Daily Times

Last morning, Indian fighter planes tried to intrude into Pakistani territory across the Line of Control (LoC). Luckily, a prompt response from the Pakistani Air Force forced the Indian planes to drop their payload near Balakot, a town just a few miles away from my own residence.

I soon realised that had the Indian planes been successful in reaching their actual target, they may have caused serious damage and killed scores of Pakistanis. For me, the need for our country to stand united to counter such situations has never been clearer. An enemy of the state does not care about ethnic, political or religious issues, only killing Pakistanis. Thus, consolidating national cohesion is highly important.

It is pertinent to mention New Delhi’s determination to exacerbate this fragile situation, which is pure insanity. War is not a game. It cripples nations both socially and economically. Progress and development can be hampered for years and they face a hard time assimilating into the comity of nations.

In the context of a war between two nuclear-armed states, the consequences can be far more severe. The repercussions of nuclear war between India and Pakistan would have to borne by the entire region, if not the whole world. According to experts, a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan could result in the entire planet being covered in smoke within a period of two weeks. This smoke will rise to an altitude of 20 to 50 miles above the Earth’s surface and could stay there for years.

According to experts, a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan could result in the entire planet being covered in smoke within a period of two weeks. This smoke will rise to an altitude of 20 to 50 miles above the Earth’s surface and could stay there for years. As a consequence, there would be no rain for years, causing worldwide starvation, killing two billion people

As a consequence, there would be no rain for years, causing worldwide starvation and the deaths of two billion people. Yields from wheat, maize and rice crops could become 10 to 40 percent smaller. If nuclear winter occurs, temperatures could plunge below ice-age conditions. This could cause the collapse of modern civilization as we know it.

The authorities in New Delhi must introspect before they ever do something this reckless again. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi must realise that transient greed of power must never be given priority over the greater good of humanity.

To cut things short, war must be avoided at all costs as peace is key to progress in the Asian subcontinent. Both India and Pakistan must reflect about how things went wrong between them. The two countries must focus on a prosperous future rather than weakening themselves further through war.

Meanwhile, the citizens of this country must stand united. An enemy will be indiscriminately callous to us, regardless of ethnic or religious identity. To reach this ideal, Pakistani authorities should initiate a campaign to placate all the country’s disgruntled communities, forging an invincible front before our external and internal enemies.

The writer can be contacted at asifmahsud44@yahoo.com

Published in Daily Times, February 27^th 2019.