The recent provocative statements by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with the bluster of some Indian officials, are a matter of grave concern for a region still grappling with the aftermath of the war that erupted on May 7 this year, threatening a nuclear holocaust in South Asia. While addressing an event on October 2, Singh warned Pakistan that “a route to Karachi passes through Sir Creek” and claimed that Pakistan’s recent military buildup in the area exposed the flaw in its intentions.

The Indian defence minister accused Pakistan of planning military actions, but many critics believe that it is India that might be mulling aggressive moves to avenge the humiliation it suffered during the May conflict. They cite Singh’s comments made during the same event, where he highlighted India’s heightened military preparedness along the border, arguing there could be no final winner in a war between two nuclear powers. Any such conflict, they fear, would result in total annihilation – not only of the two nations but also of their history, cultures and traditions.

It is not only the Indian defence minister who indulged in this dangerous game of sabre-rattling; his army chief also expressed a desire to plunge the region into an abyss of war and conflict. Top Indian General Upendra Dwivedi warned Islamabad on Friday against sponsoring terrorism, bluffing that India could transform Pakistan’s history and geography. Speaking at an event in Rajasthan, General Dwivedi said, “If Pakistan wants to maintain a place in world history and geography, it must stop state-sponsored terrorism. We will not show any restraint this time as we did during Operation Sindoor 1.0 and will go a step ahead if provoked again”. He added that future action could be so forceful that Pakistan may have to “rethink whether it wants a place in........

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