The cold-blooded killing of unarmed tourists by terrorists in Indian administered Kashmir has horrified not only Indians but people all over the world. The conviction in India that Pakistan was somehow or the other behind this attack, led it to strike at nine sites in Pakistan which it regarded as ‘terrorist camps’. Pakistan, in turn, attacked the military bases from where it believed the attacks on its territory had come and, given that these are two nuclear powers, the whole situation seemed to be escalating alarmingly.
Pakistan will have to take some responsibility for dismantling Islamist extremist organisations
The ceasefire, therefore, that both the USA and Pakistan agree was brokered by the former (India has a different spin on it), and which seems to be holding, has come as huge relief to residents on both sides of the border. The question now is what is to happen after the guns have stopped firing? Will this be just another standing away from arms for the time being or will it be followed, as President Donald Trump wishes, by talks on substantive issues dividing the two countries?
One of the first matters to be agreed will have to do with the withdrawal of troops from borders and other kinds of disengagement from a ‘war footing’ of the armed forces of both sides.
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