Daily Times

The recent instalment of the Pakistan-India conflict has at least confirmed one notion – the two nuclear armed rivals will keep at it! Although earlier opinion piece in this series has recommended a foreign policy of inclusionism for both sides but that, it seems, is not par for the course….yet.

There were four motives behind recommending this course of action of inclusionism. One, exist honourably in a volatile region and ensure transparent writ of the state to protect its people from all internal and external threats. Two, convert respective countries into economic and social powerhouse to safeguard and increase the quality of life for all citizens. Three, promote diversity, liberty, equality, and a culture of tolerance. Four, strive for regional and global peace through amicable co-habitation and adherence to international norms.

It seems that protecting its people from internal and external threats – real and imagined – is the sole objective that is foremost in everyone’s mind. While striving for tolerance and regional peace has gone to the back burner. The broad sequence of events is such: after the initial – and efficiently repulsed – air space incursion from India, Pakistan retaliated by getting its fighter jets to lock-on to multiple targets across the Line of Control (LOC) but not engaging them. On top of that, India lost two Mig-21s to Pakistan’s JF-17s when the former tried to engage in a ‘tit for tat’ response. Further still, one Indian fighter pilot was captured by the Pakistan Army but not before it thwarted an angry mob hell bent on harming the Indian flyer. Two days later, Imran Khan – the Pakistani PM, released Wing Commander AbhinandanVarthaman as a gesture of peace and goodwill.

Unfortunately, in this whole episode, the Indian establishment lost their sense of balance on at least three occasions. Consider.

Remember that even at the height of the cold-war, the going American mantra was never to box the opposition into a corner from which it can’t escape. Because then, all bets are off!

After the preliminary aerial intrusion, the Indian claims of hitting a big extremist compound in Balakot and killing between 300 and 350 terrorists came to zilch. Technology is such that aerial footage, even from their own aircrafts, could be offered as proof. Nowadays nothing can escape the sight of social media but that too couldn’t provide any credible evidence of such a claimed event. On the contrary, numerous reports and video footage showed that the attack only resulted in damage to a couple of hillocks and injured a passer-by when the Indian pilots jettisoned their payload before hastily exiting the area.

When the two Mig-21s were shot down, the Indian authorities claimed to have downed a Pakistani F-16. Even while knowing fully well that the engagement only involved JF-17s from the Pakistani side! Moreover, no shred of evidence arrived – either from the Indian government or the erstwhile social media. It was such a poor claim that Indian TV anchors were rebuffed a couple of times by their own experts for trying to hoodwink the Indian public by using Mig-21 footage to claim it was the fallen F-16. In contrast, Pakistan didn’t only show ample evidence of the Mig-21 that had fallen on this side of the LOC but also had the additional opportunity to parade the captured Indian fighter pilot. Though, by all accounts and by his own admission, he was shown the camaraderie and respect that is due to even prisoners of war.

Objectivity and professionalism took an even greater hit at the hands of the inflamed and extra-jingoistic Indian media. It was sad to see it being used as a propaganda machine to peddle any which half-truth that might turn the tide of the narrative in India’s favour. Analysts after analysts could be seen baying for blood rather than do what they were brought on air to do – analyse! It seemed rationality and common sense had taken a back seat. Regrettably, the Indian masses lapped up whatever was on offer no matter how convoluted and how unrealistic.

While even now emotions are running high on both sides of the fence, there needs to be a way of de-escalating this conflict and bring balance to the proceedings once more – for the sake of peace loving citizens in both countries!

Of the two Prime Ministers, Imran Khan has gained more out of this than Narendra Modi. The quick release of the Indian flyer was a masterclass in diplomacy and statesmanship. However, that act did two other things as well. It not only provided that graceful window of exit to the Indian authorities from their problematic narrative but also sowed the seed for the de-escalation of this skirmish! Remember that even at the height of the cold-war, the going American mantra was never to box the opposition into a corner from which it can’t escape. Because then, all bets are off!

Now both sides have something in hand, something to claim and something to pacify their public with. The time is ripe to mend fences and draw bridges and recover the sense of balance and the essence of truth, both of which have been the first casualties of this conflict!

The writer is Director Programmes for an international ICT organization based in the UK and writes on corporate strategy, socio-economic and geopolitical issues

Published in Daily Times, March 6^th 2019.