NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday dismissed claims that the pause in hostilities between India and Pakistan was driven by US pressure, emphasising that the agreement was firmly on New Delhi’s terms. Contrasting the current understanding with past instances where India lost strategic advantages, the party credited the govt for rewriting the narrative.Citing India’s new ‘war doctrine‘ that any act of terror will be treated as an ‘act of war’ against India, a BJP neta said only the US and Israel had comparable doctrines, marking India’s assertive global stance.The functionary also highlighted India’s leverage over the Indus Waters Treaty, which remains unaffected by the current India-Pakistan border understanding. Notably, World Bank, once a guarantor, has distanced itself from the treaty, strengthening India’s position.“India is a rising economic power, while Pakistan is a struggling state. Our focus is the welfare of 140 crore Indians, not wasting time on a delinquent jihadi state,” the BJP neta said. BJP contrasted the current pause in hostilities with historical agreements where India ceded advantages. The 1949 ceasefire, based on the Karachi Agreement, followed US-brokered talks and UN monitoring.The 1965 war ended with the Tashkent Declaration, mediated by the Soviet Union and the US, forcing India to return hard-won territories. The 1971 war, despite Pakistan’s surrender, led to the Simla Agreement under Moscow’s and Washington’s influence. India released 99,000 prisoners without securing strategic gains, such as Pakistan vacating POK or formalising borders.The Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka (1987-1990) drained resources and ended in withdrawal, costing the life of former PM Rajiv Gandhi. Similarly, the 1999 Kargil war ceasefire, facilitated by the Clinton administration, saw India halt its offensive just as victory was in sight, missing a tactical opportunity.BJP said the current pause in hostilities reflected New Delhi’s terms, prioritising national security and economic progress while maintaining strategic leverage. This approach, the party argued, ensured India’s rise as a global power, unburdened by past concessions or external pressures.
