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International • May 7, 22:31 • Modified on May 7, 22:31
'US has best cards to mediate between India and Pakistan'
Author : Thijs Baas
The United States is the designated country to act as a mediator between India and Pakistan. It has considerable influence on both countries, says Fons Stoelinga, former ambassador to India. 'The US has always worked closely with Pakistan against the Soviet Union during the Cold War and in Afghanistan, with the Taliban.'

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'US has best cards to mediate between India and Pakistan'

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At the moment, however, Pakistan seems to be increasingly dancing to China's tune, says Stoelinga. The country is almost bankrupt and with a debt of 30 billion dollars to China, that country smells its chance. 'The United States forced the IMF to keep Pakistan afloat with a huge loan.' The US never had that influence on India, but that seems to be changing for the better. 'Both the US and India see China as the biggest problem in Asia and in the world. The US needs India as a counterweight to China, and vice versa.'

'India wants to prepare its population a little for disasters and war scenarios'
Lisa Dupuy, correspondent
Pakistan is on high alert. All units have been called to prepare for a response, but what that will look like is still unknown. The country believes it has the right to self-defense, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said after the emergency session of Pakistan's National Security Committee. The army, medics, police and other agencies have been called to prepare for a response. What that will look like is still unknown, reports India correspondent Lisa Dupuy.

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In Delhi, meanwhile, the Pakistani response is eagerly awaited. The big question is what the scale and the circumstances of such a Pakistani response will be. For many analysts, it is beyond doubt that Pakistan will respond militarily. The scale of the attacks last night was considerable, says Dupuy. Pakistan reports that civilian infrastructure was also attacked, India swears that it only targeted terrorist groups. The country will probably launch a counterattack on the same scale. 'But we don't know more than that yet.'

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There is no crisis communication system or hotline between India and Pakistan, says Dupuy. That is why a mediator is not an unnecessary luxury. Tensions are also rising in Delhi, with civil exercises here and there. 'India wants to prepare the population a little for disasters and war scenarios. Pakistan will first want to fight back and then perhaps be open to a mediator and de-escalation. Previously, that was the US, but at the moment it is unclear whether it has the political will to simply step in.'