Hindu nationalists surge may have repercussions for regional peace: scholars.

ISLAMABAD -- Scholars worry that surge of Hindu nationalism in India would not only have domestic implications, but could have serious repercussions for regional peace and security.

They were speaking at a seminar on "India's Strategic Posture and Implications for Stability in South Asia", which had been organized by Centre for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad (CISS) in collaboration with University of Sargodha.

The seminar was held as part of CISS-Outreach Programme aimed at engaging with students and faculty of universities located outside Islamabad. CISS outreach programme focuses on strategic and nuclear issues.

Ruling BJP had campaigned in this year's polls on a hardline Hindu nationalist agenda. Therefore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, since his re-election stepped up efforts for empowering Hindu majority at the cost of other minorities particularly Muslims.

Former Senior Strategic Plans Division (SPD) official Khalid Banuri, speaking on this occasion, observed that the rise of ultra-nationalism was a grave challenge to global and regional stability. 'Regionally, India's rising extremism reflected in Hindutva is a dangerous trend and needs to be countered with Pakistan's aggressive diplomacy sustained over a long period of time,' he maintained.

Recalling the Balakot stand-off, Banuri said that Pakistan's 'proportionate and calculated' response to India's 'failed' strikes demonstrated the capability and will to respond to aggression using conventional means. The response, he contended, also proved the Indian assumption wrong that Pakistan would exercise restraint and not respond.

Director Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Dr Adil Sultan, while discussing the rise of Hindutva in Indian polity, noted that the ominous implication of this dangerous trend was that the Indian leadership was now caught in a 'commitment trap'. He cautioned that any...