Revisiting so-called Balakot airstrikes
SOUTH Asia has become volatile region due to the belligerent policies of warmongering Indian political and security establishments.
PM Modi’s regime is putting entire region into chaos and warlike situation just to accomplish its self-created dream of Akhand Bharat (Greater India).
Other Hindu monks and nationalist organizations have also escalated their attacks against minorities.
In addition, India has also been trying to become hegemony of this region since last few decades.
In this regard, it has created armed race in the region by increasing its Defence budget significantly in order to acquire most sophisticated military equipment.
All these Indian offensive postures have brought the region on the cusp of serious military conflict.
This Indian dream of becoming hegemony of the region will never meet its fate due to the proactive, timely and sensible policies of Pakistan.
India, under premier Modi has been trying to create military conflict with Pakistan for the sake of electoral gains.
For that matter, Modi government killed Indian 40 soldiers in IIOJK in a staged suicide bombing to won crucial Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
That time, Modi’s popularity was declining rapidly due to dwindling economic situation.
Modi crossed the limits and asked its armed forces to create smaller level conflict with Pakistan.
Indian Army started violating ceasefire agreement at LoC and accused Pakistan of infiltrating terrorists into IIOJK.
After so-called surgical strikes, Indian Air Force violated Pakistani airspace and dropped some bombs inside Pakistani territory.
Indian government proliferated staged narrative in its controlled and warmongering media that Indian airstrikes killed hundreds of terrorists inside Pakistan.
Contrary to Indian so called narrative, open-source satellite imagery and on the ground reports have weakened India’s claim that it killed hundreds of terrorists.
Politically, premier Modi capitalized the situation and got massive majority in Lok Sabha elections.
Likewise, Pakistan retaliated in a calibrated manner by entering and dropping bombs over Indian territory across LoC, which led to a dogfight between Indian and Pakistani warplanes.
Pakistan shot down two intruding Indian fighter aircraft and detained one pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Wathraman.
Pakistan defeated India militarily and politically in a humiliating way.Entire world had watched Pakistan’s befitting response and praised its military might.
Similarly, political, military Pandits and academicians raised serious questions over the Indian defence capabilities and allocation of defence budget.
Indian political and military leaders were in awe after befitting Pakistani response.Within Indian Air Force, strategic analysts have noted the state of India’s vintage jets and the absence of hardened structures near LoC to shield Indian aircraft in the weeks since the confrontation.
International community rejected India’s self-created narrative against Pakistan.Leading international media outlets such as Washington Post, New York Times, The Guardian and Wall Street Journal highlighted Indian humiliating defeat in dogfight where IAF lost two of its warplanes.
They also highlighted diminishing strategic strength of Indian armed forces when it comes to deal with Pakistan’s existing military might.
Renowned international writers also exposed Indian fault-lines and its humiliating defeat in the hand of Pakistan.
From Pakistan’s prism, befitting response to India over Pulwama attack/Balakot airstrikes was a massive success: its choice to respond with tit-for-tat airstrikes into IIOJK served to bolster its deterrence, satisfy its public’s desire for a strong response, and cause India material military losses.
Pakistan also played positive and pivotal role afterwards.Islamabad’s decision to release the pilot back to India placed onus on New Delhi to restrain its actions, shifting international narrative from Pakistan-supported terrorism to escalation control.
Practically speaking, Pakistan categorically demonstrated that Pakistan may answer Indian conventional innovation with revisions to its nuclear red-lines, communicated through more pronounced nuclear signalling in the next major crisis and operationalized through changes to readiness of Pakistani nuclear forces during times of heightened conflict as well as peacetime.
Indian actions are harmful for regional peace and economic integration.It is playing a role of spoiler in the region.It is trying utmost to destabilize the region with its hostile approach particularly towards Pakistan.
World must take note of the India hostile approach and use of its military for political gains and putting the entire regional security at risk.
The decline in Premier Modi’s popularity in India is once again creating fear of another false-flag Balakot airstrikes and Pulwama attack merely for political gains.
However, India must keep in mind that if it tries to dare Pakistan once again, Islamabad’s response will be remembered forever and it will teach a lesson to India.
—The writer is Islamabad based expert of Indian Affairs.
