President's address on Independence Day

In his Independence Day address, President Mamnoon Hussain made it clear that Pakistan desired bilateral ties with neighboring countries, including India, on the basis of peaceful co-existence, but in case of any threat there would be no compromise on its security and defense. "We want to resolve all disputes, including Kashmir, with India through dialogue. Recently some untoward incidents have taken place on the eastern borders. We make it clear that we want bilateral ties on the basis of peaceful co-existence, but in case of any threat, we will make no compromise on our security and defence," the President has been widely reported as saying at the flag-hoisting ceremony at Convention Centre, which was attended, among others, by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif.
That his statement is not a ritual is a fact that has found its best expression in growing belligerence of India towards its neighbor Pakistan. The incidents of unprovoked firing by Indian soldiers from across the Line of Control (LOC) and the Working Boundary (WB, killing innocent villagers is a very strong case in point. His remarks also underline the significance of the grimness of the current state of Pakistan-India bilateral relations, which is grave indeed. Unfortunately, however, India under the prime minister-ship of Narendra Modi seems to be oblivious of the need of sustained peace in the region.