Alhamdulillah, Pakistan has all the reasons to rejoice, celebrate and enjoy a thumping victory. We have ended the war on a favorable note. However, the victory should not go to our heads. A wise person will be humbled by a victory rather than getting arrogant. A wise man will do an honest and fair catharsis. If we see Modi, it was his arrogance which brought him to this. In last 10 years, he so vociferously conducted and got away with his heinous crimes that he began to overestimate himself.
BJP has always been a blessing in disguise for Pakistan. BJP is antithesis to secularism and pro-thesis to two-nation theory; both go in our favour. Particularly in case of Pahalgam incident, Modi has again done us a favour. He has put us in a direction we were shying away to go. We have been an ally of the US for over seven decades. A cost benefit analysis of this alliance gives an unfavourable outcome for Pakistan. This crisis has yet again validated that China has stood by us through thick and thin. Notwithstanding our dilly-dallying.
Indeed we have won but far more important rounds are still left. If I do honest catharsis, the victory has been brought by mature leadership, better strategy and bravery of valiant sons of soil. No doubt about that. However, as we believe nothing happens without blessings of Allah. There are three more significant contributing factors. Firstly, last minute support of China sans which the situation could have been different, secondly poor leadership and arrogance-based strategy of the opponent and thirdly unified response of the nation. All these are not guaranteed for every showdown.
Coming to the opening question ie what we need to do now?
First and foremost is putting our house in order. We are politically fragmented, economically vulnerable and internally agitated. Inter provincial harmony is at the lowest ebb. A year ago a friend asked me what did I expect to come out of the mess we had created. I replied my worry was that there may be a big incident after which we would regret. He asked me what could be that incident. I replied, God for sake, killing of a bigwig, internal strife or showdown with India. Unfortunately last one has happened. Getting out of this episode can humble us as well as make us arrogant. It’s our choice. I see it as a wake up call. We need to expeditiously put our house in order. Rule of law, justice, human rights, respect for constitution are much desired.
Secondly, our enemy is cunning, mean to the core and deceitful. Howsoever immoral we might think it to be, but he has attained mastery in creating false narratives. On the narrative front he will try to turn defeat into victory. He is already treading on that path. Our media has conducted far better in the round of hostilities. Now we shall be fighting yet another battle, ie battle of narratives. In modern war winning battle of narrative is far more important than winning physical battle. Our diplomats will have to be offensive, aggressive and forthcoming. Our government will have to designate statesmen to take to media and talks.
Thirdly we ought to be far more clear about our strategic orientation. The US is a distant power and China is a neighbour. The US is waning and China is waxing. The US has used us as a client and China has stood by us through thick and thin. Whole world is gravitating towards China but China’s iron-clad brother is ambivalent. I feel two countries’ future as mutually assured destiny (MAD). Besides financial foes, Pakistan is lacking in key qualities of a good society, viz, discipline, patience, wisdom, knowledge, harmony and justice. These attributes are in abundance available in China. I say besides FDI, Pakistan needs FDIK (foreign direct investment of knowledge). It has taken us around one and a half century to follow injunction of Holy Prophet PBUH, but still it’s not too late.
Indian centric South Asia has been conflict-prone and suffers from Kautilian Dictum (a giant in the middle eats away smaller counties, like a large fish eats away smaller fish). India has been boorish, condescending and overbearing towards its neighbours. It gives us an opportunity. We should solidify our partnership with China and Bangladesh and serve in transition of South Asia from conflict-prone, least integrated and most impoverished to a connected and growth-prone South Asia.
A round of table talk is expected. Though Indians are beginning to disown such a commitment. If US can deliver and make its Strategic Partner come to the table, it will be incumbent upon us to win battle on the table too. Pakistan has been wronged repeatedly by BJP Govt. After every short while, India does a false-flag operation puts it on Pakistan and takes whole region as well as the world to the brink of war. Such non-sense has to end. India must respect whole-heartedly the rights of lower riparian. Kashmir dispute has held hostage the peace in entire region. It so frequently causes a nuclear scare. It is in the interests of the World, South Asia and people of the region that this issue is resolved. Else South Asia will continue to be the least integrated, the most impoverished and the most conflict-prone region of the world.
Pakistan must go for indigenous development of our weapon systems. Certain clear inadequacies have come up in recent conflict. In order to reduce our reliance on big powers we should focus on made in Pakistan systems. It’s also need of hour that our political and national interests should converge. We should transit from traditional security to human security. We should transit from security state to an economic state. Our leaders should have people centric policies and not global-players-centric policies.
Allah may bless us wisdom and abilities to prepare for the next showdown which surely will come.
Sammilogger 