Under PM Modi, military response to Pakistan’s provocations more likely: US intel

The US intelligence community has told lawmakers that they anticipate rising tensions between India and Pakistan and between India and China and the potential for conflict between them.

It also said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to “perceived or real” provocations from Pakistan.

The assessment made on Wednesday is part of the US Intelligence Community’s annual threat assessment, which was presented to the US Congress by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during a congressional hearing.

The report said that while India and China are engaged in bilateral border talks and settling border points, relations will remain strained in 2020 in the wake of the countries’ deadly conflict, the most serious in decades.

The expanded military posturing of both India and China along the disputed border raises the risk of an armed confrontation between the two nuclear powers that could pose a direct threat to the American people and interests and call for US intervention. Previous standoffs have demonstrated that persistent low-level friction along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has the potential to escalate rapidly.

Relations between China and India have almost frozen since the eastern Ladakh military standoff between the two countries in May 2020. India says that its relations with China cannot be normal until there is peace in the border areas.

According to the report, the crisis between India and Pakistan is of particular concern because of the risk of an escalating cycle between the two nuclear-armed states. New Delhi and Islamabad are keen to consolidate the existing calm in their ties after both sides resume ceasefire along the Line of Control, possibly in early 2021.

“However, Pakistan has a long history of supporting anti-India extremist groups, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been more prepared than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or actual Pakistani provocations.” There is a possibility. Each side’s perception that heightened tensions increase the risk of conflict, violent unrest in Kashmir or a terrorist attack in India could be potential flashpoints,” it said.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

India maintains that terrorism and talks cannot go together and Islamabad should provide a conducive environment for resumption of talks.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and the US have held a round of anti-terror talks. The two-day discussions covered a wide range of topics including counter-terrorism cooperation in multilateral fora, assessment of the regional counter-terrorism landscape, cyber security and countering violent extremism.

During the talks, both sides shared their experiences in combating the financing of terrorism. They reaffirmed their commitment to combating the common threat of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US-Pakistan counterterrorism dialogue “provides an opportunity for the United States to express its willingness to work with Pakistan to address terrorist threats and violent extremism, threats that exist in the region”. is” that has the potential to transcend this region as well.

“We have a common interest in dealing with threats to regional security,” Price said. “The goal of a stable and secure South and Central Asia free of terrorism rests in large part on the strength of our partnership with Pakistan. The dialogue is a testament to our shared commitment to a resilient security relationship and an opportunity for a candid discussion ” We can take steps together to counter all terrorist groups that threaten regional and global stability.”

He was replying to a question whether the US takes up with Islamabad the issue of Pakistan Army and ISI’s support to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Khalistani terrorist groups operating in Kashmir.

Price said, “The United States is looking to expand our partnership to address these challenges. Any grouping that threatens regional and global stability is certainly of concern to us. It’s something that But we discussed in the context of this anti-terrorism dialogue.”

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