Pakistan can’t win war against India, says Singh
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NEW DELHI, Dec 4: If there is a war over Kashmir, as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is reported to have said could be the case given that the region is a perennial flashpoint, then Pakistan is not going to win it, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cautioned on Wednesday.
“There is no scope of Pakistan winning any such war in my lifetime,” Dr Singh said after he was told that Prime Minister Sharif hinted at such a likelihood in case the Kashmir dispute was not resolved.
The controversy between the two nuclear armed neighbours was rooted in a comment apparently made by Prime Minister Sharif, but also sought to be denied by him, during a tour of Azad Kashmir on Wednesday.
“Kashmir is a flashpoint and can trigger a fourth war between the two nuclear powers at any time,” Mr Sharif said in an address in Muzaffarabad on Tuesday.
Mr Sharif’s office denied the comment hours later, describing the newspaper report as “incorrect and based on mala fide intentions”.
However, in a statement that’s certain to be seen with suspicion in India, Mr Sharif’s office added that he had “a dream of seeing held-Kashmir free from the Indian occupation and desired that this dream could turn into reality during his lifetime”.
His statement comes as both countries have been trying to rebuild relations.
In recent months, violations of the ceasefire along the de facto border or Line of Control in Kashmir have been at their worst. In September, Mr Sharif met Dr Singh at the UN General Assembly in New York and both leaders said they would ensure their military commanders worked on restoring the ceasefire.
Mr Sharif’s comment has come with the rise of rightwing nationalism to India’s centre-stage, which has led to the revival of an acrimonious debate on the politically sensitive Article 370 of the Indian constitution that grants Jammu and Kashmir a special status.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, which hopes to form the next government, is opposed to any special status to Kashmir and instead advocates its complete merger with India.
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Comments (42) Closed
Dec 05, 2013 07:50am
Singh seemed to be keen to see war in his life,noxious prime minister can say that just to please his nation. Singh ji war if occures wil be drastic so no one will be able to say who wins and who lose it, so pray for peace .
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Dec 05, 2013 07:57am
Well, no need to worry, as either of the leaders, won't be around for long. Especially, one with white hair, for the other, as he don't have any hair, can't be said anything, for sure.
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Dec 05, 2013 08:19am
Irresponsible statement by Mr Sharif. Such provocations solidify doubt and suspicion in Indian establishment that Pakistan wants violence. Last time he was PM, Kargil happened under his nose. Now with such overt threats he is sealing the door for any chance of peace.
Really Mr Sharif! Can your country even afford a war? Let alone win one..
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Dec 05, 2013 08:34am
Mr Singh you are sadly mistaken and in summary I don't think you will be there to see who won the war. Nobody is talking of fighting with swords, gone are the days, so think twice before giving such statements, here the war will be between two nuclear powers.
I don't think this will be printed by Dawn News but however these are my personal views.
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Dec 05, 2013 08:34am
No need any comment
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Dec 05, 2013 08:40am
I totally agree with him, and I'm sure even Pakistanis know this. In fact, he hasn't said anything new, its already a well known fact. He was just answering to Nawaz Sharif's rhetoric.
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Dec 05, 2013 08:45am
India's entire politics is obsessed by Pakistan. Their elections are win or lost on how well a party takes a strong stance against Pakistan. Pakistan mania or phobia is central to Indian politics.
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Dec 05, 2013 08:57am
It's not unusual for a Pakistan PM to say what he's supposed to have said. However, even if it (war) happens, it's so obvious who will be defeated. But for an Indian PM, that too a statesman like Manmohan Singh, joining in such talk belittles his stature.
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Dec 05, 2013 09:20am
Good Mr Singh..one bold statement in last 10 years, although nothing new and quite obvious. seems he wants to exit in style.
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Dec 05, 2013 09:23am
india and pakistan have fought many wars in the past over kashmir and other political issues. this had a bad impact on economy of both the countries. both india and pakistan are economically weak and the situation might could have been diffrent if both nations had focused more on the betterment of their people instead of waging ware against each other.
