India-Pakistan conflict could escalate into nuclear exchange, says US General

[abrar khan]

Commander of the United States Central Command (Centcom) General Joseph Votel on Thursday said India’s policy of 'diplomatic isolation' of Pakistan may be a hindrance to improved ties between the two countries.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing on the the United States Central Command and United States Africa Command, Gen Votel said, "India’s public policy to 'diplomatically isolate' Pakistan hinders any prospects for improved relations."

"This is especially troubling as a significant conventional conflict between Pakistan and India could escalate into a nuclear exchange, given that both are nuclear powers," he warned.

Votel claimed the US continues to see "ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India" as "India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan".

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"[India] responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year," he said, adding that "these types of attacks and the potential reactions, increase the likelihood for miscalculation by both countries".

The need for an increased focus on Pakistan's eastern border "detracts from its efforts to secure the western border with Afghanistan from incursion by Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters."

"Security along the western border will nevertheless remain a priority for Islamabad, as the Pakistani military seeks to expand border control and improve paramilitary security," he said.

The Centcom commander claimed that 20 terrorist organisations operate in the Pak-Afghan sub-region. "Seven of the 20 organisations are in Pakistan," Gen Votel alleged.

"So long as these groups maintain safe haven inside of Pakistan they will threaten long-term stability in Afghanistan," he claimed.

The general lauded "promising coordination" between the Pak-Afghan militaries, he said, adding that the US government was encouraged by military operation Radd-ul-Fasaad "in which they set up simultaneous multiple blocking positions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in order to reinforce ANDSF efforts to disrupt Islamic State-Khorasan activities."

The Pak-US relationship "remains a very important one", he maintained.

"We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Pakistani military leadership, to include the new Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in the days ahead as we work together in pursuit of shared interests."
by Dawn News

 

[Laozi]

India-Pakistan conflict could escalate into nuclear exchange, says US General

A significant conventional conflict between Pakistan and India could escalate into a nuclear exchange, a top American general warned on Thursday.

Testifying before powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, General Joseph Votel, Commander of the US Central Command or CETCOM, said there is continued ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India.

“India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan and even responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year,” Votel told top American Senators.

“We assess that these types of attacks and the potential reactions, increase the likelihood for miscalculation by both countries,” he said.

“Furthermore, India’s public policy to ‘diplomatically isolate’ Pakistan hinders any prospects for improved relations. This is especially troubling as a significant conventional conflict between Pakistan and India could escalate into a nuclear exchange, given that both are nuclear powers,” Votel said.

Additionally, the American general said Pakistan’s increased focus on its eastern border detracts from its efforts to secure the western border with Afghanistan from incursion by Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.

Security along the western border will nevertheless remain a priority for Islamabad, as the Pakistani military seeks to expand border control and improve paramilitary security, he said.

Votel told members that seven of the US-designated 20 terrorist organisations have home in Pakistan. “So as long as these groups maintain safe haven inside of Pakistan they will threaten long-term stability in Afghanistan,” he said.

“Of particular concern is the Haqqani Network (HQN) which poses the greatest threat to coalition forces operating in Afghanistan,” he said adding that to date, the Pakistan military and security services have not taken lasting actions against HQN.

“We have consistently called upon the Pakistanis to take the necessary actions to deny terrorists safe haven and improve security in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region,” he said.

“We have seen some promising coordination between the Pakistan and Afghanistan militaries aimed at addressing instability in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region,” he said.

The Pakistan military in particular continues to conduct counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the FATA and facilitate, via ground and air lines of communication, the sustainment of coalition operations in Afghanistan, the general said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-us-general/story-0mA5wNhe3f6GEJgPAJBoUN.html

 

[GlobalVillageSpace]

Indo-Pak miscalculation may lead to nuclear fallout: Centcom Commander
Global Village Space

General Joseph Votel, head of US Central Command told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that the Indo-Pak conflict and miscalculations could escalate into a “nuclear exchange.” And that “India’s public policy to ‘diplomatically isolate’ Pakistan hinders any prospects for improved relations,”

The US general went on to say, “This is especially troubling as a significant conventional conflict between Pakistan and India could escalate into a nuclear exchange, given that both are nuclear powers.”

Read more: Cold War new norm between India & Pakistan..?

