9/11 happened in the first year of 21st century and that of second mallenia. Terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre was the last of the eighteen events that altered the path of human civilization ever since 1899. This was an act of aggression against the sole superpower of the world. Defeat of competing superpower i.e., the Soviet Union had made the US arrogant, over-confident and complacent. The attacks caught the US in total surprise. The prestige and ego of the sole superpower was badly mauled. It was the biggest shock to the prevalent world order. Simon Jenkins says, “No single figure since the Second World War has made so profound an impact on world events as Osama Bin Laden”. 9/11 changed America fundamentally. It was the new “Pearl Harbour” for them. The US administration which was following “Isolationist” policies got committed to robust overseas intervention. 9/11 also illustrated the dark side of hither-to-fore buzz word of ‘Globalization’. It gave birth to an unprecedented coalition of revulsion. The world felt sympathetic to the US as a victim and rallied behind it to pay back to the perpetrators. Non-state actors came to the fore who had found safe havens in poorly governed states and started calling the shots. Hosting state had no control over these elements and neither had the capacity or capability to exert control over them. The event of 9/11 also gave birth to global war on terror. Prior to 9/11, wars were fought between states, but after 9/11, based on UN Security Council Resolutions 1368 and 1373, war against non-state actors became a possibility. The concept endowed states with carte blanche to invade other states that potentially harboured terrorists. The intransigence of the utterly embarrassed sole superpower lumped genuine freedom struggles also with terrorism.
9/11 also brought an opportunity to the Inglorious ‘I’s ie India and Israel. Two arrogant states got a hay day to use bogey of terrorism for whipping opponents. Freedom struggles in Kashmir and Palestine were worst affected. Both India and Israel in cahoots with each other began to employ military might to not only crush these freedom struggles but also force the legitimate supporters to abandon their support. For over two decades this actual axis of evil, stage managed incidents, fabricated narratives and acted boorish to achieve nefarious designs. They held no bars in violenting global ethics, norms, conventions and morality.
Months of May and Jun 2025 have been defining months. In the month of May Inglorious India followed its well practiced playbook, conducted falseflag operation, framed Pakistan and launched unprovoked aggression against the latter. India acted arrogantly, intansigent, boorish, condensending, fabricated narratives and attempted to bite Pakistan. With blessing of Allah, support of China and outstanding performance of PAF, India got knocked out within first few hours of hostilities. Beyond those initial four hours it was mere accentuation of India’s vulnerabilities. The conflict left telling impact on multiple accounts.
Firstly, the US strategic partnership with India came under stress. The US which anticipated dressing down of Pakistan at the hands of India was compelled to broker a cease fire once chips were down. The US resolve to support India buckeled under pressure. Axis of US-Israel-India got beaten, humbled and exposed.
Secondly, a new troika emerged in the region comprising Pakistan, China and Bengladesh. India should have realised by now that while her allies are distant powers, this troika is surrounding India. India is now getting the taste of three front scenario – more menacing than two front scenario in which India embroiled Pakistan in last two decades.
Thirdly, all good things happened for Pakistan and all bad things happened for India. Pakistan got united, emerged as a confident, self-assured and resilient regional power. On the other hand, decades old playbook of India got exposed, US lost faith in India for expected role of India in the region, got isolated and Indians lost faith in its media, government and armed forces.
Moving to the other theater, the second Inglorious ‘I’ ie Israel launched unprovoked aggression against Iran. In this case arrogance and intransigence was many notches higher than that of India as the sole superpower has been inalienable veritable arm of Israel. They are extention of each other. The outcome was out of wildest dreams of the two. They launched aggression with mindset of vanquishing Iran in weeks. However, yet another embarrassment was waiting for them at the foot hills of Elburz Mountians. Iran which has withstood an onslaught for 4.5 decades unleached its national pride and resolve to humble the self-proclaimed mighty powers. Within a month the sole superpower was faced with yet another stark reality of beating of its closest ally at the hands of a resolute nation. The US had to broker another ceasefire within a month to save its love-bird.
Both these wars had serious implications for Pakistan. If war with India had prolonged, Pakistan’s economic, political and security vulnerabilities would have accentuated . Closure of hostilities within short time was a huge blessing of Allah. The war benefitted Pakistan in many ways but most prominently it put Pakistna on a track it was shying away. Friend and foe were clearly identifiable. Importance of Pakistan for China became crystal clear. An arrogant and intransigent, self-proclaimed regional policeman and net security provider ie India was cut to size. Pakistan’s future has become more secure and Sino-Pakistan relationship has further cemented.
On other hand, if Iran was defeated and a pro-Israel government was installed in Iran, Pakistan would have faced a nightmare. Inglorious ‘I’s would have surrounded Pakistan. China’s ambition of accessing Indian Ocean through CPEC would have been quashed.
In nutshell, outcome of both these wars have been promising for Pakistan, China and the region. These have put to rest the two Inglorious ‘I’s. Legitimate freedom struggles will get new lives. Eastern Bloc has emerged more confident and Western Bloc seems stressed. CPEC seems secured and future isolation of India seems more likely. Transition of conflict-prone, Indian-centric South Asia to growth-prone, Chinese-centric South Asia has become more likely.
If sense prevails and there are no more hostililities, the region will do better under Chiense influence and lesser influence of Western powers.
Sammilogger 