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Dec 05, 2013 09:53am
Pakistan can not beat rag tag Taliban in the mountains how can Pakistan beat India.
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Dec 05, 2013 10:25am
Zafar Khan.
with the crisis we are under going in Pakisthan yes we are not afford to go for war. And they the indians are much ahead of us in all field and they have better arms than us. We only fight internally.
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Dec 05, 2013 11:59am
Why not fight against corruption and poverty....?
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Dec 05, 2013 12:14pm
Unlike Pakistanis, Indians do not see the world through the prism of religion but through their conscience. Unless majority of pakistanis learn to accept that there are different ways of living life and also learn to respect that way of living, they are going to continue living in the hell called pakistan.
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Dec 05, 2013 12:14pm
What he meant to say was "
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Dec 05, 2013 12:57pm
War between Pakistan and india wont be traditional again, it can give more devastating results to both sides especially to india whose losses can be substantial based on its size of the economy and race towards becoming a super power of the region.
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Dec 05, 2013 01:07pm
wow
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Dec 05, 2013 02:01pm
True, because there will be no war due to Nuclear deterrent factor.
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Dec 05, 2013 02:09pm
Unfortunately, it seems that both India and Pakistan have an unending wish to fight each other for the rest of their lives. While India is a stronger neighbor (no doubt), its Prime Minister should talk carefully while resorting to rhetoric about a country that is already at war and above all that was once part of India. Diplomacy will win in the end, but both India and Pakistan are pathetically incompetent when it comes to delivering anything substantial on this front. The Indian and Pakistan leaders still talk to each other in ENGLISH!! using phrases and catchwords that are alien to their culture. While India-bashing has somewhat morphed into US-bashing in Pakistan, it is an unhealthy development to see anti-Pakistan rhetoric attracting voters in India. So, get ready for Modi as the next Indian prime minister!
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Dec 05, 2013 02:14pm
I'm appalled at the level of maturity of the Indian PM (or may be not). He reacts to a statement that the Pakistan PM office denies (or that would otherwise be a fact, given we have already fought three wars over the same issue). Incredible.
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Dec 05, 2013 02:22pm
Please do not make provocative statements.
If you are a real hero solve it once for all.
We the common people of sub-continent are tired of listening these kind of statements.
Kamal
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Dec 05, 2013 02:50pm
Isn't this what people call popular politics Mr. Manmohan Singh ???
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Dec 05, 2013 03:06pm
let put aside our jingoism and look at realistically. Even war is all abt money, One might have world biggest army with best soldiers, if you dnt have money, you cant feed ur soldiers, buy ammunitions, and buy oil during crisis. A country as big as India can withstand a war, and come bck, considering its robust economy and market. but Pakistan cant face a war at its current situation. Pakistan economy will crumble badly, and the leadership knew it badly, I dont deny we might loose couple of billion of dollars, share goes down, but we hve muscle to climb up again. it woud be fair to assume, a war with India is the last thing pakistan want. so in economic perspective, it would be unwise for pak to take on india and will be suicidal. Peronsally I dont see Pakistan outperform economically in another 50 year or so.
Remember the famous statement by Dwight D. Eisenhower "We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security.
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Dec 05, 2013 07:04pm
@Sanjeev Yadav:
well said sir
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Dec 05, 2013 09:57pm
@Tyron Lannister:
One has to fight for the right, no matter what.
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Dec 05, 2013 10:13pm
West has already grown a lot. We are the brothers and politicians from both sides should consider about peace and try to ignore any such statement. Please wake up brothers and there is nothing in war.
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Dec 05, 2013 10:52pm
Famous last words.
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Dec 06, 2013 02:24am
@sfomann:
What he meant to say was:
Pakistanis are doing a great job of destroying their own nation. We do not need to anything at all.
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Dec 06, 2013 04:27am
How about arranging a desi wrestling match between the two PMs, who have nothing better to do for their poor population? It will be a fun moment for Indians and Pakistanis.
