Pakistan Shifts Troops From Afghan Border to Indian Border

As India Steps Up Pressure, Pakistan Mobilizes for Possible War

Following through on an action it threatened nearly a month ago, the Pakistani military today began shifting thousands of its troops away from the Afghan border region, where it has been mired in fighting against assorted militant groups, and massing them along the Indian border in preparation of a potential war with its long-time rival.

Though Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani insists that the Pakistani forces will not strike first, experts fear the movements may inadvertently trigger a conflict, particularly with tensions between the two already high.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee lashed out at Pakistan, suggesting they are “seeking to whip up war hysteria” to avoid tackling terrorist groups. Mukherjee has reportedly spoken with several foreign ministers since yesterday about ratcheting up pressure on Pakistan. India has insisted there will be no war with Pakistan, but has asked the United States to rush delivery on its long-standing order of $375 million worth of cluster bombs.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.