One of the likeliest flash points for a nuclear war is the enduring conflict between India and Pakistan, which have scores of nuclear weapons. In recent weeks, several fatal incidents across the disputed Kashmir border have stoked new fears that the firing of bullets could escalate into something even worse.
Connect With Us on Twitter
For Op-Ed, follow @nytopinion and to hear from the editorial page editor, Andrew Rosenthal, follow @andyrNYT.
The latest conflict began on Jan. 6 when Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged gunfire across the Kashmir border, leaving one Pakistani soldier dead. Two days later, another confrontation resulted in the deaths of two Indian soldiers, one of whom was beheaded. A third incident occurred on Jan. 10 when the Pakistani Army said that Indian soldiers shot and killed a Pakistani soldier. On Wednesday, Pakistan accused India of killing another of its soldiers, making the past two weeks the worst for violence in the Kashmir region since a cease-fire was reached in 2003.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, who has advocated rapprochement with Pakistan, said this week that the recent hostilities had made a continued thaw in relations impossible. And India's new army chief, Gen. Bikram Singh, has threatened to retaliate for the killings of the Indian soldiers. He said at a news conference on Monday that he had directed his military commanders to be "aggressive" in the face of provocations. For its part, Pakistan has dismissed India's charges and accused it of violating the line of control in Kashmir.
The confrontations are especially disturbing because India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars, have made some progress in their relationship over the past year, allowing more travel across the border and better trade ties. Both countries face huge challenges, including the need for economic growth, and neither can afford another war.
Pakistan's internal crisis makes the volatile situation worse. Barely one year after fears of a possible military coup plunged the country's politics into chaos, the civilian government is besieged on multiple fronts just a few months ahead of elections.
On Tuesday, the country's supreme court ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in a corruption case. The court forced the resignation of another prime minster in June, and the current move has stoked speculation that the powerful army is the unseen hand, trying to delay general elections set for the spring and to reimpose a military-backed government. Adding to the turmoil, a preacher turned politician has suddenly begun leading huge protests and calling for the government's ouster while a vicious insurgency continues its violent campaign to try to bring down the state.
Since the border skirmishes, local Indian and Pakistani military commanders in Kashmir have held at least one meeting on the incidents. There were news reports on Wednesday that senior commanders from the two sides had agreed to calm the situation. Speaking in New York City, also on Wednesday, Pakistan's foreign minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, proposed a meeting with her Indian counterpart to recommit to the cease-fire. That makes good sense.
Difficult politics in both countries make new confidence-building measures unlikely at this time. Still, neither side would gain if the nuclear-armed rivals stumbled into a full-blown conflict.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Editorial: Another Face-Off for India and Pakistan
Dengan url
http://opinimasyarakota.blogspot.com/2013/01/editorial-another-face-off-for-india.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Editorial: Another Face-Off for India and Pakistan
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Editorial: Another Face-Off for India and Pakistan
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar