After this recent incident in which Pakistan Army has killed 4 Indians soldiers at the LoC, I closely started following the stories from the Indian media in hope to find some reasonable voice.
No marks for guessing that I failed in that to a great extent. There is blood in their eyes and almost all of them are acting like ( for the lack of a better word ) a rabid dog who has bloody eyes and is ready to pounce on you. You'd say this is their usual response and it doesn't matter as far Pakistan is concerened. And you'd be right in saying that. However, a slight difference this time is that they are really searching for answers and are begging their political and military establishment to chalk out a road map or formula to get rid of this issue ( of loosing soldiers regularly ) once and for all. Also, I sense a little bit of realization of the fact that war with Pakistan is not a card they can play. Offcourse their military establishment is well aware of this fact since long but their media which is usually blood thirsty is also raising this point albeit unwillingly. There seems to be a feeling there that despite the bluster of the super power tag, military might and 'punishing Pakistan', in the grand scheme of things, it is Pakistan who is being real cheeky, is bleeding them through a thousand cuts and doesn't mind the status quo at LoC.
Is this precisely what Pakistan aims to achieve because we are doing just that and doing it in a way which is making them feel the heat.
Missed the trees for the woods.
Not all wars are the shooting kind. Shooting wars are the very last ( and most unsuitable) resort and must not be attempted without a clearly defined end state Eg : 1971.
Pakistan has been in a state of war for years & its effects are visible. Observe :
-Never before was the PA engaged permanently & inextricably on both the East & Western borders.
-The PA, PAF & PN spends a substantial % of resources in protecting itself from the people it is supposed to defend even in Pindi, Karachi & Shamsi to name a few.
- A permanent state of unhinged & unpredictable anxiety exists within the nation, not even school children are safe in their schools.
- Acts of terrorism & unrest are not confined to specific areas .
- Terror has strong religious backing, support, a mind of its own & justification and organs of the state (PA) are with the religious fundamentals, the writ of the Govt is contested. People do not question the religious groups.
- Political instability persists.
- Internationally & diplomatically things are far from hunky dory
A fallout is lack of economic activity. Whatever little exists ( since CPEC is considered a game changer) amounts to mortgaging the generations that follow. Sure, US aid can be replaced by Chinese but that too has to be repaid.
Not to mention the one sided agreements - that is for the nation to access.
These changes have come gradually and have become the new normal, when a nation accepts this consider the rust to have set in from within.
Dont go by what you read / watch in the media. Often the truth lies in between lines.
Compare the current Pakistan with what it was during Zia's times & the early days of Mush. The difference will be apparent.
