The Indo-Pacific Treaty Organisation is a major stepping-stone in achieving regional cooperation and lasting peace. It’s the first deal in a long time in Asia to possess NATO-style teeth and its success or failure will set the precedent for further multilateral diplomacy in our region. Recognising this, the unwarranted aggression of Pakistan against one of our treaty partners represents the golden opportunity to put our words into practice. Should India desire our assistance, even if only symbolic, we must do our best to provide support. Failing to do so could kill the IPTO before it gets off the ground and set back military cooperation between our nations decades, and will certainly embolden China regionally. Given that intervention has little support domestically in Australia, South Korea or Japan, we offer assistance mostly behind the lines to avoid unnecessary casualties. Australia is willing to commit to this role should India call upon us, and we implore Seoul and Tokyo to do the same.