Majyd Aziz
The 22 April 2025 false flag operation by India in Pahalgam was unexpected, although there was always this suspicion that India can and would do such a foolish operation. As usual, within no time, New Delhi, especially the megalomaniac Narendra Modi, pointed their fingers towards Pakistan. Despite the fact that the world community took this accusation with a pinch of salt, the fact is that there was a deep sense of consternation that the incident could flare up into a dangerous situation across the Line of Control. The fear was further intensified because both countries are nuclear powers and hence the conflict temperature had to be doused.
Low-key mediation, fervent appeals through media, and frantic phone calls from friendly countries, had not produced the desired result. India was hell-bent on attacking Pakistan while Pakistan declared restraint unless provoked. The inevitable happened. Modi, facing an increasing opposition to his policies and programs, had to assuage the sentiments of the 1.40 billion citizens. He had to make an effort to prove his importance. The Axis of Evil, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Ajit Duval, who care more about their satanic legacy and their phonysense of swashbuckling courageousness, prevailed upon the Indian Armed Forces to spur up their readiness and attempt to make an onslaught. The Axis of Evil was in the mood to show its prominence, and who were assured by Tel Aviv that it was solidly behind whatever decision was undertaken.
The tense environment was further vitiated when the hawkish minority in India further aggravated thestate of affairs. The brouhaha created by Indian retired uniformed personnel, who are termed ‘defense analysts’, and by the hyper-jingoistic media anchors reached a crescendo and it seemed that they would prevail and goad the BJP government to go whole hog and give the troops the fighting order. In the Indo-Pak context, untruths are often flaunted as patriotism.There is an inbuilt Indian mindset that always hypes up negativity whenever there is a thaw in the bilateral relations. The same is the case among many Pakistanis. The difference is that the Indian government-led accusations get prominence outside the sub-continent while Pakistan is generally inclined to be on the defensive. This tends to vitiate the already tense situation and further compounds it by attracting a rancorous chorus from the belligerent media, fundamentalist provocateurs, militaristic theorists, and parochial politicos.
The inevitable did happen. India had no choice but to put boasts into action. What did Indian Air Force do? Attack religious buildings and killing civilians, mostly children and women. What did Pakistan Air Force do? Sent 25 planes to attack the more than three times blitzkriegby Indian planes, including the ultra-technological French planes. Lo and Behold. The French Rafale, lost its luster when it was destroyed ignominiously. The rest of the Rafale planes made a hasty retreat lest they would have met the same fate. Not only India but even France felt the pain and loss of face. Earlier, another show of bravado happened on the high seas. The aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was on its way to the shores of Pakistan, but the brilliant Pakistan Navy was not in an inertness mode. One warning and Vikrant went in reverse. Another Indian show of force produced embarrassment.
Notwithstanding the initial air dogfight, it was assumed that sanity would prevail, but it was short-lived. Both countries attacked each other’s military installations which naturally heightened the already blazing inferno. The PAF proved its mettle and went full swing in destroying essential bases. Finally, this led to spokespersons of Indian military announcing that India did not want escalation and was ready to back off if Pakistan reciprocated. These statements very strikinglyaccept the factthat PAF planes have made their mark and proved their capability, experience, and dedication.
The economic fallout of Pakistan-India entanglement would be very negative for both the countries. Pakistan and India must embark upon a new generation of thinking process. People’s aspirations must become more vociferous in calling for a paradigm shift towards social, economic, and regional stability. The social benefits of economic progress must benefit the people and must trickle down to the region’s population. Dr Ishrat Husain, in his latest article, urged“Indian policymakers to avoid prolonging their actions as the political, social and economic costs for their own country are substantial, and instead, examine their policy stance dispassionately”. Similarly, Pakistan’s response if India prolongs the volatile situation would also formidably put pressure on the economy, especially at a time when the macroeconomic indicators are overall positive and in an optimistic trajectory. Pakistan cannot afford its economic progress to go in reverse.
Bilateral trade has also negatively impacted, in fact in reality since August 2019. It is really difficult to make hawks and hardliners comprehend the critical mass that liberalized trade can provide towards ushering in relative peace and sanity. Examples are galore among countries where trade and investment have been shielded from getting overpowered by troublesome issues that are mainly the domain of diplomats, military or bureaucracy.Trade and investment is possible in a peaceful and trusted environment. Commerce gets waylaid whenever a hostile situation isubiquitous. The road towards liberalization of trade and investment, especially in the context of the two large SAARC nations, is very torturous and filled with boulders.
War is evil, war is destructive, war kills humanity. War is not the solution. Rationality, sanity, and wisdom are key elements in ushering peace, not only in South Asia but around the globe. The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, poignantly stated that “If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations. If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities. If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors. If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home. If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.”
(The writer is Former President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
