India and Pakistan are now actively engaged in strengthening
their military power throughout their borders. Predictions have
been made that both countries may erupt at any moment and
engage in an all-out war in the land, sea and in the air.
India’s heavy military vehicles have been transported by train
to the border areas and troops are also moving in countless
military trucks to India’s strategically important locations in the
border areas.
In the meantime Pakistan also moving its troops and military
vehicles to its areas bordering India.
India and Pakistan have flexed their muscles following a
shooting incident involving Kashmir militants resulting in the
death of 26 year old Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal who
was in Kashmir’s scenic Pahalgam enjoying his honeymoon.
So the killing of Lt. Vinay Narwal has created a tensed situation
between India and Pakistan resulting in a war between both
countries at any moment.

India has accused Pakistan for sheltering Kashmir militants and
encouraging them to create problems in India.
It is at this juncture the political and military analysts in Sri
Lanka observe closely into the tensed situation between India
and Pakistan. They also look extensively that India and Pakistan
being the friendly countries and members in the South Asian
Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC) how Sri Lanka
should react in a warring situation between India and Pakistan.
India and Pakistan had engaged in four wars since both
countries gained independence. First was between Pakistan
and India was fought in 1947. Second war was in 1965. Third
war was in 1971 and India fought against Pakistan in support of
East Pakistan to become a new country called Bangladesh.
Fourth war was fought over the dominance of both countries
over Kargil in 1999.
It was during the 1971 war, Pakistan aircraft refueled at the
Bandaranaike International Airport while on way to East
Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh. Because Pakistan
Aircraft couldn’t fly over India, the planes had to stop here to
refuel.
Interestingly, during the same time when Pakistan aircraft were
filling their fuel tanks inside the Airport, a limited contingent of
Indian army troops were deployed to guard BIA Airport’s

periphery against an intended attack by Janatha Vimukthi
Peramuna (JVP) which is now the running party in the Island led
by President Anurakumara Dissanayake.
It is widely believed that Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations were
considerably soured after Colombo allowed the refueling of
Pakistan’s military planes in 1971.
During the last years of the war against the Tamil Tigers,
Pakistan and China were among the top suppliers of arms and
ammunition to Sri Lanka.
The Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, also known as the third India-
Pakistan war, was a military confrontation between India
and Pakistan that led to the birth of Bangladesh. Approximately
93,000 Pakistani servicemen were Prisoners of War.
The fourth Indo- Pakistan took place in the mountainous region
of Kargil in 1999. The war had also led to a huge loss to the
Pakistan Army.
So it is in this backdrop now India and Pakistan are flexing their
muscles over the recent death of Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay
Narwal in Pahalgam, Kashmir in the hands of Kashmir militants.
Therefore if a war broke out between India and Pakistan, both
countries being the friendly countries of Sri Lanka and
representing in the SAARC movement along with Sri Lanka, Sri
Lanka will be compelled to make a very cautious move towards

averting the war between the both countries. The eruption of
war between the two countries will also affect very much the
trading , shipping as well as the aviation sectors badly.

By Ananth Palakidnar – 27.4.2025