Kotli misadventure

LoC peace disrupted by Indian aggression

An uneasy peace prevailing on the Line of Control has been shattered. Indian forces’ trigger-happiness is responsible for this unprovoked showdown, which killed a villager inside Pakistan. Security forces from across the LoC in Occupied Kashmir fired upon civilian areas in Kotli’s Nikial sector. The exact magnitude of loss and damages are yet to be ascertained. This comes as the first serious violation since a ceasefire came into being in February 2021, under the aegis of the UAE. Pakistan’s Foreign Office was prompt in condemning the incident, and summoned the Indian charge d’affaires to register a protest. The incident has come after a series of provocative statements from the ruling BJP leadership, apparently aimed at raising its stakes on the eve of elections. But what is unfortunate is the fact that New Delhi is not realising the gravity of the situation and seems to be hell bent upon staging false-flag operations to appease its home constituents.

This Kotli incident must be studied in its proper backdrop, as it has disturbed the semblance. Maintaining peace is an uphill task, especially in a region where the people are fed up with oppressive tactics, and where their due constitutional rights had been abrogated by the junta in Delhi. Kashmiris are in a crisscross of their existence, and in such a scenario the tactics to bully Azad Kashmir is nothing but a strategic fallout. This brinkmanship is in need of being condemned and the world community must take notice of it. The fact that Pakistan is holding the fire and is desirous of a negotiated outcome of any of the misgivings on the border must not be read as weakness. The sooner India comes to exhibit a responsible attitude, the better.

Pakistan and India must take to the table, and make sure that a sustained comprehensive dialogue is kick-started. In an era when cooperation and dependence is the order of the day, keeping swords crossed is a Stone Age approach. India must tell its boys to desist from pulling the trigger for the sake of point-scoring.