On 26th Feb 2019 Indian fighter planes crossed
the LOC and the international borders of Pakistan and dropped bombs on what India claimed
was Jaish-e-Muhammad training camp in Balakot. This was in response to the Pulwama attack
in Jammu & Kashmir where 40 CRPF jawans were killed when a suicide bomber
attacked their convoy.
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On their own, the strikes were a good idea as it
really upped the ante against terror groups. For that credit should be given to
Modi
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Although India showed intent but clearly it
lacked capability, Pak was able to down our aircraft the very next day,and captured a pilot alive.
We have claimed that we downed their F16 but without showing any verifiable evidence.
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Again without any evidence it was said that the
air strikes killed 300 Jaish terrorist. Pakistan says there were no casualties and
the bombs were dropped in open ground. The Indian media asked no questions or
tried to verify these claims and went to town with each outdoing one another.
Some even claimed 600 deaths! The misinformation around the strikes will do India’s
credibility a lot of harm internationally. Though this was done with an eye on
domestic audience for election purpose, it may have an international fallout. But
with virtually the whole Indian media acting as BJP government’s mouthpiece, Modi
will be able to shape the domestic narrative in short term. And that’s exactly
what he wants.
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The blatant use of the Pulwama attack & the
Air Strikes for political gain by Modi and BJP is quite unethical.
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By unconditionally releasing the captured Indian
pilot, Abhinandan Varthman, Pakistan has got the moral upper hand in this crisis. Rather than
acklowledging this gesture, Modi has been projecting that he was able to scare
Pakistan into doing this.
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Pakistan is now actively cracking down on
terror groups recognizing full well that they are doing them no good at a time
when Imran Khan is trying to rebuild the economy
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It appears that BJP & Modi will be able to
milk the ‘air strikes’ to electoral advantage and may retain power after the
2019 elections. Pre-Pulwama they were staring at 180 odd seats plus minus 20.
Now they may secure 240-250. But you never know with the electorate. They are known to surprise. Vajpayee
lost after Kargil. Congress still won after 26/11.
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If Modi again becomes the Prime Minister, then
the nature of the Indian State maybe altered. By 2024 India may be referred
as a hardline, war mongering, security state, the very terms used
to refer to Pakistan until recently.
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Recently Imran Khan sacked a minister for hate
speech against Hindus even after the minister apologised. The official statement said
that this kind of speech against minorities will not be allowed in Pakistan as ‘tolerance’
is one of the pillars of the state. Not long back this word ‘tolerance’ was
something which India cherished and one could hardly associate that with
Pakistan. Now India is promoting ‘intolerance’.
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If Modi would have to follow this India, half of his
ministers will have to be sacked for hate speech against Muslims &
Dalits. BJP’s national president Amit Shah would have to be sacked too.
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The most heartening aspect of the sacking of this
minister was that there was an outrage in the social media in Pakistan calling
for his ouster. All this in the middle of heightened tensions between India &
Pakistan.
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If Imran Khan continues in power,
Pakistan may have done an image makeover and would be seen as a progressive, tolerant,
peace loving country.
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Pakistan would be moving towards greater
prosperity, whereas if India continues with Modi’s sectarian & divisive policies,
economic indices would be on a downward spiral. Unemployment would be even
worse than today. The ‘India Story’ would be over
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India’s prestige and standing in the world will
take a beating
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Kashmir issue will get greater recognition by UN
and other world bodies. India’s grip on Kashmir would become lesser. India’s so
called ‘muscular’ and repressive policy in Kashmir will get highlighted at the International
stage. There might be greater international support for plebiscite in J&K
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Pakistan under Imran Khan would have got moral
superiority in the eyes of the world
· The general perception would be ‘India is
not safe’ for tourists. On the contrary, by this time tourism would have become a huge income
generator for Pakistan
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Imran Khan will emerge as a towering statesman
who took his country on the path of peace & prosperity. Modi would have
taken India on a downward spiral.
