New Delhi: At the Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza traded warnings, amid mounting tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
As per news agency PTI, the top generals of India and Pakistan were sat in adjacent conference rooms at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. On Saturday afternoon, they took part in simultaneous sessions discussing topics such as defence innovation and regional crisis-management strategies.
At the event, CDS General Anil Chauhan, highlighting Operation Sindoor, pointed out, “What India has done, politically, they have drawn a new red line of intolerance against terror.”
The CDS was quoted as saying by PTI: “I hope this particular operation, it is basically lying in military domain, that should bring about some lessons for our adversary also, and hopefully they learn that this is a limit of India’s tolerance.”
General Chauhan underlined that India had been subjected to this proxy war of terror for almost two decades and more, and “we lost lot of people…we want to put an end to it”.
The current tensions between the two countries drew a lot of attention at Shangri-La Dialogue, held from Friday to Sunday.
Even as India alleged that Pakistan-based terror groups were involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan dismisses the allegations.
‘Threshold of an escalatory war has come dangerously low’
At the defence forum, Pakistan’s General Sahir Shamshad Mirza pointed out that there was a need to move towards conflict resolution instead of management, while warning that its absence could result in a destructive escalation, according to a PTI report.
Speaking at a panel discussion, Mirza underlined: “It has become imperative to move beyond conflict management towards conflict resolution. This will ensure sustainable peace and assured crisis management.”
He emphasised that a lasting peace in South Asia needs the early resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the people.
“Given the Indian policies… the absence of a crisis management mechanism may not give enough time to the global powers to intervene and affect cessation of hostilities. They will probably be too late to avoid damage and destruction,” he added.
About the Kashmir issue, Mirza pointed out: “When there is no crisis, Kashmir is never discussed, and as we always say that it is the Kashmir dispute resolution in line with the aspirations of the people of Kashmir and in line with the UNSC resolutions that will address many issues. The core that resides between Pakistan and India is Kashmir.”
Mirza added that in the wake of the military confrontation, the “threshold of an escalatory war has come dangerously low, implying greater risk on both sides, not just in the disputed territory but all of India and all of Pakistan”. The threshold of strategic stability had been lowered to “dangerous levels”, he asserted.
The top Pakistan general added: “Emboldening of India as a net security provider by the West and its ambition to become a regional hegemon is disincentivising it to engage in conflict management options.”
