The US President Donald Trump administration has blamed Pakistan for deteriorating Indo-Pak relations and warned that the ties might worsen if another “high-profile” terror attack emanates from across the border.
Islamabad’s failure to curb support to anti-India militants and New Delhi’s growing intolerance of this policy, coupled with a perceived lack of progress in Pakistan’s investigations into the January 2016 Pathankot cross-border attack, set the stage for a deterioration of bilateral relations in 2016.
Daniel Coats, director of National Intelligence, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing. Testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence along with top intelligence officials, Coats said the relations between India and Pakistan became more tense following two major terrorist attacks in 2016 by militants crossing into India from Pakistan. They might deteriorate further in 2017, especially in the event of another high-profile terrorist attack in India that New Delhi attributes to originating in or receiving assistance from Pakistan,” Coats said in his testimony before the Senate committee on worldwide threats.
Supporting India’s pre-condition for bilateral talks on Islamabad stopping support to cross border terrorism, Coats said increasing number of cross-firing incidents along the Line of Control, including the use of artillery and mortars, might aggravate the risk of unintended escalation between the two countries. Coats said Pakistan is concerned about its international isolation due to its dwindling position against India’s rising international status, expanded foreign outreach and deepening ties with the US.