By Mumtaz Hamid Rao via e-mail
India’s bigoted act of launching its Agni ballistic missile is nothing but an awful act of colossal degree, especially when frenzied global efforts are underway to de-escalate the Indo-Pakistan conflict. Pakistan has justifiably voiced strong concern over this latest chauvinistic Indian venture. It is even more ominous as it may exacerbate the tension that grips the region. On this episode, a spokesman of Pakistan’s foreign office has fittingly pointed out that the timings of the test are particularly deplorable as the test has taken place at a moment when tensions are already high on account of the concentration of Indian forces on Pakistan’s borders, adding that the test also has regional implications. Pakistan hopes that the international community will take appropriate notice of India’s unwise behavior which is prejudicial to the pursuit of peace and stability in South Asia. It is now to be seen whether the international community reacts with sufficient de facto angst rather than goes through a routine voicing of regret and nothing more.
One hopes that the comity of nations decides to indict New Delhi for pointlessly keeping the pot boiling in a nuclear battlefield when forces are facing each other in a stand-off position. As for Pakistan, it has the capabilities to match those of India. Pakistan also has abundant means to defend its soil. However, Islamabad will not be provoked into abandoning the course of restraint and sobriety, a hallmark of its approach that has been commended by the peace-loving world. The fact is that with narcissistic and blind amassing of the Indian troops along the borders of Pakistan, tension continues to overcast the horizons of the South Asia region with a ray of hope that the enormity of a catastrophe - emerging from the constant Indian arrogance - may jolt the New Delhi rulers to accept the global voice for solving all the problems with Pakistan through a process of dialogue.