the masses and spreading feelings of mistrust and animosity amongst them.
The subcontinent’s volatile environment is the result of the spread of misinformation. One cannot express optimism about Pakistan-India relations. In fact, the advent of the Narendra Modi government has significantly compounded the challenges to this long troubled relationship. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the security forces are giving befitting replies to the Pakistani soldiers across the border. She added that the Army is cutting off several heads of the Pakistani soldiers in retaliation to the beheading of one Indian soldier. During the interview, Nirmala Sitharaman also talked about Indo-China relations and Rafale deal where BJP is strongly being accused of manipulating the proposal for its personal benefits.
Falsely applauding the courage and efforts of the Indian army, Sitharaman said that the neighbouring country was once taught a lesson in 2016 when Indian Army carried out a surgical strike on terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan.
The terrorists are not allowed to infiltrate into the country. They are being eliminated right at the borders, she added. Talking about the Indian Army, the Defence Minister said, “I can’t talk about our successes publicly. But, I can assure this much that our Army is retaliating. I am not saying this with pride but with a responsibility that our Army is capable.”
“I do not want to say what we will do,” Vice Chief of Army Staff Sarath Chand was quoted as saying by Indian news agency the Press Trust of India (PTI). “Instead of speaking, we will focus on our action at a time and place of our choosing. They [Pakistani army] have said it was not done by their forces. Then who did it? Their people came to our area and did it. They will have to take responsibility and face consequences for it.” Separately, the director general of military operations, Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, said the alleged beheading warranted “unequivocal condemnation and response.”
To attempt to cool the dispute, China had been seen as a possible mediator. Beijing now has a particular interest in the region due to its investment in a collection of infrastructure projects in Pakistan known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. However, China Wednesday denied it has any plans to mediate the dispute, stating instead that it should be “settled bilaterally,” according to the PTI
This is the first time ever that an Indian government official has publicly said that Indian army has “cut off” the heads of Pakistani soldiers during operations at the Line of Control. The public declaration is unusual; as such action is a direct violation of the Geneva Convention and customary norms of international law on armed conflict. While there is evidence that such actions have taken place, their illegality is the reason the government has always maintained strict silence over them.
India has continued its aggressive attitude at the Line of Control (LOC). In the latest incident, Indian forces attacked van carrying school children in the Battal sector, in violation of the Geneva Convention & ceasefire understanding of 2003. Indian troops started unprovoked shelling across the LOC and terrorized innocent civilians including children residing along the area.
On mutilation of dead persons (including soldiers), we have Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions that prohibits “violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture”. It is often claimed that beheading enemy soldiers in border skirmishes (even when no war is declared) is violation of the IHL and would tantamount to war crimes under the Rome Statute, making the said perpetrators open to trial by the International Criminal Court.
ISPR posted a message on Twitter where Major Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted, “Indian unethical and unprofessional approach across Line of Control continued terrorizing civilians as the van driver embraced Shahadat when the Indian forces opened unprovoked fire on the school children van in Battal sector”.
Pakistani Army also retaliated and gave the aggressors a befitting reply. According to yet another tweet by ISPR, Pakistan Army destroyed the post of Indian Army in Tatta Pani (Hot Spring) sector, which was responsible for targeting the innocent citizens. Pakistani Army killed five Indian soldiers and many were injured in the retaliation
Even though Pakistan has summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner a number of times to record a protest over such incidents of violence across the LOC, Indian forces still continue terrorizing the civilians living along the region.
The two countries have been in conflict over Muslim-majority Kashmir since the partition of India in 1947 following British rule. Both countries claim the Himalayan region but rule it only in part. A 2003 cease-fire has been punctured in recent months by sporadic cross-border attacks, with India repeatedly blaming Pakistan for attacks on its personnel by militants. The latest escalation in tensions began after an attack on an Indian army base last September, which India blamed on Pakistani militants and retaliated with “surgical strikes” across the Line of Control.
Bilateral relations are mired in suspicion: India accuses Pakistan of not wanting constructive dialogue and of cross-border attacks, while Islamabad alleges that New Delhi interferes in its internal matters and commits human rights abuses in Kashmir.
