Member Of Commission I DPR Encourages The Government Of The Republic Of Indonesia To Be Proactive As Peacemakers In The India-Pakistan Conflict

JAKARTA - Commission I of the House of Representatives responded to the heated conflict between India and Pakistan which could cause concerns from various countries in the world, including Indonesia.

The House of Representatives hopes that the two countries can exercise restraint in order to ease tension tensions that are increasingly heating up, and encourage Indonesia to become a peacekeeper for India and Pakistan.

"Both India and Pakistan are Indonesian friendly countries, of course we are concerned if there is an armed conflict between the two countries," said a member of Commission I of the DPR, Sukamta, Friday, May 9.

India's military attacks on various locations in thetensive region of Pakistan as well as areas near Lahore, an important city in Pakistan, on Wednesday, May 7, have left 31 civilians dead. Meanwhile, 57 injured victims were reported.

Therefore, Sukamta hopes that the feud between the two nuclear-armed countries will not continue or be prolonged. "Because if the conflict expands, it will not only be the two countries that will feel the impact. Regionally, of course, it will also have an effect," he said.

"Therefore, there is no other way but to refrain from solving problems at the negotiating table. Armed conflict will cause civilian casualties, destroy public facilities and disrupt the economy," continued Sukamta.

The member of the Commission in the House of Representatives in charge of international and defense relations highlighted several analyzes which stated that the worst-case scenario of increasing the Indian-Pakistan conflict was the use of nuclear weapons by the two countries.

Sukamta assessed that the scenario was very small because both parties had policies and declared that they would not use nuclear first.

"I believe that leaders in India and Pakistan still use rational thoughts taking into account various risks. There are also history, some conflicts related to the Khasmir region and the border have not been widespread and can be resolved at the negotiating table," he explained.

Therefore, Sukamta assessed that Indonesia could take a role in helping to defuse the Indian-Pakistan conflict. According to him, this moment is very appropriate because Indonesia's relations with the two countries are quite close.

"The Indonesian government can proactively appear as a peacekeeper by making efforts to mediate peace between India and Pakistan," he said.

"In addition to Indonesia's friendly relations with the two countries, the United States, which has been playing a role in suppressing India in previous conflicts, is currently being faced with various domestic and foreign issues, including the current US ambassador in India since Trump was elected still on hiatus," continued the PKS legislator from the DPR in Yogyakarta.

While China as the main force of the Asian region, is known to have a hot, cold relationship with India, and is considered closer to Pakistan.

"So Indonesia as one of the main powers of the Asian region is certainly expected to be able to appear active as a mediator," concluded Sukamta.