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Dec 06, 2013 10:50am
Even the BCCI can defeat Pakistan in the war that Nawaz wants to wage with India.
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Dec 06, 2013 11:59am
@Tyron Lannister:
With due respect to you, please remember that in a nuclear conflict, there would not be any consideration of an old saying..... 'size matters'.
Now to serve your second delusion i may state that if you do not personally see Pakistan outperforming in next 50 years, I do see too, but, if the usurpers sit aside Pakistan can and will. Let it be clear that association with USA has destroyed this Country. Since 79', Pakistan is a battlefield; courtesy of association with USA and allies who used Pakistan for their own triumph. In return, what the World has got? It is complete fear/insecurity to normal people around the globe and doubt that is and will haunt for years, nobody knows till when lasts. I still remember that prior to 2003, PKR was stronger than INR, Taka etc. and it took some 22 years since 1979 to depreciate/lose value of currency. You cannot imagine the hunger of prosperity in this great Nation and if you could come out of biasedness, just see the trailer of last 6 years, in which unstoppable bombings, loss of 55,000+ lives (humans/natural people) has not stopped this great Nation to continue with its growth. My salute to the brave Pakistanis.
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Dec 06, 2013 02:46pm
@Ahmed:
Dear Ahmed , This was the best comment so far. Keep it up.
An Indian.
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Dec 06, 2013 04:07pm
jo garajte hen wo baraste nahe....!
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Dec 06, 2013 05:00pm
War is not a solution for anything, but internal war and violence will continue even after wars, and the poor and weak will suffer perhaps for generations. Death, destruction, hopeless future of generations is the result!
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Dec 06, 2013 11:51pm
@Tyron Lannister:
So considering your opinion and facts, all the rhetoric are false and the high handedness is actually from India.
By the way, when it comes to war, the same proportion will be spent. Do not underestimate Pakistan capabilities and resolve. Get out of your shell and smell the coffee.
Peace is good but not when your rights and the world rights are at stake. Freedom can not defend itself but has to be defended.
You all dishonored your leaders, founders and the UN resolutions and it is time that you peacefully resolve the long standing issue otherwise both countries economies will be at stake.
Hum tho dubain hein sanam tum ko bhi lay dhobeing gai
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Dec 07, 2013 03:32am
@Nikki:
Singh did not bring up war, Sharif did. Incidentally India and Pakistan have fought a war AFTER both were declared nuclear powers. Pakistan started that war and India won it. It was called Kargill. Even at that time Nawaz Sharif was PM.
A war between India and Pakistan will not be started by India since contrary to what you have been taught, India did not start any war with Pakistan. India also has a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons. So unless Pakistan escalates and makes it a nuclear war, it will remain conventional. Do you have any doubt in our mind so would win such a war?
India and Indians do not want war but the times of Ghaznavi are gone and Nawaz Sharif needs to realize that. India will not simply roll over an play dead if attacked, so Sharif needs to be very very careful about what he says.
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Dec 07, 2013 11:24pm
Nobody is stopping Nawaz from Day dreaming! I am happy that he has shed the camouflage and showed his true colors.
Who will win the war?-Nobody
Who will loose?-People from both side.
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Dec 07, 2013 11:52pm
@ali ahmed:
It is other way around :-)
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Dec 08, 2013 12:00am
@Asfand yar:
And that makes it interesting...Pakistan even should not even be compared with UP and Bihar in terms of GDP and Population. About the War, It was always started by Pakistan even after knowing the consequences in advance.
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Dec 08, 2013 03:40am
An immature comment from singh, let's forget jingoism. There are no winners in a nuclear war, only losers. Never forget that.
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Dec 08, 2013 06:05pm
We are forgetting one of the most important aspect i.e. The economy of the sub-continent. Folks as long as we have this looming fear of nuclear war in this region, as long as there is no peace, there is going to be no investment and prosperity. We have a choice either to kill people by poverty or by nuclear Arsenal. In the end there is going to be just land with no people
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Dec 08, 2013 09:13pm
IMF does not sanction funds for economically weak countries to start a war!
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