India and the US: Friends as in Quad?
The last week or so has changed many a perspective, with quite a few surprises. As starters, we found India and Pakistan being considered on the same page, by none other than by the world’s leading democracy, the US. Both are my friends, said President Trump, both have been fighting for some 1500 years, they will sort it out between themselves. My my just think, we should let this sink into us. The world’s largest factory for terrorists was being seen on par with a country that has fought terror over last many decades.
US Vice President, J D Vance, who was personally in India on a private visit, while the terrorists struck Pahalgam, killing 26 innocent tourists holidaying in the pristine valley, was even more eloquent. He said the Indo Pak issue was “none of our business”. Indeed, that must be a shame for a country that suffered 9/11, not too far back. Going down memory lane, the Americans and most of the west, for that matter, till 9/11 considered all this talk of terror more like ‘balooney’ stuff, to use their own slang. Only till 9/11, that is. And then their world view changed. The rest, as they say, is history. Till, now, that is, with a new page being written.
And then, to cap it all, within a matter of less than 48 hours, the US President tweeted he had resolved the issue, brought ceasefire between the two warring nations, both with a huge and frightful stock of nuclear weapons. Quick to take credit, he had done another ‘deal’; more and more, he is not even an American businessman; he is in fact, a trader. And one who makes something for himself, in every deal he strikes. Just think, what must he have done to get a 747 aircraft as a gift? And, honestly enough for that, he says “only a stupid person would deny himself any gift”. Regardless of what strings there may be, to the gift.
But here in our case, his role was swiftly denied by the Indian government. We have been steadfast in our policy, preferring only bilateral dialogue, whenever that opportunity arises, on our terms. The Pakistan PM has meanwhile thanked the US government for their timely intervention. The US perhaps played a go to in-between, as the Pakistan government needed somebody to reach out to India. Which is possibly where it rests!
But Donald Trump is not somebody who lets matters rest. He also said he had talked of threatening the two countries of stopping trade, then said he will give them more business, for having listened to him. The Indian side has denied any such references, and there it should stay, given the fact that utterances from the US President can vary with the winds, never know what he can say next.
When diplomacy is about carefully crafted words, where every single word matters, we are encountering a new narrative, where not a single word counts, the words shift on an hourly basis, like they were the first utterings. But also given that these are coming from the US president, they remain important to say the least.
And, not to forget the sanction of the IMF loan of a billion dollars, in time to tide over their failing economy. The timing was such it prompted ideas if this was money meant to buy more American arms?
The Three-Day Retaliation!
It was not war, as far as we can see it. It was only a retaliation for the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Every Indian was baying for it. It was a common ask, the will of the people. Never mind how reasonable it was, it was genuine. How else can you avenge the loss of 26 innocents, or should we just turn the other cheek? And allow the world to think we are ‘chicken’. Which we are not, which we will never be!
It was a most carefully calibrated attack, not against the people of Pakistan, not against the Pakistan Army, but against terrorists holed up in different locations in that country. It is a different matter if the two turned out to be same, the Army and the terrorists, whom they have trained, for carrying out their own proxy war against the Indians, now over decades, especially in J&K! No wonder then, that senior Army personnel were seen at the burial of those killed in the attacks.
How were these attacks carried out? And with what telling effect? The visuals shared by the Indian government do not require words, the pictures of ‘before and after’ tell the story. Convincing enough to suggest why the Pakistan government would have reached out to the US. Whether we by accident targeted any of their nuclear sites, is another story, but the devastation of their infrastructure, especially the military side of it, was daring and superbly carried out by the Indian Air Force. It had its desired impact. If our purpose was to retaliate, to pay back for the loss of sindoor on the foreheads of the widows who lost their dear ones in Pahalgam, we had achieved this purpose. It was also a promise that the nation stands for its women into the future, the woman is the glory of our motherland.
Social Media Narratives: It is a War in Itself
There are disgruntled voices, between varying narratives, all churned out by social media cells, by vested interests. How do we choose between them? We decide upon who shares evidence, credible evidence. One that does not say its source is social media itself. But is there this tendency in chat groups to readily doubt versions almost like they remain sceptical of whatever this government does? Like being perennially in the opposition? There is little evidence to what is written contrary to the Indian version; at best these are just another article written, some overseas. Does the overseas media have less chance to have any ulterior motive? Is there a bias, which our PM often speaks about? If so, it has yet not changed, but it will, in good time.