He stressed the danger of actions such as the surgical strikes that were claimed by India in October, 2016. “[India] responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year,” he added. “These types of attacks and the potential reactions, increase the likelihood for miscalculation by both countries.”

The General went on to say that the US expects tensions to continue between the two countries as “India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan.”

Read more: RAW & NDS outsource terrorism: set prices to kill Pakistanis?

He outlined that the tensions between the two countries means that Pakistan has to give increased attention to its eastern border which “detracts from its efforts to secure the western border with Afghanistan from incursion by Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.”

However, he went on to say that “security along the western border will nevertheless remain a priority for Islamabad, as the Pakistani military seeks to expand border control and improve paramilitary security.”


Read full story: Indo-Pak miscalculation may lead to nuclear fallout: Centcom Commander

 

[ABCharlie]

Nah.

 

[shahbaz baig]

Indian Source

Votel told members that seven of the US-designated 20 terrorist organisations have home in Pakistan. “So as long as these groups maintain safe haven inside of Pakistan they will threaten long-term stability in Afghanistan,” he said.

Pakistan Source

The Centcom commander claimed that 20 terrorist organisations operate in the Pak-Afghan sub-region. "Seven of the 20 organisations are in Pakistan," Gen Votel alleged

which source is more acceptable ?

 

[Dean Winchester]

“India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan and even responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year,” Votel told top American Senators.

Confirmation of surgical strikes by US General.

 

[shahbaz baig]

“India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan and even responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year,” Votel told top American Senators.

Confirmation of surgical strikes by US General.

india concerned lack of action against militants based in pakistan but india responded in Indian held territory this year.
is this your Sir g kal strike.

 

[Dean Winchester]

“India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan and even responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year,” Votel told top American Senators.

india concerned lack of action against militants based in pakistan but india responded in Indian held territory this year.
is this your Sir g kal strike.

LMAO.
Do you even know how to read?

The US General clearly said India militarily responded in Pakistan in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Indian controlled Kashmir.

 

[abrar khan]

Confirmation of surgical strikes by US General.

“India remains concerned about the lack of action against India-focused militants based in Pakistan and even responded militarily to terrorist attacks in India-held territory earlier this year,” Votel told top American Senators.

india concerned lack of action against militants based in pakistan but india responded in Indian held territory this year.
is this your Sir g kal strike.

Point is tackled well.
This indian poster is failed to understand the simple statement about the indian military response in India-held territory earlier this year. or they are accepting IOK is Pakistani territory.

LMAO.
Do you even know how to read?

The US General clearly said India militarily responded in Pakistan in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Indian controlled Kashmir.

LAMO actually there was no sir g kal strike in PAK territory therefore we are forced to assume that operation was in iok by indian forces.

 

[Dean Winchester]

Point is tackled well.
This indian poster is failed to understand the simple statement about the indian military response in India-held territory earlier this year. or they are accepting IOK is Pakistani territory.


LAMO actually there was no sir g kal strike in PAK territory therefore we are forced to assume that operation was in iok by indian forces.

Indian Special forces carried out raids inside Pakistan is open knowledge now.

Point is tackled well.
This indian poster is failed to understand the simple statement about the indian military response in India-held territory earlier this year. or they are accepting IOK is Pakistani territory.


LAMO actually there was no sir g kal strike in PAK territory therefore we are forced to assume that operation was in iok by indian forces.

Indian Special forces carried out raids inside Pakistan is open knowledge now.

 

[Dash]

We welcome the statement and we will look into mending our ways.

Thank you General.

 

[shahbaz baig]

Point is tackled well.
This indian poster is failed to understand the simple statement about the indian military response in India-held territory earlier this year. or they are accepting IOK is Pakistani territory.


LAMO actually there was no sir g kal strike in PAK territory therefore we are forced to assume that operation was in iok by indian forces.

He actually accepted that IOK is Pakistan Territory.

 

[I S I]

No sh!t

 

[Dash]

He actually accepted that IOK is Pakistan Territory.

We can buy CENTCOM but at a price. Next time that smile won't help you when you accuse US helping Indians in creating unrest in Pakistan.

 

[shahbaz baig]

We can buy CENTCOM but at a price. Next time that smile won't help you when you accuse US helping Indians in creating unrest in Pakistan.

go ahead