Journalism of Courage
Leaders of nuclear-powered India and Pakistan feel that a war between the two countries could soon get out of their control resulting in tremendous devastation on both sides,a top Obama Administration intelligence official has said.
Testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,Dennis Blair,Director of National Intelligence,said the possession of nuclear weapons by the two countries is possibly preventing the tension escalating into a war.
I think there are a number of factors,that would perhaps change the attitude that was there in 1947. One certainly is the possession of nuclear weapons by both sides, Blair said in response to a question from Senator Jay Rockefeller.
There is no doubt that senior Pakistanis and Indians feel that a war between them would get out of hand and would result in tremendous devastation for both sides,far more than the issues in general in Kashmir that they’re confronting over, Blair said.
I think the violent extremism in the region of South Asia is changing attitudes,perhaps slowly,in Pakistan and in India… Now Pakistan is realizing that this violent extremism can be a threat to them, Blair said.
He was responding to a question by Senator Jay Rockefeller,who said it was amazing to compare the situation in the subcontinent today to the one that existed in 1947 and asked: What it is in the makeup of those two countries that actually wants to find resolution that wants to get along.
Earlier in his prepared statement,Blair said determined efforts by Indian and Pakistan leaders to improve relations would fail unless Islamabad,for its part,takes meaningful steps to cut support to anti-Indian militant groups and New Delhi,for its part,makes credible efforts to allay Pakistan’s security concerns.
The increase in violent attacks within India is a cause of great concern to its government,as is instability in neighbouring countries in South Asia, he said.
