External threats

The recent comments by the Indian army chief would only aggravate the already tense relations between the two neighbouring nuclear states. These remarks underestimate Pakistan’s nuclear capability, ignoring the fact that the country is fully capable of giving India a perfect reply. India’s aggressive posture towards Pakistan, in general, and after the announcement of Trump’s South Asia and Afghanistan policy, in particular, poses serious threats to the regional stability and security.

Also, the greater role assigned to India by the US is not only an attempt to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, but also to jeopardise Pakistan’s national interest. Pakistan needs to reassess its ties with the US which often emboldens India to adopt aggressive military doctrines and even contemplate military adventurism. Additionally, it is in the national interest of Pakistan to envisage its own policy of South Asia along with strengthening its relations with China, neighbouring Iran and the Muslim world to safeguard its interests in the region.

Noor Ahmed

Nawabshah