Daily Times

BJP’s government has consistently remained engaged in supporting any electoral campaign with hate-mongering, fictitious and politically motivated propaganda against Muslims in India in general and Pakistan in particular. Ironically, India’s Hindutva-driven society succumbs to such political gimmicks and BJP succeeds in securing electoral victory. A recent opinion article by Sachin Parashar in The Times of India is a similar effort to glorify Mr Narendra Modi. The article is a resume of former diplomat Ajay Bisaria’s book ‘Anger Management’ in which he opines about troubled relations between India and Pakistan. The author being a Personal Secretary to BJP’s first Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, truly lives up to his affiliations by eulogizing Modi’s so-called post Pulwama feat. This article named as “Qatal Ki Raat” is an effort to proliferate specific excerpts of the book favouring BJP’s forthcoming electoral campaign for Lok Sabha Elections. Smear content in the book certainly merits scrutiny being divergent from ground facts in February 2019. During this BJP-driven fiasco, Pakistan’s political and military leadership displayed an undaunted response manifested in the form of “Operation Swift Retort”, however, concurrently remained conscious of acting as a responsible and peace-seeking neighbour to jingoistic India.

Pakistan urges a judicious approach to hold India accountable for its aggressive manoeuvres and manipulation of sensitive events.

The circumstances surrounding the February 2019 Pulwama incident were yet another turning point in the long-standing hostilities between India and Pakistan. The revelation by former Governor of IIOJK, Satya Pal Malik, that the Pulwama attack in 2019 was manipulated by India to frame Islamabad was a significant disclosure. Malik’s account of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Interior Ministry pressuring him to downplay the tragedy underscores the lengths to which India went to exploit the Pulwama incident for political gains. The involvement of the then National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, in fabricating the news of the attack and falsely accusing Pakistan further deepened the complexity of the situation. Malik’s assertion that the primary intention was to gain political mileage in the upcoming elections by the ruling BJP adds a layer of political machination to the already volatile situation.

On 26 February 2019, Indian Air Force jets violated Pakistan’s air space and resorted to the ‘strafing’ of trees on Jaba Top, Balakot. Notwithstanding the “destruction” caused by this strike, Pakistan responded to the intrusion against three important Indian military sites resulting in the downing of two Indian jets and the capture of one pilot. The Indian military command was experiencing “operational paralysis” in spite of having a military force that was three times greater. Conventional wisdom was opposed by Pakistan’s Air Force professional competence and strategic prudence, including the deliberate locking of military objectives without confrontation. This retaliation, by no means, speaks of a nation influenced by “Coercive Diplomacy” as claimed in the article in The Times of India. Indian operational uncertainty during the high alert levels was rather an indicator of confusion and paralysis in different tiers of their political and military hierarchy. This confusion was indeed demonstrated in incidences of fratricide, where six Indian Air Force men, including a senior officer, lost their lives. This brought to light the disarray inside the Indian military at a crucial moment. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s return to his own country demonstrated Pakistan’s compliance with international law and the adherence to Geneva Convention. Pakistan’s stance on peace and responsible governance has garnered recognition and commendation globally, as it is a mature measure to mitigate tensions and lower the likelihood of future military conflict between the nuclear-armed powers. These peace overtures were also motivated by consistent pleas from Western powers who were apprehensive of Pakistan’s stern response in the wake of Indian jingoistic designs.

Indian Government’s so-called coercive diplomacy claimed in the Book of Ajay Bisaria is merely a self-acclaimed notion of victory. Modi’s immediate appeals to acquire Rafale jets amounted to utter disappointment and frustration Indians felt on the performance of their existing fleet of jet aircrafts. The dog fight not only exposed the professional competency of Indian pilots and their machines but also proved the professional ascendency of Pakistan Air Force pilots. India does not appear willing to concede defeat despite copious evidence of its shortcomings and humiliation on the international scene. Casting a narrative of triumph has been received with scepticism, especially in light of a downed aircraft, a prematurely retired ‘war hero,’ and a Prisoner of War paraded before the media. Indian acknowledgement of ISPR’s proactive role during the crisis also validates the fact that the Pakistan Military remained proactive in divulging factual situations to dispel possible propaganda. Pakistan completely dominated the perception domain and did not allow India to sell their ostensible notion of victory. It is urged that India respect the two countries’ shared history and commitment to peace rather than using the current circumstances for political advantage. Pakistan urges a judicious approach to hold India accountable for its aggressive manoeuvres and manipulation of sensitive events like Pulwama and Balakot. Vigilance against Indian machinations is essential for maintaining peace in the region.

The writer is a freelance contributor who writes on issues concerning national and regional security. She can be reached: omayaimen333@gmail.com