Posted on 22 April 2024
India and Pakistan are once again embroiled in a war of words, this time over allegations of extrajudicial killings. A recent report by The Guardian claims that India has been involved in killing at least 20 people in Pakistan since 2020, as part of a broader policy to “target terrorists living on foreign soil.” The allegations have not been officially addressed by India, but its defense minister made a provocative statement, asserting that India would kill anyone who escaped to Pakistan after disturbing peace within its borders. In response, Pakistan has sharply criticized these remarks, further escalating the tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The backdrop for this latest flare-up lies in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in 2019, when India carried out airstrikes on militant camps in Pakistan’s Balakot region. The attack was retaliation for a suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 40 Indian troops in Indian-administered Kashmir. Since then, an uneasy lull has prevailed in India-Pakistan relations. However, The Guardian’s report alleges that India’s targeted assassinations in Pakistan have increased significantly, drawing inspiration from other foreign spy agencies. As both countries gear up for general elections, the issue of Pakistan remains emotive in India, with politicians often using it as a nationalistic plank to curry favor with voters. The situation underscores the delicate balance between security concerns and diplomatic relations in the volatile South Asian region.
Source: BBC