Muhammad Usman
NAWAZ Sharif and his cohort have done what no one could do with a shred of patriotism. Innate beasts are out of their bodies to attack truth with falsehood. It was one of his high profile sycophants, Ayaz Sadiq who stigmatized himself with pure fabrication that Pakistan released Indian captured pilot, Abhinandan under capitulation, fearing an Indian {imminent} attack. His mischief also dragged COAS obliquely that his legs were trembling with perspiration on forehead. It was as false as mischievous. This is an absolute perversion of truth. A few out of constellation of glittering facts, summarily belle what he vainly attempted to let loose. After Pulwama incident when India was threatening to emulate what US did after 9/11; bring enemy to justice or take justice to him, Imran Khan warned that Pakistan would not think of retaliation but would retaliate if India ventures to mess with Pakistan. India foolishly gambled and received a bloody nose and continues to hurt India to date. On night 26 Feb 2019, in an abortive attempt, aircraft of IAF violated our airspace and threw their payloads in haste on trees near Balakot, fearing impending interception by PAF. On the same day, a calm and collected DG ISPR, Major General, Asif Ghafoor, appeared on TV screens and talked resolutely and prophetically that made him a legendary DG ISPR. He said, now it is turn of India. India to wait. Our response would be different and would come differently at time and point of our choosing. On next day, in broad day light, Pakistan took India by surprise and engaged six targets across LoC where a top Indian military dignitary was also present. In process, PAF also shot down two Indian aircraft with superb marksmanship. Whole operation was accomplished clinically with clockwork precision.
To the contrary, in nervousness, India shot down its own rescuing helicopter. Difference between two was courage, conviction, valour and professionalism. India stood stunt. Pakistan was jubilant and with these laurels, Pakistan rose in estimation of world manifold. This is by no mean a partisan view. On 3 March 2019, NYT wrote “it was an inauspicious moment for a military, US is banking on to help keep an expanding China in check. The aerial clash, the first by the South Asian rivals in nearly five decades, was a rare test for Indian military and it left observers a bit dumbfounded. While challenges faced by the Indian armed forces are no secret, its loss of a plane last week to a country whose military is about half the size and receives a quarter of the funding was still telling”. Though it was slanted towards India yet it contained enough to credit Pakistan with an exhilarating triumph.
On 28 Feb, Imran Khan announced to release Indian pilot while narrating a leaf from history. We have heard of two Kings; Bahadar Shah Zafar and Tipu Sultan. Both had choice of death and surrender. Former chose surrender and languished in captivity for rest of his life. Tipu Sultan chose death and he is our hero. This had message. Said release was motivated with no other than desire to give peace a chance. In war between two nuclear states, no one wins. Only humanity loses nevertheless, India kept busied itself in more grand miscalculations. Upon receipt of an intelligence, Pakistan threatened India straightway with double doze. Seeing resolve and intelligence/military par excellence of Pakistan, India inevitably, sneaked back into shell. This affirmed claim of Pakistan, made on the onset that we would retain the escalation ladder.
Pilot’s release was a customary, not a pressing demand of India. This was amply evident by Indian reaction on announcement of his release that pilot’s release would not necessarily end crisis which is essentially rooted in Pakistan’s support of terrorist groups. Forced by rigors of time and circumstances, soon they had to abandon the essential and resort to pretend for having redeemed its lost honour with release of pilot. As a lame accuse, Indian leadership attributed its forces’ failure to absence of Rafale fighter jets. To cap it all, from start to end, whole episode looks a fairy tale but here, world saw its practical manifestation. Another fact which draws the attention is that since Feb 2019, India did not dare to indulge into a false flag operation of any kind lest it be heaped upon with more humiliation. It baffles one’s mind how Ayaz Sadiq fetched idea of casting aspersions on such scintillating achievement. It does not only amount to reinforce false Indian pretension of coercing Pakistan to get Indian pilot released but also an ulterior attempt to weaken confidence of troops on their high command and equally damage trust of nation on defence forces.
This has the potential to demoralize both and is also main agenda of India. Under no event, matter be allowed to go under the carpet. Ayaz Sadiq needs to be punished severely for act intended. Apart from him, his instigators/supporters be also dealt with sternly. There are a lot of speculation about division within PML (N). Nawaz Sharif has now become a sinking ship. PML (N) as a party has supported him till now. They have not been only accomplice in his crimes but have also plundered the nation maximally as they could. Jumping out of sinking ship is no crusade. It is a natural phenomenon. No kind of patronage be extended to them. Contrarily, this would prolong our agony. With change of stripes, they do not change their chemistry. Let them sink or swim at their own.
— The writer, a retired Lt Col, is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.
