Russia-China To Investigate Pahalgam Attack? Why India May Not Agree To Pakistans Demand
Pakistan's Investigation Call
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for an investigation team comprising experts from China or Russia, or from the Western nations, to probe India's claim of Pakistani role behind the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack.
'I think Russia or China, or even Western countries, can play a very, very positive role in this crisis, and they can even set up an investigation team that should be assigned this job to investigate whether India or Mr Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is lying or he is telling the truth,' said Asif.
Will India Agree - Historical Stand?
India has historically been against third-party mediation or interference in the Indo-Pakistan row. In fact, the Simla Agreement of 1972 also called for mutual solutions to any dispute between the two countries. "That the two countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them. Pending the final settlement of any of the problems between the two countries, neither side shall unilaterally alter the situation and both shall prevent the organisation, assistance or encouragement of any acts detrimental to the maintenance of peaceful and harmonious relations," says the Simla Agreement.
When in 2016, Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab, India even went to the extent of allowing a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan to visit the attack site and collect evidence regarding the attack. Therefore, India is unlikely to allow any third-party mediation this time as well.
Why Third-Party Probe Call?
The call for third-party mediation is also Pakistan's trick to delay any significant action by India and buy the time to de-escalate the tension. With an international investigation, Pakistan is also trying to come out clean of the mud. With the world nations supporting India against terrorism, Pakistan is finding itself isolated on the global stage with only two countries - Turkey and China supporting it. Pakistan's socio-economic condition is already fragile and it may not afford to enter a long-term war with India. Also, the Pakistani army is facing a credibility challenge as the public as well as opposition members continue to raise their fingers on its working mechanism and interference in the government.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Russia Backs Pakistan's Rusting Pride – And Sends A Message To India
Moscow/New Delhi: In a move that is bound to stir concern in New Delhi, Russia has formally signed a new industrial cooperation agreement with Pakistan – a revival attempt of the long-defunct Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in Karachi. Described as a protocol of cooperation, the pact was signed at the Pakistani Embassy in Moscow and promises to restart and expand steel production at a facility that was once the pride of Soviet-Pakistani engineering. This deal marks a new chapter in a forgotten story – one that began more than half a century ago. Back in 1971, it was the Soviet Union that helped lay the foundation of Pakistan's largest industrial complex. Today, after decades of neglect, a trail of mounting losses and shifting political winds, Russia is circling back to finish what it once started. 'This revival, with Russia's help, is more than a business deal. It reflects our shared industrial history and a future we want to build together,' said Pakistan Prime Minister's Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar Khan during his Moscow visit. According to Pakistan's national news agency APP, the signing ceremony also reaffirmed the 'long-standing industrial partnership' between the two nations. The objective is to bring the Karachi-based steel plant back to life and boost its output, possibly restoring thousands of lost jobs and reigniting a sector that has remained idle for far too long. Also In The Race, But Left Behind For months, China too was eyeing the same prize. When Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government decided to restart the revival efforts in 2018, it first engaged a Chinese firm for negotiations. However, the talks hit a dead end. The Chinese bid faded, but the Russians, perhaps driven by nostalgia and ownership of the project's origins, never stopped knocking. Russia insisted it was the only logical choice to resuscitate the steel plant it once designed. The Kremlin saw itself not as an outsider but as a returning builder – one who knew the bones of the structure better than anyone else. A Ruin Built From Decay And Delay Once a symbol of industrial ambition, the PSM began its steep descent in 2008. Losses piled up after a slew of politically motivated hirings, combined with the blowback of the global financial crisis. By the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year, the plant had already sunk into a deficit of nearly 17 billion Pakistani rupees. That number ballooned over the next five years, touching 118.7 billion. Even as successive governments, first under the Pakistan's People's Party and later the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), watched the unit bleed. There was no coordinated effort to stop the rot. President Pervez Musharraf's regime had once seen the plant report profits of over 9.5 billion rupees in 2007-08. A decade later, by May 31, 2018, it had sunk to a terrifying 200 billion-rupee hole. The PTI came with promises of revival. What followed was a silent bidding war between Russia and China for control of the broken machine. This new agreement finally puts Moscow in the driver's seat. The Express Tribune reports that Pakistan now hopes this Russian-backed turnaround will not only rescue an industrial dinosaur but also breathe new life into a crucial sector of its crippled economy. Russia, too, appears eager to re-establish its economic footprint in South Asia, starting with steel, in a country once deeply aligned with the United States but now visibly drifting toward Moscow and Beijing.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
How the young in India perceive global politics
The return of the Donald Trump administration to the White House at the beginning of this year earmarked the inception of a more uncertain and unstable world order. In addition to this, certain unceasing challenges, such as the war in Europe, the crisis in West Asia, the rising spectre of terrorism in South Asia and most importantly, the growing assertiveness of China, raise further concerns about the state of international affairs. As India's role grows in the world, the aspirations of Indians to shape the global order have also been rising. Now in its fourth year, the Observer Research Foundation's Foreign Policy Survey 2024: Young India and the China Challenge attempts to bridge the gap between foreign policy and how policy decisions and challenges are perceived by the country's youth. An annual initiative, the survey of young Indians (18-35 years) collected data from 5,050 respondents spread across 19 cities in India in 11 languages, between July 22 and September 26, 2024. The findings of the survey are restricted to this period and do not capture major developments after that, particularly the impact of Donald Trump on the global order, the deterioration in India-Pakistan ties after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. But the survey sheds light on public opinion on India's approach towards major foreign policy concerns. The overall support for India's foreign policy has increased consistently over the last four years, with 