Pakistan raises alarm over risks to Asia-Pacific stability amid India tensions
ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani general on Sunday raised alarmed over risks to Asia-Pacific stability in the absence of regional crisis management frameworks, amid prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan and India last month engaged in a worst standoff between them in decades that saw the neighbors attack each other with jets, missiles, drones and artillery, killing around 70 people on both sides before the United States brokered a ceasefire on May 10.
The conflict, triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam town that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, alarmed the world powers and raised fears that it could spiral into a full-blown war and bring the archfoes' nuclear arsenals into play.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman, said the recent India-Pakistan conflict underscored how crisis management frameworks remained 'hostage to countries' belligerence.'
'The recent standoff amply underlines significance of maintaining open channels of communications to avert crises as and when they erupt. Post-Pahalgam [attack], the threshold of an escalatory war has come dangerously low, implying greater risk on both sides, just not in the disputed territory, but all of India and all of Pakistan,' he said.
'In future, given the Indian policies and polities' extremist mindset, absence of a crisis management mechanism may not give enough time to the global powers to intervene and effect cessation of hostilities.'
Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
Before the conflict, both nations unleashed a raft of punitive measures against each other, with India suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty that ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines. India has said the treaty would remain in abeyance.
Gen Mirza said New Delhi's move to suspend the treaty is in 'total defiance of the international laws, since it is an existential threat for the people of Pakistan.'
'If there is any effort to stop, divert or delay Pakistan's share of water, as clearly spelt out by our National Security Committee, it could be considered as an act of war,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
30 minutes ago
- Arab News
Dalai Lama suggests institution to continue at 90th birthday launch
MCLEOD GANJ: Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, gave on Monday the strongest indication yet that the 600-year-old institution would continue after his death, at prayer celebrations for his 90th Dalai Lama joined thousands of Buddhist followers on Monday in the prayer celebrations, a landmark event resonating far beyond the Indian Himalayan town where he has lived for decades.'As far as the institution of the Dalai Lama, there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about its continuation,' he said, speaking in leader, who turns 90 on July 6, is according to Tibetans the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in in traditional maroon and yellow robes, the Dalai Lama sat and listened to speeches and chants of monks, nuns, pilgrims, as well as well-wishers from across the world on Monday.'Though I am 90 years old, physically I am very healthy,' he said, before tasting a slice of Tibetan-style birthday cake, an elaborately decorated tower made from roasted barley and butter cut in front of him.'In the time I have left, I will continue to dedicate myself to the well-being of others as much as possible,' he Dalai Lama's 90th birthday is more than a personal charismatic Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist Tenzin Gyatso is also expected to reveal if there will be another Dalai Lama after Dalai Lama has said the institution will continue only if there is popular demand — and is widely expected to reveal that decision on occasion carries profound weight not only for Tibetans, but also for global supporters who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion, and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule.'We offer our fervent devotions that Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, lives for one hundred eons,' a chorus of red-robed monks sang.'May all your noble aspirations be fulfilled,' they added, in front of a crowd that included religious leaders of many advancing age has also sparked concern over the future of Tibetan leadership and the delicate question of his China condemns him as a rebel and separatist, the internationally recognized Dalai Lama describes himself as a 'simple Buddhist monk.'Many exiled Tibetans fear China will name a successor to bolster control over a territory it poured troops into in Dalai Lama has been lauded by his followers for his tireless campaign for greater autonomy for Tibet, a vast high-altitude plateau in China about the size of South Dalai Lama handed over political authority in 2011 to an exiled government chosen democratically by 130,000 Tibetans the same time, he warned that the future of his spiritual post faced an 'obvious risk of vested political interests misusing the reincarnation system.'
Arab News
30 minutes ago
- Arab News
Pakistan demands world stop Israel from its ‘murderous course,' reiterates support for Palestinian state
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday urged the international community to mobilize and stop Israel from its 'murderous course' and military operations in Gaza, reiterating Islamabad's firm support for an independent Palestinian state. After claiming victory in a 12-day war against Iran that ended with a ceasefire last Tuesday, the Israeli military said it would refocus on its offensive in Gaza, where Hamas still holds Israeli hostages. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has killed at least 56,412 people in Gaza since October 2023. Most of the dead are civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable. 'The international community must mobilize to stop Israel from its murderous course and persuade it to pursue a path of reason,' Dar said during his speech at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. 'Palestinians must be granted their inalienable right to self-determination,' he added. He condemned Israel's 'wanton killing of women and children,' blaming the Jewish state for using starvation as 'an instrument of war' in the densely populated Gaza territory, targeting humanitarian workers and destroying homes, schools, hospitals and critical infrastructure there. Dar, who also serves as Pakistan's foreign minister, said Islamabad reiterates its support for the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The Pakistani deputy premier condemned Israel and the United States for attacking key Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this month, saying they violated the United Nations Charter, international law and put regional peace in danger. He welcomed the Iran-Israel ceasefire announcement, urging all parties to resolve their disputes peacefully through dialogue and diplomacy.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pakistan finmin to discuss global finance challenges at international conference in Spain this week
KARACHI: Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will discuss global finance challenges and meet policymakers from other countries at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) being held in Spain this week, the finance ministry said on Monday. The conference, which is being held from July 1 to 3 in Seville, will bring together leaders, policymakers and international development experts to explore innovative and sustainable financing strategies to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly for developing and emerging economies, the finance ministry said. Aurangzeb is scheduled to take part in several key conferences and high-level side events, where he will present Pakistan's take on the prevalent global finance issues and greater cooperation among nations. 'The Finance Minister's participation at FFD4 underscores Pakistan's commitment to promoting innovative financing solutions, strengthening international cooperation, and enhancing the country's voice in global development discourse,' the finance ministry said. Sharing details of the finance minister's engagements at the conference, the ministry said he will co-chair the multi-stakeholder roundtable on 'Leveraging Private Business and Finance' on July 1 and deliver a keynote address at the International Business Forum Policy Dialogue on 'Accelerating EMDEs Investment: The Role of Credit Ratings.' The minister is also scheduled to address the General Debate of the conference and participate in the roundtable discussion on 'Revitalizing International Development Cooperation,' the ministry said. It added that as part of a UNICEF-hosted side event, Aurangzeb will speak on 'Driving Capital Towards Children and Young People: A Dialogue on Innovative and Sustainable Financing for Children.' It said the finance minister will also attend and speak as the chief guest at a special session titled 'Swapping Out Debt for Development: The DCS Financing Approach,' where he will highlight Pakistan's perspectives on debt transformation and the potential of deposit protection mechanisms to support development finance. He will also participate as a panelist at the International Business Forum's side event on 'Scaling Up SME Finance,' focusing on enhanced financial inclusion for small and medium-sized enterprises, the ministry added. 'In addition to his conference engagements, the Finance Minister will hold bilateral meetings with key international figures, including Mr. John W.H. Denton AO, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce, and H.E. Mr. Steven Collet, Vice Minister for Development of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,' the finance ministry said. Pakistan has been navigating a tricky path to recovery from a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has weakened its foreign exchange reserves, drained its resources and triggered a balance of payments crisis. The government says it is committed to the reforms course, which includes privatizing state-owned enterprises incurring losses, widening the tax base and improving its energy sector.
