By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s former high commissioner to India (2014-2017) and ex ambassador to Germany (2012-2014), has warned that New Delhi could launch a military action against Pakistan within days after the recent attack in Pahalgam.
Speaking with media, Basit cited India’s past actions after the 2016 Uri and 2019 Pulwama attacks as precedence. He said the tone of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent speech in Bihar indicated a potential cross-border strike or other tangible measures.
“It can happen across the Line of Control, on our side, and then they would make big claims that they have destroyed launch pads and terror camps,” he said. “Whether it happens in a week’s time or in a fortnight’s time, something will happen.”
Basit believes that there are no immediate diplomatic problems for Pakistan especially with regards to the cancellation of the Indus Waters Treaty, however, more terror actions in Balochistan and some other parts of the country can be expected, suggesting Pakistan should brace for further law and order destabilisation.
Turning to India’s announcement of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, the former High Commissioner described the move as largely “symbolic” due to India’s current lack of infrastructure to divert the western rivers.
“At this stage, India cannot stop the flow of water,” he said. “The Indus Waters Treaty can neither be terminated, nor suspended, nor amended unilaterally. It’s a permanent treaty unless both parties agree.”
He urged Pakistan to engage the World Bank, the treaty’s broker and guarantor, and to prepare a robust diplomatic and legal response.
“India is not complying with its international obligations,” the diplomat added. “So much for the world’s largest democracy and its aspirations for a UN Security Council seat.” Despite the escalation, he noted that there was no immediate threat to Pakistan’s water access under the treaty.
Earlire, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the dualisation of the N-25 highway — linking Chaman, Quetta, Kalat, Khuzdar and Karachi — will transform the deadly ‘killer highway’ into a modern, safer route, aiming to prevent further loss of lives and boost regional development.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jinnah Square Murree Road Underpass in Islamabad, the premier said the N-25 project is a gift to the people of Balochistan and a major step towards equitable national development. He recalled that the highway, notorious for claiming over 2,000 lives, will now be developed to international standards with improved safety and economic potential.
He noted that the project’s initial cost of Rs214 billion has now crossed Rs300 billion due to inflation, and it is expected to be completed within two years.
“This road will serve as a lifeline, connecting the underserved areas of Balochistan to the economic centre of Karachi,” he said, adding that opposing voices are misguided and insincere to the province’s interests.
The prime minister also appreciated the efforts of city authorities in Islamabad for improved traffic flow and announced the underpass project will ease congestion. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, present at the ceremony, said the underpass will be completed in 35 days instead of the planned 60 and proposed the formation of a dedicated traffic police unit for Islamabad.
Later, during a meeting on polio eradication, the premier directed authorities to ensure that every child under five is vaccinated in the nationwide campaign starting April 21. Over 415,000 workers will participate in the drive, which also includes routine immunisation against other diseases.
Chairing another meeting on the digitisation of the economy, Shehbaz Sharif ordered the formation of a working group to monitor progress and praised the successful use of a digital wallet for distributing the Ramazan Relief Package. He directed similar models be adopted in other sectors.
He was also briefed about the launch of an ICT application in Islamabad, which provides access to more than 150 government services.
