WASHINGTON: A top American intelligence chief said India is moving towards isolating Pakistan diplomatically, and considering punitive actions against Islamabad for its alleged support to cross-border terrorism. Lt Gen Vincent Stewart, director, Defence Intelligence Agency, told the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee at a Congressional hearing, that, “India has sought and continues to move to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and is considering punitive options to raise the cost to Islamabad for its alleged support to cross-border terrorism.” The statement came a day after the Indian Army launched “punitive fire assaults” on Pakistani positions across the Line of Control.
Vincent said India is modernising its military to better posture itself to defend New Delhi's interests in the broader Indian Ocean region and reinforce its diplomatic and economic outreach across Asia. “Continued threat of high level terror attacks in India, violence in Kashmir and bilateral diplomatic recriminations will further strain India-Pakistan ties in 2017.” He added that New Delhi conducted a highly publicised operation against terrorists across the Line of Control, after a militant attack on an Army base in Kashmir last September. “In 2016, Indian and Pakistani forces exchanged some of the heaviest fire in years along the Line of Control in Kashmir, and each expelled a number of the other's diplomats amid growing tension.”
Stewart also observed that in 2017, Islamabad is likely to slowly shift from traditional counter-insurgency operations along Pakistan's western border to more counter-terrorism and paramilitary operations throughout the country. “Anti-Pakistan groups probably will respond to this sustained pressure by focusing their efforts against soft targets,” Vincent said. He noted that Pak's nuclear stockpile continues to grow, which concerns the US along with the evolving doctrine and inherent security issues associated with the country's developing tactical nuclear weapons. “Islamabad is taking steps to improve its nuclear security and is aware of the extremist threat to its program.”
