Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s former High Commissioner for India (2014-2017) and ex-ambassador to Germany (2012-2014) and earlier, have warned that New Delhi could start a military action against Pakistan within days of recent attacks in Pahagam.

Talk to Express PakinomistBasit quoted India’s previous actions after Uri and 2019 Pulwama attack in 2016 as precedence.

He said the tone of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent speech in Bihar indicated a potential cross -border strike or other tangible measures.

“It can happen across the control line on our side, and then they would make great claims that they have destroyed launch pads and terror camps,” he said. “Whether happening for a week or in two weeks, something will happen.”

BASIT believes that there are no immediate diplomatic problems for Pakistan, especially with regard to the cancellation of the Indus Waters Treaty, but several terrorist acts in Balochistan and some other parts of the country can be expected, suggesting that Pakistan should stiffen for further law and order destabilization.

The former High Commissioner turned to India’s announcement to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and described the move as largely “symbolic” due to India’s current lack of infrastructure to divert Western rivers.

“At this point, India can’t stop the flow of water,” he said. “The Indus Waters Treaty can neither be terminated nor suspended nor changed one -sided. It is a permanent treaty unless both parties agree.”

He urged Pakistan to engage the World Bank, the Broker and Guarantee of the Treaty and to prepare a robust diplomatic and legal reaction.

“India does not comply with its international obligations,” the diplomat added. “So much for the world’s greatest democracy and its hopes of a UN Security Council’s seat.”

Despite the escalation, he noted that there was no immediate threat to Pakistan’s water access during the treaty.