88% of respondents showing a positive perception this year. The central theme of this year's survey was to gauge the perception of China amongst India's youth. A higher 89% percentage consider border conflict with China as the biggest challenge for India, followed by cross-border terrorism (86%) and border conflict with Pakistan (85%). Even as China and India have resumed the process to achieve a thaw in ties, the trust deficit mires any prospect of a big breakthrough. The respondents who have expressed dissatisfaction with the bilateral relationship have also increased since last year's survey. Five years after the Galwan clashes, there are still concerns about China's rise, with many youth viewing it as a military threat and regarding the occupation of Tibet as a major impediment in the relationship (81%). China's presence in the neighbourhood is viewed with concern (73%) and there is increasing support for countering its presence. The youth also prioritises national security over economic partnerships (84%) and have shown support for imposing non-tariff barriers on China and cutting down on imports from the country. They also deem India's decision to stay out of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative as beneficial to the country (79%). The importance of the Indian Ocean region in terms of its strategic vitality has also increased, with 33% support followed by South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. This also explains the concern shown about China's growing presence in the maritime domain. India's Neighbourhood First policy is viewed favourably, particularly its development and connectivity initiatives. While Nepal (72%) is considered as the most trusted neighbour, followed by Bhutan and Sri Lanka, for Bangladesh, the level of trust has decreased since 2022. The distrust for Pakistan and Afghanistan also outweighed the trust reposed in these countries (81% and 46% respectively). While the level of distrust for Afghanistan has decreased since last year, for Pakistan, the changed norms of engagement in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and a new low in ties can lead to more caution. There is also a growing appreciation for India's exercise of its strategic autonomy, vis-a-vis its ties with the Quad countries — the US, Australia and Japan and also its historical partner, Russia. The respondents expressed satisfaction with the US (86%) and also saw it as emerging as India's leading partner in the next 10 years. While this is a subset of the growing synergy in the bilateral relationship in the last few years, the impact of Trump 2.0 will reflect in the coming iterations of this annual survey. The respondents also urge India to side with the US in its rivalry with China (54%). The youth see a permanent status in the United Nations Security Council as an important goal for India while also endorsing a permanent invitee status for the country in the G7, to leverage the strong ties New Delhi has with the member countries. While the subsequent surveys will show how much the developments of the past few months have influenced people's perceptions, the China-Pakistan nexus and its impact on India's interests and the trajectory that the US-China ties take in the future have already been underlined as critical determinants of India's future foreign policy trajectory. Harsh V Pant is vice president, studies and foreign policy, and Shivam Shekhawat is junior fellow, Observer Research Foundation. The views expressed are personal
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Justice at last', says LG Sinha as he hands over appointment letters to kin of terror victims
J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over appointment letters to the next of kin of 40 victims of terror, whose cases were buried for the past four decades of militancy in Kashmir, with a commitment that all such families would receive justice, recognition and support they deserve after years of suffering. A family member of a terror attack victim kisses the forehead of Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha during distribution of job letters to family members of the victims, in Baramulla, on Sunday. (PTIR) Sinha also assured that FIRs will be registered where required and the properties unjustly taken away from them will be returned to them. 'I met with some terror victims on June 29 in Anantnag which was heartbreaking... After consulting with the higher officials of administration, we arrived at a decision that they (the neglected terror victims) would get jobs and those who didn't get financial support will be given assistance and will also facilitate self employment opportunities. And those incidents in which FIRs were not registered or properties were seized, the cases will be registered and their properties will be returned,' Sinha told media at Baramulla after handing over the appointment letters to 40 persons. The development comes just two weeks after the LG on June 29 announced to reopen cases of those people who were killed by Pakistani backed terrorists during the years of militancy and the victim families never received justice. On July 1, Sinha had directed the deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police to reopen cases which were deliberately buried and directed the officers to file an FIR and ensure jobs are provided to next of kins (NoKs) on priority. In the function at Baramulla, many people present in the gathering expressed how they suffered silently without getting justice they deserved. 'In 2002 terrorists entered our house and killed my mother and uncle. Since that time no one listened to us even though so many governments came to power. Today we are thankful to LG Manoj Sinha for this initiative,' said Suhail Yousuf, a Kupwara resident. Another man, Omar Kakroo, former chairman of Baramulla municipal council said that his father was killed on April 1, 2007, in the old town Baramulla on the doorsteps of a Ziyarat. 'First I want to tell you that no religion has any concern with terrorism. My father was coming out after displaying the relics in the ziyarat and he was shot dead,' Kakroo said. A woman from old town Kakar Hamam expressed her plight how her son was killed by militants in 2018 and how she suffered all these years. LG Sinha said: 'Justice at last! Handed over appointment letters to NoKs of terror victims. These families, forsaken and forgotten, suffered silently for decades. Now, the stories of their loved ones, brutally killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, are being brought to the forefront.' He said that he was committed to ensure that these families receive the justice, jobs, recognition and support they deserve after years of suffering. 'It is a historic step to finally recognise and honour the thousands of innocent civilians in J&K,' he said. The LG said that the truth about these families was deliberately suppressed. 'No one came to wipe their tears. Everyone knew Pakistan-backed terrorists were involved in brutal killings but no one provided justice to thousands of elderly parents, wives, brothers or sisters,' he said. The administration will now reach the doorsteps of all the families who have been waiting for justice for decades and jobs, arrangements for their rehabilitation and livelihood will be ensured. 'Helplines have been set up in districts to register grievances of terror victims. We are receiving hundreds of complaints from the 90s also. In many cases, FIRs were not registered, lands were encroached and properties demolished. I assure the people that culprits will not be spared,' he said.
