After having been engaged in acts of aggression on the border for the last couple of months, India has now presumably tried to test the nerves of Pakistan navy through a sneak submarine, which was detected and expelled by the navy while it was entering Pakistani territorial waters in the Arabian Sea. While the Indian authorities have denied the report, Pakistani Navy officials have alleged that the Indian submarine was on an intelligence gathering mission in and around territorial waters as the date coincided with the first fleet leaving Gwadar port under CPEC. The move has given birth to speculations as well as indicated Indian designs of giving a tough time to Pakistan. Though India has denied the presence of its submarine in the Pakistan sea territory, a video footage, captured by the Pakistan navy, of the Indian vessel has been shown, which undermines the Indian claim. It is being said by various observers that India is taking these extreme steps to divert the attention of the world from the ongoing freedom movement in Kashmir, which picked up momentum after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Earlier, in border clashes, seven Pakistani troops were martyred in response to which 11 Indian soldiers were killed. The latest intrusion through the sea is being taken as an Indian tactic to sabotage the development of Gwadar.
Getting engaged in hostile activities on the border, air or sea, is not in the interests of both states. Any kind of adventurism or acts of aggression can lead to a full-fledged war, which could result in large scale destruction on both sides. Both states need to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any unpleasant incident. It is a fact that the two neighbourly states have failed to come on good terms since their independence from British rule. They are still unable to find ways and means to end unnecessary hostility and get rid of so-called superiority complex. The dividends that mutual cooperation offers are unlimited and achievable through the establishment of long lasting peace in the region.
The leadership of both countries must resolve all bilateral issues in a civilised manner. They must listen to each other’s opinion and work out solutions and address grievances of each other. The trade and economic prospects between both states are enormous and cannot be ignored. The governments of Pakistan and India spend huge budget on their defence sectors. If both states decrease their defence budget and divert a small chunk of this budget to the welfare of the masses, it will change the whole fabric of society in both countries. The masses in both countries are the real victims of this hostility and cannot afford any more warfare. There must be an end to this cold war insanity and serious efforts must be made for the establishment of friendly relations between Pakistan and India. *