Sikandar Noorani
ARROGANT statesmanship can never fetch lasting victories and impacts. Hateful violence gives birth to more retaliatory violence. Worsening situation in IOJ&K is the most pertinent example of persistent hateful violence and unimaginative retaliation from unarmed masses. Deadly brawl between Chinese and Indian troops in freezing Himalayan mountains has not only exposed New Delhi’s expansionist approach towards neighbours but also radiated dangerous signs of a larger regional conflict shaping up beneath the surface. Despite being extremely hateful and arrogant, Modi regime was not expected to take up a tactical horn locking with the Dragon in unfavourable mountainous terrain. Escalation of border stand-off from usual unarmed combat to a deadly clash needs to be deciphered deliberately as it has jolted India with 20 dead and approximately 100 injured soldiers. A logical answer must be found for this unexpected brawl which by now has rapidly turned into a full scale military build-up on either side. Hawkish BJP seems in deeper trouble because unlike past it is no more possible to charm the people with drum beat of false victory. With the help of irresponsible media, BJP tricked the Indian public with failed surgical strike at Balakot by claiming the killing of more than three hundred terrorists on Pak side.
On ground Pakistan lost few trees and a crow! India made another funny claim of downing a Pak F-16 aircraft which later proved a white lie. It was smart on part of BJP to build an election winning campaign out of an absolute military blunder. This time it is really difficult to cover up the embarrassing truth of battlefield. Opposition and saner quarters of media are leaving no stone unturned in exposing the reality of deadly unarmed combat ended at the death of 20 Indian troops including a Colonel rank officer. China has come up with its side of story which provides a clear build-up of events. Contrary to this, Indian officials’ stance is neither clear nor reliable. PM Modi’s statement, on breaking of two days’ mysterious silence, was absolutely contradictory to the initial stance of the State Minister. Denial of Chinese occupation or any kind of intrusion by Modi on Indian lands has raised logical questions. If there was neither any occupation nor intrusion, then what was being defended from Chinese? If yes, then with whose permission? If no, then why Chinese troops brutally roughed up the Indians? While switching the stances, New Delhi has no option to deny or disown the fallen soldiers. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has questioned Modi’s credentials and reliability in such testing times. Overcharged with Bollywood ‘B Grade’ sensational movies, RSS fan club is not ready to believe that soft Indian soldiers broke like plastic toys in Chinese fists.
As per Beijing’s stance, matters at Galwan valley were spoiled by Indian troops through repeated intrusions and undue display of aggression. China exercised its right of defence by retaliating without any use of fire arms. Despite no use of military grade weapons, the retaliatory Chinese response was too hard to sustain for Indian soldiers. While the politics is being played in full swing over this unexpected stand-off in New Delhi, no one has yet demanded official response of Indian military command. Definitely, Indian soldiers were operating under specific military command system. It is practically not possible for troops to cross the border without clear orders. Cover up made by BJP has not worked so far and any further response from official channels would help in assessing the quantum of embarrassment for Modi regime. RSS warmongers astonishingly Miss Modi’s usual chest thumping performance which he used to display against Pakistan. A few years back, ex-Army Chief General Bapin Rawat made a tall claim that Indian forces are ready to fight a war on two and a half fronts. Though, it was not taken seriously but rightly deciphered as Indian desperate desire to simultaneously take on China, Pakistan and Kashmiri freedom fighters in the battlefield.
General Rawat, unprecedentedly, appointed Chief of Defence Staff with a three-year term to undertake the biggest ever military reforms in Indian tri-services. These reforms are meant to create operationally independent exclusive theatre commands. This is an undeniable proof of Indian expansionist designs which are being dangerously pursued by an extremist cult. This makes the regional equation very unfavourable for a country like Pakistan which has been constantly striving to explore the peace probabilities in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Chinese iron hand response clearly reflect that Beijing has taken New Delhi’s aggressive moves as a direct threat to CPEC and BRI. Only a fool hardy will ignore the US connection with Indian unusual but predictable military leaps in Himalayan region. It is now more than evident that a volcano of greater regional conflict may erupt any moment with serious spill over effects on Kashmir and Pakistan. Striving for peace will surely be a greater challenge for Pakistan than fighting a multi-front war against an extremely overcharged and dangerously ambitious India. Besides damaging the regional peace, Modi’s desperation to fight a war on two and a half fronts will fall very heavily on Indian forces as proved during unarmed brawl with Chinese troops at Himalayan mountains.
—The writer is a free lancer who often contributes in national newspapers.
