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Enraged
India Amassing Tanks, 14,000 Bunkers Along Pakistan Border
17 February, 2019
The
potential for major war to break out along the India-Pakistan border
continues to build after Pakistan said it
is shot
down Indian fighter fighter
jets over the disputed border region of Kashmir. India confirmed only
one downed aircraft, and its foreign ministry also said a Pakistani
jet was hit in retaliation, going down on the Pakistani side of the
border, but what is known for sure is that an Indian pilot is
currently in Pakistani military custody after his plane was struck.
Amidst
international calls for calm led by both the US and China, the fate
of the captured Indian Air Force pilot could be key to whether
tensions escalate to full-blown war, or return to an uneasy status
quo.
But
it doesn't look good: throughout the early evening on Wednesday there
are increasing reports of tanks and heavy artillery being amassed
along the border on both sides, specifically near the Pakistani
border town of Sialkot, where video appears to confirm major
Pakistani Army deployments.
#Update: Another Video from snapmaps of earlier today of Tanks moving in #Pakistan towards border line in #Sialkot near the border of #India. pic.twitter.com/dR8N5TtbAp
Though
Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan in a televised address to the
nation called for immediate peace talks between the bitter enemies,
saying that “better sense should prevail,” Indian leaders and the
public were enraged when Pakistan released a video of the detained
Indian pilot, filmed identifying himself as Commander Abhinandan
Varthaman.
When
an interrogator asked for more information beyond basic identifying
questions, the pilot replied, “I am sorry, sir, that’s all I’m
supposed to tell you.” Pakistan's information ministry had also
shared footage showing the pilot blindfolded and with blood on his
face.
This
particular footage appears to have been taken just after he was
apprehended by the army, and just after being beaten by local
Kashmiris when his parachute deployed and he landed on the
Pakistani-administered side.
India
immediately condemned the video parading the pilot on a public
broadcast as a "vulgar display of an injured personnel"which
"violates all norms of international humanitarian law."
Still
frames from footage released by Pakistan in the aftermath of the
shoot down.
India
has demanded the immediate release of the pilot amidst the continuing
blame game and escalating war of words that seems quickly giving way
to real war, following reports of sporadic troop clashes on the
border.
A
number of western legal pundits were quick to point out that Pakistan
indeed likely violated the Geneva Conventions by tweeting video of
captured Indian pilot, which forbids publicizing images of prisoners
for “insults and public curiosity.” The information ministry
quickly deleted the tweet, which included a moment in which the
prisoner requested water.
Video
released by Pakistan's military and information ministry that appears
to have violated the Geneva Conventions.
Currently
news of the pilot's fate is dominating news and discourse in India,
with the national election scheduled at the end of May taking a
momentary backseat, as war is now on the table. The potential for
national fervor favoring drastic response could drive political
leadership to escalate during this sensitive time, ahead of a key
election.
Pakistan's
information further tweeted a "congratulations" message
praising the downing of the two Indian jets early on Wednesday.
Wreckges of Indian fighter planes burning. Well done Pakistan Air Force. The entire nation is proud of you.
Meanwhile
at a time Pakistani officials and media appear to be positively
celebrating, and while the prime minister makes what India will
surely take as disingenuous calls for deescalation, it appears
preparations for war are underway.
The
Daily Mail reports: "India is preparing for war with the
construction of 14,000 bunkers to protect families on the Pakistan
border as Islamabad invokes the spectre of nuclear conflict, telling
India 'better sense' is needed.
The
"better sense" remark came during Khan's televised
statement. He said: "If escalation begins from here, where will
it go?"
And
referencing the worrisome fact that each side possesses some 150
nuclear warheads, Khan added:
"Can
we afford any miscalculation with the kind of weapons that we have
and you have?" After which he concluded, "I once again
invite India to come to the negotiating table," so that "Better
sense should prevail."
-
The captured pilot is seen being punched and kicked by an apparent Pakistani mob in widely shared video
-
Pakistan’s military later released a video of the pilot sipping tea and thanking them for behaving like ‘thorough gentlemen’
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