A UK based think tank has warned that Indo-Pak tensions are expected to further escalate due to the lack of dialogue, backchannel diplomacy between the two nuclear armed neighbors.
International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) – a UK based think tank in its recent report, has warned that tensions between India and Pakistan are expected to rise due to the absence of any backchannel dialogue, diplomacy between the two countries.
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IISS report on South Asia highlights the danger posed by the prevailing situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) which it termed as a ‘potential flashpoint’ and that any aggression from a country might result in a new crisis between the two nuclear armed countries.
The report also mentioned ‘stringent laws’ that have been enforced in the disputed valley that prohibits protests, demonstrations and allow for the provision of preventive arrests and detention for up to two years without trial.
Political activists remain in illegal custody along with draconian restrictions on media freedom and inactive political parties, said the report.
In addition to it, the report argues that Narendra Modi used his second term as Prime Minister to fulfil BJP’s nationalistic right-wing agenda regarding Kashmir and revoked Kashmir’s special autonomous status by abrogating Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution.
IISS has termed India’s stance as ‘problematic’ as it has nullified all hopes for dialogue with Pakistan threatening the region with a bigger conflict.
Rahul Roy-Chaudhury – head of South Asia at IISS, has said that South Asia’s geopolitics in 2021 will be shaped by US president-elect Biden’s relative neglect of South Asia, political transition in Afghanistan and heightening of India-Pakistan tensions.
Year 2021 will see the rise of ‘hard power’ in the South Asian region, he added.
