Washington: The US intelligence community has made a major remark regarding the geopolitical situation involving India, Pakistan and China in its annual threat assessment. During a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, the Office of Director of National Intelligence presented the annual threat assessment of the US intelligence community to lawmakers.
The report warns of increased tension between India and Pakistan, as well as between India and China, with the possibility of a conflict between them. The report also notes that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to Pakistani provocations.
Although India and China have engaged in bilateral border talks and resolved some border points, relations will remain strained after the countries' lethal clash in 2020, which was the most serious in decades. The report states that both India and China have expanded military postures along the disputed border, which raises the risk of armed confrontation between the two nuclear powers.
This could potentially involve direct threats to US persons and interests, calling for US intervention. Previous standoffs have shown that persistent low-level friction on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has the potential to escalate quickly. The crises between India and Pakistan are of particular concern due to the risk of an escalatory cycle between two nuclear-armed states.
The report suggests that New Delhi and Islamabad are likely to reinforce the current calm in their relationship following both sides' renewal of a ceasefire along the Line of Control in early 2021. However, Pakistan has a history of supporting anti-India militant groups, and India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations.
In response to a question, the State Department Spokesperson Ned Price stated that the US-Pakistan counter-terrorism dialogue provides an opportunity for the United States to work with Pakistan to address terrorist threats and counter violent extremism. He added that any group that threatens regional and global stability is a concern for the United States and that the US seeks to expand its partnership to address these challenges.
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