India has asked Pakistan to reduce the strength of its diplomatic staff up to 50 percent within seven days in its High Commission in New Delhi. The pretext of blaming our diplomats of to be involved in espionage activities is used for this unwarranted decision. By and large, other countries use the between-the-lines decent phraseology such as involvement in activities “not compatible with the job a diplomat,” if they decide to expel foreign diplomats. It merits mention that India had expelled two employees of Pakistan’s High Commission on 31st May on the same flimsy charges, which have been once again cited as example in the decision about cut in diplomatic staff conveyed to Pakistan’ Charge d’ Affaires in New Delhi. In his comment on this uncalled for decision by BJP government, former Ambassador to India Abdual Basit said that New Delhi does not want engagement with Islamabad on the outstanding issues. The escalation of tension on the diplomatic front is linked with the military debacle that Indian troops met in clash with Chinese forces on the Actual Line of Control in Ladakh, continued protest of Muslims and other minorities against the Citizens Amendment Act and above all the uncontrollable situation in occupied Kashmir despite the use of brute force and lockdown in place since August 5, 2019. The move of heating up the diplomatic front with Pakistan appears to be aimed at hoodwinking the hostile public opinion against in the aftermath of humiliating defeat of Indian military in the recent violent border clash in Ladakh, in which India suffered heavy causalities. The timid response of ruling BJP leadership invited scathing critique from the opposition. In a tweet, Congress leader Rahul Ghandhi taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come out from the state of political hibernation and make a clear statement on what happened in Ladakh. The Congress leader ridiculed him with a title of surrender Modi. The defence analysts in Pakistan, while drawing a comparison between the military muscles of China and India, depict the tilt of balance in favour of the former both numerically and tactically. They believe that this time India may not do a Pulwama type false flag operation to justify Balakot style air strike. India may launch an attack by its ground forces. The same point of view was endorsed by the foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quershi in his comment on Wednesday, telecast by a private TV Channel, saying that India was plotting an attack on Pakistan to divert the attention from the recent deadly clash between China and India in a disputed area of the Himalayas, which resulted in 20 fatalities of Indian forces. He warned the war hysteric ruling leadership of India to refrain from committing any misadventure, which will certainly meet a befitting response. Since the beginning, Indian governments have never been keen on resolving territorial issues with neighbouring countries, whether it were the former or the present Narendra Modi’s government. All along and attitude of hegemony has been displayed versus small neighbouring countries and apparent conciliatory tone with the bigger one. If any dialogue process was ever initiated, the underlying objective was to hoodwink the international community.
