Under PM Modi, India More Likely To Respond Militarily Against Pakistani Provocation: US Intelligence Report

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has informed the US Congress in its Annual Threat Assessment report that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real provocations from Pakistan.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is more likely than in the past to respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations, and heightened tensions raise the risk of conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a militant attack in India being potential flashpoints,” the report read as per the Times of India.

The report ruled out the possibility of any general war between India and Pakistan. However, it mentioned that the crises between the two countries could intensify in the coming times thus risking to result in an escalatory cycle.

India has said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence and that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

On the other hand, the ODNI report asserted that there are less chances of a peace deal materializing in Afghanistan in the coming one year.

It revealed that the Taliban holds confidence of attaining victory on the military front and that the Afghan government will have to fight hard to restrict the terrorist organization if the coalition pulls out support from the government.