With Army Chief Bajwa, Nawaz Sharif hopes to alter India-Pakistan ties

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif managed to replace COAS Gen Raheel Sharif with General Qamar Javed Bajwa despite Raheel’s popularity across different sections in Pakistan that even urged him to stage a sort of coup with Pervez Musharraf on his side. With the escalated India-Pakistan border tensions having implications, Bajwa’s credentials as a through professional may have regional and global dimensions. 

AS Donald pledged to eliminate ISIS from the Middle East  while Pakistan has been the main training grounds for Islamic terrorists and the continuous terror attacks on Indian armed forces since 2015 has further confirmed that there is no change in Islamabad’s policy on terrorism. 

During Raheel Sharif’s tenure numerous major terror attacks were carried out on Indian forces coupled with ceasefire violations after the September 29 Surgical strikes by India  to up his claim for political space in Pakistan. Needless to say that terror strike on Army camp at the XVI Corps headquarters in Nagrota near Jammu  and another attack on BSF patrol at Chamliyal in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district may come to be known as his parting acts. 

After the January 2017 inauguration of US President- elect Donald Trump, India will gain an upper hand in dealing with Pakistan. But Pakistan Army chief Bajwa having vast experience of serving as Commander FCNA (Force Command Northern Areas )of Gilgit-Baltistan, and Chief of Staff as well as GOC 10 Corps (the Pakistani Corps which is responsible for operations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir) and well versed with Kashmir affairs may opt in favour of restoring ties along with new ceasefire deal that may also spur Nawaz Sharif hitherto sagging image in Pakistan. 

Nawaz Sharif who is aware of the new US leadership considering to designate Pakistan as a terror state, will weigh in favour of normalizing India-Pakistan ties and Bajwa will try to dispense with the concept of regarding terrorist outfits as a  strategic assets of Pakistan against India. 

As China is a close ally of Pakistan but tries to maintain good relations with US may also pay heed to India terror concerns which was previously ignored.

Article Courtesy : Arti Bali, Senior Journalist & Analyst