Adding to the social media created mess, is the continuous tirade of over-zealous mainline media, especially television. It is amazing how they build up the hype, with ‘breaking news’ coming on every channel, claiming to be the first, all to gain traction with viewers. Should the government step in an ensure calmer anchors, who can be first given a session of yoga and deep breathing, appearing on channels with more composure and less exuberance? Perhaps, self-restraint is best, sooner exercised the better to ensure sanity in public life.
Why the Ceasefire?
Why accept the ceasefire? Should we know? Should it be shared with the public at large? Is what we have been told not enough? That it was a limited operation, the purpose was served. This has been a burning question, a subject of some gossip, much speculation and also concern, some of it well meaning. To each his own version, of his own choosing. Were we seeking a long war? Is war the solution? In times like these, war is not the answer. We have seen in the Ukraine-Russia war, now in its third year.
Who would get hurt more, who had more to lose between the two countries, had there be an ‘open war’, which it was not yet so. Our development effort would have been derailed, our precious resources diverted to a war effort, in a time when development has no alternative? Pakistan had little to lose, down in the dumps already, a nearly failed state, a haven of terror. No wonder then, the Indian PM warned Pakistan, to wake up before it gets ensnared by the forces of terror it has been unleashing upon its own neighbour. That is, if there is any opportunity left, given the support it has from its committed friends, which will encourage it to carry on, there are always IMF loans, other countries to which it can sell its soul.
Was the ceasefire the result of any mishaps? Any such that made us take a hasty call on carrying on? Nowhere have we been told, that there was any mission beyond the retaliation? That we were ready to take over their occupied part of Kashmir. Did we lose an aircraft or two in our mission? The government has said all our pilots returned to base, safe and sound. If any aircraft was lost, the Pakistan government would have gone to town with sharing images, by now they would have flooded the global media. Losses on both sides, by and large, have not been talked about, at least, in any consolidated statement. Overall, in the bigger picture, there would be learning lessons for both sides; deep learning that would be suitably discussed and addressed. But which should and would remain within circles that work on such top-secret subjects. In any case, for any country in attack mode, losses are inevitable, being a part of the game.
I keep asking, should the government of the day share every detail of what transpired. There is, above all, a national interest that cannot be debated. Should there be a special Parliament session convened to discuss the recent events? Certainly not. Every country shares what it believes it should. At best, heads of opposition parties can be briefed to enable them to know the bigger picture. For the rest, the nation does not need to know, regardless of what the intellectuals can keep deriding the government of the day. Is it merely fashionable to be in the opposition, to argue and not accept; otherwise, you are labelled either an ignorant or a ‘chamcha’. There is nothing in between.
Are the dark times over. For now? Looks like, given that the government opened ALL the closed airports as of yesterday. Given that IPL dates have been announced for the balance fixtures. There were dissenting voices that were predicting a bigger estrangement a week from the day ceasefire was called. There are others who are saying the stars are so aligned that the month of May brings bigger tragedies. Others say, dark days are looming, come September.
PM Modi’s Address
One word on the PM Modi’s message to the nation. To my mind, it was his best address, ever. He spoke little, he spoke pithy, to the point, every word was nuanced to carry a message. Not overlooking the fact that he is among best orators we have had, I feel this was meticulous in choice of words and content and messaging. That terror and trade do not go together, that terror and talk do not go together, that blood and water do not go together. That we will not be blackmailed by nuclear threats, (should that be the global responsibility, or of Pakistan’s friends like China, Turkey and even USA, which has suddenly re-admitted its long lost and lesser talked about affection, perhaps between the deep state in the two countries). Incidentally, what of the Quad? If the leader of the pack decides to share horses, when an opportunity comes to back its chosen alliance partner?
The PM also lauded the valiant Indian armed forces; only befitting then that he visited the forward airbase the next day, to congratulate them and wish them ongoing successes.
The PM also stressed upon national unity! Yes, indeed, this becomes even more the need of the hour. So, when the Congress party has its mid-rung leadership utter irresponsible statements, these do hurt. Even more so, in this hour, the government is best advised to put on the back burner, all its moves, howsoever well intentioned they be, but which have the potential to create new divides. Like the language issue, or like the de-limitation issue. Communities and castes are non-issues; we are all Indians, above all, first and foremost. These potential divides must be put aside, through a government statement, ensuring we remain on the same page. Ideas that divide our people should be viewed with suspicion and put down. There is no space for doubting Thomases!
