By Sara Nazir 10 April 2023
India has a tradition of interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbours. India has chosen an Indo-centric approach to build dominance in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Indian aspirations for sole regional power, long-standing hostilities with Pakistan, and mile-stone to its economy- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) are the hidden agenda of India’s violent and unethical activities toward Pakistan. India’s forceful involvement in Balochistan and many other areas of Pakistan is the demonstration of its intentions towards Pakistan that it shouldn’t be economically independent and militarily strong. Such interference attempts are meant to weaken adjacent countries and have an impact on their foreign policy. Sub-nationalism, separatist movements, and insurgent groups that seek to disrupt regional peace and stability have always been encouraged and backed by India. India wants to be the regional policeman, while Pakistan has emerged as the principal impediment to India’s attempts to manage the politics of the region.
Although Pakistan has long been associated with providing safe havens for terrorist groups, no one ever pays attention to who is funding terrorism both in Pakistan and throughout the South Asian region. The Pakistani Military Forces and law enforcement agencies had successfully arrested several Indian-sponsored terrorists operating in Pakistan in a range of circumstances by giving them all the possible assistance. However, there have been many occasions where Indian authorities have admitted to supporting terrorism in Pakistan, notably in Balochistan.
Concerns about Balochistan’s security have been raised by the recent arrest of Mahal Baloch, a Baloch woman who carried out a suicide bombing. Mahal Baloch, a mother of two, was detained in Baloch while in possession of a suicide jacket and about 5 kg of explosives material. She was assigned to target the check posts in Balochistan. The existence of a female suicide bomber poses a danger to both the state’s stability and the sustainability of the province.
Another very prominent case was seen in March 2016 when an Indian spy- Kulbhushan Yadav was arrested from Baluchistan by law enforcement agencies who were involved in anti-state activities in Balochistan, especially around the CPEC. Kulbhushan is a living example of Indian involvement in Baluchistan particularly spreading anti-state narrative across the country. He confessed that he sent to Pakistan to spread an anti-state narrative and support such activities. India’s involvement in Balochistan especially around the key economic project, through spying, posed serious implications for the national security and economic progress of Pakistan. A permanent state of instability in the area might result from this gradually.
For many years, India has been meddling in Pakistan’s politics and territorial matters. In June 2015, Narendra Modi in Bangladesh, stated that the dissolution of Pakistan in 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh set a strong example. Modi came clean about his country’s involvement in efforts to destabilize Pakistan. He expressed the notion that India had no remorse for helping the Mukti-Bahini Movement establish Bangladesh. Since then, such intervention has continued to persist, maintaining the tensions between the two countries. Balochistan’s political and economic vulnerability gave foreign interference enough material since such vulnerabilities were enough to thrive on.
The practice of espionage has a long history in India; it was even utilized in the prehistoric era of Kautaliya to collect information about rival nations and nearby neighbours. The current history of Indian espionage in surrounding nations like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, China, Burma, and Nepal, is as alarming. The major areas of Kautaliya’s attention were state affairs, state development, and methods of exerting direct or indirect influence over neighbouring states. Also, spies received training in the specialized arts of interpretation so that they might master the technique of disguising themselves and speaking in code. India keeps promoting Kautaliya’s strategy for settling territorial conflicts. Kautaliya also explained that when a neighbouring state loses its geographical unity, it degenerates into internal instability, which raises the number of opponents. It becomes exceedingly difficult to protect the state’s geographical integrity in this situation.
Pakistan has assumed a central position in the geopolitics of the region due to its economic and geopolitical significance. Pakistan’s strategic location in South Asia makes it attractive for global investment, which poses a threat to India’s regional hegemony. Indian officials have expressed several concerns over Chinese investments in Pakistan. They also feel threatened by China’s expanding military modernization and its unique military ties to Pakistan.
Consequently, the primary goal of China-steadily Pakistan’s expanding military ties and their strategic alliance is to counterbalance India’s dominance in the area. China is addressing Pakistan’s security risks by contributing to the development of its defense capabilities so that it may contribute positively to the stability and security of the region. China’s involvement in Gwadar has assumed as key hurdle to Indian desire of regional power since Gwadar is extremely important from both a strategic and economic standpoint for Pakistan. To secure the region’s shipping channels for communication, India closely monitors China’s economic development, energy development, and geopolitical interests. India is concerned that China’s increasing influence in Southern Asia may be detrimental to its interests. Prime Minister Modi and the Indian National Security Adviser expressed their worries over the CPEC in a series of speeches on Balochistan.
The Pakistani administration has often pointed out Indian and foreign meddling in Balochistan over the years. When eight representatives of Indian High Commission in Pakistan were dismissed in 2016, the Indian group of intelligence working in Pakistan was first time publicly disclosed by a joint press conference of DG ISPR and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. They were discovered to be undercover agents for their intelligence department, seeking to stir up conflict and social discontent. The Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist group in Pakistan, is reported to have connections with Indian intelligence agencies, claimed by the foreign office of Pakistan. This matter has come up in practically every discussion between the leaders of India and Pakistan.
To weaken Pakistan by falsely representing it as a failing nation, the Indian spying network cordially funding terrorist groups there. A list of evidences on Indian illegally involvement in Pakistan’s internal matters was presented to the UN. Since its civilian and military command of Pakistan is completely aware of this illegal interference. The protection of Pakistan’s national interests concerning India has continued to be a priority for its foreign policy. To safeguard stability and peace in the South Asian region, all operations funded by India must be promptly halted. If India keeps on its current course, it will increase tensions between India and Pakistan while also re-igniting the genuine threat of terrorism in South Asia. Pakistan’s Military Forces spent a significant amount of money to defeat this regional menace, thus it would never compromise against terrorism.
Author’s Bio
The author is a gold medalist in Strategic Studies from Air University Islamabad and currently teaching as visiting faculty in a university based in Islamabad. She regularly writes on South Asian security and strategic issues.