Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) of Pakistan, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India, General Anil Chauhan, delivered contrasting messages during simultaneous sessions at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday.

 

Shangri-La Dialogue is a high-profile forum that draws defence leaders from across the world. It took place from May 30 to June 1 in the South East Asian country. 

 

Speaking during a panel on regional crisis mechanisms, General Mirza reportedly said that prolonged crisis management without finding real solutions could eventually lead to an uncontrollable conflict.

 

“It has become imperative to move beyond conflict management towards conflict resolution,” General Mirza said, adding, “This will ensure sustainable peace.”

 

Calling Kashmir a “core issue” between the two nations, General Mirza emphasised its resolution by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the wish of the Kashmiri people.

 

He said that New Delhi is avoiding dialogue on Kashmir, noting, “When there is no crisis, Kashmir is never discussed. But it’s central to peace in the region.”

 

"Given Indian policies, the absence of a crisis management mechanism may not give enough time for global powers to intervene and prevent escalation. They could be too late to stop the damage,” General Mirza cautioned.

 

Additionally, he further said that following the military conflict of a nuclear-armed country, the threshold of strategic stability had been lowered to “dangerous levels".

 

Meanwhile, General Chauhan said that New Delhi has redrawn its “red line” on terrorism. 

 

“What India has done, politically, is draw a new red line of intolerance against terror,” he said, referring to its cowardly attack on Pakistani cities, including Bahawalpur and Muridke, killing dozens of innocent civilians.

 

“This operation lies in the military domain and should offer lessons to our adversary. We have been subjected to this proxy war of terror for more than two decades,” he added.

 

At least 26 people were killed in a terror attack in the Pahalgam area of held Kashmir when unidentified gunmen opened fire on tourists on April 22. India had alleged Pakistani involvement – an allegation denied by Islamabad which also suggested an independent probe – and later launched cross-border strikes. The attacks led to intense clashes between the two countries till a ceasefire was agreed upon with the help of United States (US) amid heavy losses on the Indian side.