What happened?
At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, top military officials from India and Pakistan—Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza—issued stern warnings amid heightened tensions following recent cross-border hostilities.
General Chauhan emphasized India’s new “red line” of intolerance against terrorism, referencing Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. He stated, “What India has done, politically, they have drawn a new red line of intolerance against terror.” Chauhan further remarked, “We have been subjected to this proxy war of terror for almost two decades and more, and we lost a lot of people…we want to put an end to it.”
In contrast, General Mirza highlighted the need for conflict resolution over mere crisis management. He warned that without resolving the Kashmir issue, the risk of destructive escalation remains high. Mirza called for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Why it matters to India
The exchange at the Shangri-La Dialogue underscores the persistent volatility in India-Pakistan relations and the differing approaches to addressing terrorism and regional disputes. India’s firm stance on zero tolerance for terrorism and its emphasis on bilateral resolution of issues contrast with Pakistan’s call for international intervention in Kashmir. These divergent positions highlight the challenges in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.