By Agha Iqrar Haroon.
An irresponsible move of the Indian government for blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack that was followed by jingoism of the Indian media has surely helped to place unresolved Kashmir at the global Centre stage. Pakistan gained what it lost diplomatically after sending Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman home within hours, whose fighter jet was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force inside Pakistani territory 7 km from the Line of Control (LOC) on February 28. He was repatriated on 1 March 2019 with full military honours. This friendly gesture of Pakistan sent many messages to Kashmiris under Indian occupation, and one of the most powerful was that Pakistan does not (did not) want bitter relations with India, even though Indian armed forces challenged its territorial sovereignty. This lukewarm response from Pakistan also challenged the known doctrine that Pakistan, having no parity in conventional war gadgets, can opt nuclear response.
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman could be hosted for a month or so and then could be sent home safely, but Pakistan’s decision to offer him just some cups of tea, three breakfasts, and five meals put Pakistan in an embarrassing situation where everybody was saying that Pakistan is (was) not a good host. This short-phase entertaining of a guest made Pakistan’s stance weaker on the Kashmir issue at the global stage and diplomatic sphere. Global media had reasons to believe that Pakistan followed the path of cowardice, calling it “peace”, even after being attacked. Now, the situation is otherwise.
This time, Pakistan’s firm decision to give the Indian government a shut-up call has injected confidence among occupied Kashmiris in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir that their desire of self-determination still has hope of implementation, and the Pakistani nation felt proud that their civil and military leaderships dare to face challenges while following the policy of restrain. Indian media is demanding war against Pakistan, while Pakistani media as well as civil society are emphasizing that war is not even an option, but at the same time, protecting boundaries and living a respectful life is the right of every Pakistani. Accepting aggression is unacceptable because history testifies that such behavior later or sooner leads to subjugation. Sanity demands that the solution to the Pakistan-India conflict is only through negotiations; war is in no one’s interest. Pakistan’s diplomatic handling of the post-Pahalgam attack emphasized urgent measures to reduce tensions in the region and this is Pakistan’s moral victory, the failure of India’s stubborn policy on the global stage as India’s refusal to hold impartial investigation of Pahalgam attack has now become a defensive attitude in the eyes of the world.
In post-2019 events, Pakistan failed to manage the UNSC closed-door meeting, and the one that was held on China’s initiative did not offer an entry card to Pakistan, and it was a sheer embarrassment and the failure of Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Now Pakistan’s diplomats are leading the situation, convincing the world that regional stability is possible not through force, but through deliberation and dialogue. The UN’s readiness is a confirmation of Pakistan’s stance that the solution to the Kashmir issue and Pakistan-India tensions lies only in a peaceful political process.
UN Secretary General said that it is a painful event that India-Pakistan relations are reaching a boiling point. António Guterres expressed deep concern over the rapidly escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, urging both nations to exercise “maximum restraint” to avoid further deterioration of regional stability. India’s close ally Iran is active to cool down the situation, and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met COAS General Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and had constructive discussions on the geo-strategic environment, with particular focus on challenges confronted by both countries in the domain of security. Both sides agreed to stay engaged for enhanced bilateral cooperation while jointly working to assist in bringing positive developments in issues concerning the region. The Iranian FM acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace and stability in the region. Diplomats of China, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, UAE, Russia, and the United States have contacted PM Sharif, offering a hand to minimize Indo-Pak diplomatic tension. However, Pakistan had informed them that India is planning to launch aggression on Pakistani borders and would be dealt with full kinetic force although Pakistan seeks peace in the region and beyond, however, if Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is violated, Pakistan will respond to preserve its national prestige and wellbeing of its people.
From the first day of the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan called for an international commission to probe the incident because Pakistan believes that such a probe would expose whether India itself or any internal group was involved, and clarify the truth behind New Delhi’s baseless allegations.
The situation is unfortunate, and I have reasons to believe that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian media are pushing the region to the brink of nuclear war for economic and political gains. For Indian media, this is “a game of monetizing,” while PM Modi believes that hatemongering against Muslims, Islam, and Pakistan makes him more popular and politically powerful. One should not forget that the pleasure of power and wealth can be enjoyed in life, and the dead do not have such an opportunity. Being the Prime Minister of India, Modi has the opportunity to sit in anti-missile and anti-nuclear warhead bunkers. Is this opportunity available for Indian anchors who are warmongering 24/7?, I doubt it.
The spear smashed in the bone and he fell to the ground headlong
on his face. Meanwhile warlike Menelaos stabbed Thoas
in the chest where it was left bare by the shield, and unstrung his limbs’ strength.
Meges, Phyleus’ son, watched Amphiklos as he came on
and was too quick with a stab at the base of the leg, where the muscle
of a man grows thickest, so that on the spearhead the sinew
was torn apart, and a mist of darkness closed over both eyes.—-Iliad
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk.
