Political reactions
‘There is a lot at stake for India if this conflict escalates’
“War with Pakistan will serve no purpose. There is a lot at stake for India if this conflict escalates. Let us not forget that both nations have nuclear weapons,” Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
‘India must worry about the cost’
“India must worry about the cost. There is a line beyond which one must not go. Otherwise we run the risk of spoiling the broth in Kashmir. There is no alternative to sitting down for talks and resolving the Kashmir issue,” Dr Sameer Koul, chief spokesperson and senior leader of the National Conference (NC) told Gulf News.
Fears grow
Srinagar: As Indian military jets conducted airstrikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, fears grew about the possibility of a major escalation, leading to war. Military strikes from India come two weeks after a suicide attack in Kashmir on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.
Quoting top military officials, Indian news agency ANI said that a dozen Indian Mirage 2000 fighter jets, equipped with the latest built-in twin GIAT 30–550 F4 autocannon, dropped 1000 kg bombs on several terrorist camps in the Pakistan-controlled territory at 3:30 a.m. Indian time.
Gen. Asif Ghafoor, Pakistan military’s spokesperson posted four images on Twitter with craters and debris, which he said was the site of Indian airstrikes. “Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage,” he added.
The fast-moving developments in the region have raised fears that Kashmir, which is at the heart of the dispute between the two nuclear-armed nations, might turn into a flashpoint again. In recent days, hundreds of residents have fled the area near the line of control (LoC -- the line that divides Kashmir) as India moved more troops into the region.
“War with Pakistan will serve no purpose. There is a lot at stake for India if this conflict escalates. Let us not forget that both nations have nuclear weapons,” Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister of J&K, told Gulf News in an exclusive interview.
With allegations flying thick and fast between politicians, pundits and media of the respective countries, there were conflicting reports about Balakot, the area struck by Indian Air Force. Worth noting that there is a Balakot in Pakistan-administered Kashmir near the LoC (between Nakyal and Kotli). The other Balakot is located near Manshera, in Pakistan’s Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
While there was a whoopee of cheers in India after the strikes with leaders like the Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulating the IAF for carrying out the strikes, most Kashmiri leaders were cautious. “India must worry about the cost. There is a line beyond which one must not go. Otherwise we run the risk of spoiling the broth in Kashmir. There is no alternative to sitting down for talks and resolving the Kashmir issue,” Dr Sameer Koul, senior leader of the National Conference (NC) told Gulf News.
“The problem now becomes PM Imran Khan’s commitment to his country – Pakistan will not think about responding, Pakistan will respond – What shape will response take? Where will response be? Will India have to respond to Pakistan’s response?” Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of J&K, tweeted.
Meanwhile all vital security installations across Kashmir have been put on high alert in view of IAF’s air strikes. “All important installations in the J&K have been put on alert mode," a senior police official, privy to the development, confirmed to Gulf News.
