“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, is a proverb about how to get benefit from tough time by struggle, clear vision, and dedication. Pakistan is going to gain same opportunity after India-China lock horns in Ladakh.
The recent Indian aggression against China, Nepal and Pakistan at the same time has provided a golden opportunity to Pakistan to get maximum benefits. Situation in Ladakh is getting unpleasant after killing of more than twenty Indian troops by Chinese army. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has given a befitted response to Indian aggression in Galwan Valley. On the other side, India-Nepal tussle flared up after Indian construction of road to Lipulekh. Both sides have territorial claim on this region. Ladakh is a strategically important area for Pakistan, India, and China. It is a region occupied by India since 1947 and administered as a union territory since last year. Constituting a part of the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, it has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since the withdrawal of the British from the sub-continent.
It is bordered by the Chinese Tibet Autonomous Region to the East, the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south, both Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the West, and the southwestern corner of Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass in the far north. It expands from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range to the north to the main Great Himalayas to the south. Previously, a war has already been fought in 1962 between the two neighbors on the Ladakh dispute. China has deployed thousands of troops to counter further Indian aggression. India is going to engage with three neighbors at same time, which is beyond its military power. But BJP miscalculated policies and overestimation of its economic power will damage it more.
Pakistan should be ready against India’s false flag operation, Limited war is inevitable solution of this region and Kashmir Cause.
Can Pakistan cash this opportunity? And what can be the possible scenarios?
- Pakistan should immediately call a joint meeting of Nepal and China, since they have severe grievances on Indian aggression. A joint military drill should also be conducted. Nepal and Pakistan both are the part of China’s great OBOR project.
- Pakistan can play its part to rebalance the region. South Asian platform i.e. SAARC is suitable in this regard. Pakistan should enhance relationship with SARRC countries, which have been damaged due to India’s negative lobby.
- CPEC: A blessing and economic a new lifeline of Pakistan is passing from Karakorum Range, a few miles away from Ladakh. Pakistan must secure its route by deploying more forces. India can damage this region as she is claiming on Gilgit Baltistan. Prime Minister has multiple times said that “India can start a False Flag Operation and we should be ready for it”.
- BJP’s ultra-Hindutva policies have created insecurities among South Asian states. Pakistan should build more economic relationship with SAARC states with the help of China. Pakistan can fulfill India’s space in the region.
- More importantly, Pakistan’s effective strategic and diplomatic approach can sort out Kashmir dispute. Pakistan should be ready for a “Limited War” against Indian aggression. Pakistan has a strong military relation with China. Therefore, the deployment of more forces on LOC will build more pressure on India.
- Pakistan should speed up the “Afghanistan Peace Process” in this vital time period because the spoilers of peace deal are engaged on different fronts. Afghan peace process is a golden opportunity for Pakistan to secure its Western border.
- India can restart a proxy war against Pakistan by avoiding embarrassment from Chinese confrontation. Pakistan should conduct an intelligence-based operation to eradicate Indian clandestine cell system in Pakistan
- Pakistan should play its active and diplomatic role and engage Muslim world on Kashmir issue. Although, in previous year, when India revoke the special status of Kashmir, OIC didn’t support the narrative of Pakistan, but now the situation has changed. Pakistan can be built more pressure on India over Kashmir Dispute, by the support of OIC. Currently, the food crisis is arousing in the Middle East due to Pandemic. We can mitigate their difficulties by utilizing our agriculture through CPEC, and our diplomatic ties will be strengthened.
- Pakistan-India water dispute: It is a constant threat of war in the region. Pakistan can lessen the threats by an aggressive strategic approach. India has built over fifty dams in Kashmir and continuously threatens Pakistan by imposing a war of water. . Pakistan should initiate to build more dams on an urgent base like Diamer Bhasha dam and Mohmand Dam. Indian engagement on other fronts has provided us a chance.
As Abdul Sattar writes in his book i.e. Foreign Policy of Pakistan;
“In 1971 when Pakistan was engaged to the insurgency in East Pakistan, India started a limited war against Pakistan which torn into two pieces. Over 80 thousand army troops were arrested by India and we had to face humiliation worldwide”.
Now we have got an opportunity to take revenge and solve regional old disputes by expressing some aggressive policies. Earlier, we had wasted same kind of opportunity in 1962, when China offered Pakistan to attack on India from Eastern border for Kashmir disputes, but we restrained due to Western pressure. Currently, Western powers are engaged to counter Pandemic and racism. Populists and revolutions campaigns are emerging against western Dual standards. USA cannot help India in this time period and chances are also very low. But still, there is a million dollar question; can we cash this imperative opportunity?
