Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza has said that after a befitting response of Pakistan, India reduced the number of its troops deployed on the border, and both countries have returned to the position before April 22.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, General Sahir Shamshad said that for the first time, India had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which was a very worrying and irresponsible step. “This decision was taken within just 24 hours of the Pahalgam attack without any evidence.”
The CJCSC said that Pakistan had offered an impartial and independent investigation into the matter so that the truth could come out, but India preferred aggressive measures instead of responding positively to it.
On May 7, India launched missiles at what it said were “terrorist infrastructure” sites across the border and as Pakistan responded with its attacks, both countries built up additional forces along the frontier.
Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire was announced.
India’s Ministry of Defence and the office of the Indian Chief of Defence Staff did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the remarks by Mirza.
Mirza, who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue forum, said while there was no move towards nuclear weapons during this conflict, it was a dangerous situation.
“Nothing happened this time,” he said. “But you can’t rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different.”
He also said the risk of escalation in the future had increased since the fighting this time was not limited to the disputed territory of Kashmir, the scenic region in the Himalayas that both nations rule in part but claim in full. The two sides attacked military installations on their mainland, but neither has acknowledged any serious damage.
Mirza said there were no backchannel discussions or informal talks to ease tensions. He also said he had no plans to meet General Anil Chauhan, India’s chief of defence staff, who is also in Singapore for the Shangri-La forum.
“These issues can only be resolved by dialogue and consultations, at the table. They cannot be resolved on the battlefield,” Mirza said.
