[By Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]

The tense situation in the Indo-Pakistani region triggered by the Kashmir terror attack continues to escalate. According to a report on March 3 by Russian media "Russia Today" (RT), Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, reiterated during an interview with the media that if India attacks Pakistan or cuts off the crucial water supply, Pakistan will "use all means" to respond.

Jamali claimed that Pakistan's intelligence agencies have evidence of New Delhi's plans to launch a military "invasion." He said, "The frenzy of Indian media and irresponsible remarks from some Indian sides force us to do so. Some leaked documents also show that India has decided to attack certain areas of Pakistan. This makes us feel that an attack could happen at any time, and it is imminent."

He warned that Pakistan was prepared for any "aggression," saying, "We will use all our forces, including conventional and nuclear power," and "with the support of the Pakistani people, the Pakistan Armed Forces will respond with full strength this time."

Jamali also reiterated Pakistan's position on the Indus Waters Treaty. He emphasized that "any attempt to occupy downstream river basins, cut off or divert river waters will be considered an act of war against Pakistan, and we will fully counterattack, including using all means."

The Indus Waters Treaty is an agreement facilitated by the World Bank in 1960 to manage and supervise the water resources of the Indus River between India and Pakistan. The treaty requires both countries to share information about water discharge to prevent damage downstream.

Last week, India announced the suspension of the treaty, claiming that "until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably renounces support for cross-border terrorism," there would be no flow of Indus River water to Pakistan.

Pakistan emphasized that water resources are a vital national interest for Pakistan, and they will not compromise on core interests. If water resources are harmed, they will counterattack with military action. The government of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir accused India of opening the floodgates without prior notice, causing a sharp rise in water levels in downstream areas of Pakistan. India remained silent on this matter.

In the interview, Jamali also called for both parties to quickly ease tensions. He pointed out that given that both India and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons, once the conflict escalates, the situation could face incalculable potential risks.

"Given that both countries are nuclear powers, it is even more necessary to ease tensions," he added. "We believe that the international community should play a role. In this regard, we expect major countries like China and Russia to participate in investigations."

At the regular press conference held on April 28, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated regarding the current situation between India and Pakistan, that China welcomes any measures conducive to cooling down the situation and supports conducting fair investigations as soon as possible. As a common neighbor of India and Pakistan, China hopes that both sides will remain restrained, move toward each other, properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation, and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali. RT video screenshot

Since the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the issue of the归属 of Kashmir has been a focal point of conflict between the two countries. Each side manages part of the region and claims full sovereignty over the area. The armed militants' goal is either independence for Kashmir or merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorism in Kashmir, but Pakistan denies this.

The trigger for the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan was a terrorist attack that occurred on April 22 in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region: suspected militants fired at tourists in the area, resulting in at least 26 deaths and dozens of injuries. This incident has become the deadliest terrorist attack in the region since the Pulwama attack in 2019, sparking concerns about renewed military confrontation between India and Pakistan.

After the incident, the Indian government accused Pakistan of supporting "cross-border terrorism" and announced a series of tough measures against Pakistan involving water resources, border control, tightening personnel exchanges, expelling diplomats, closing airspace, and more.

Pakistan rejected India's accusations, stating that Pakistan had no connection to the attack, which was a "domestic event." They expressed willingness to investigate the matter impartially. Pakistan took corresponding retaliatory measures, suspended all trade with India, and expelled Indian defense, naval, and air advisors stationed in Pakistan.

Since the evening of the 25th, small-scale clashes have occurred between India and Pakistan. On the 27th, Indian officials said that Pakistan and Indian troops had clashed for three consecutive nights in the Kashmir region, bringing bilateral relations to their lowest level in years. It was reported that Indian Prime Minister Modi had authorized the Indian armed forces to take "decisive actions" against the terrorist attack in the Indian-controlled Kashmir region.

On the 29th, rumors circulated in Pakistan's upper echelons, claiming that they had reliable intelligence indicating that India would launch a military operation against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours.

By the weekend, the standoff continued to escalate. On May 3 local time, the Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a notice stating that the country would ban imports of goods originating from or transiting through Pakistan. The Indian Shipping Corporation announced that any ships flying the Pakistani flag would not be allowed to dock at Indian ports. The same day, the Indian postal department announced the suspension of air and land transportation of incoming mail and packages from Pakistan.

On the same day, the Pakistan Maritime Authority announced that Indian ships would be prohibited from entering its ports.

Reuters noted that after a series of past frictions and conflicts, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan has significantly shrunk, with last year's total trade amounting to only $1.2 billion.

In the midst of the intensifying tensions between India and Pakistan, according to a report on March 3 by Iran's Mehr News Agency, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei announced that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi would visit India and Pakistan next week. Earlier, Iran had expressed willingness to act as a mediator between the two countries.

Baghaei said that Araghchi would visit Pakistan on May 5. This visit is part of regular consultations with neighboring countries. During his visit, Araghchi will meet with senior Pakistani officials to discuss bilateral relations and recent developments in regional and international situations. He also mentioned that Araghchi would formally visit India later in the week.

This article is an exclusive contribution from the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500433879250125348/

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