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Pakistan’s decisive military response countered India’s aggression, reinforced regional sovereignty, and highlighted the strength of Pakistan-China ties in promoting peace and connectivity
India’s attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty has been countered by Pakistan’s impeccable defence. India, in a cowardly attempt, targeted mosques and residential areas. In a befitting response by the Pakistan Armed Forces, five enemy jets were shot down, and a military post in the Dudhnial sector along the Line of Control (LoC) has been destroyed.
India has been blaming Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack. Initially, India tried to associate the terror attack with Pakistan and discredit Pakistan globally. However, India failed to mould the world’s opinion against Pakistan. As evident from the responses of major players, including China, the USA, and Russia, all have called for a peaceful settlement between Pakistan and India. India also faced a setback at the United Nations Security Council, where the international body refused to recognise Kashmir as Indian territory. Thus, India’s unilateral action of post-2019, following the abrogation of Article 370, remains illegal.
Seeing India’s role in South Asia, there have been instances where India has militarily intervened in the regional countries and has also abetted insurgencies. Asoka Raina, an Indian writer, has penned down in his book, Inside RAW, the Story of India’s Secret Service, that “during the Indian Army’s Dhaka campaign, Mukti Bahini and the Indian Army fought shoulder to shoulder together in the final battle.”
Another delusional approach of India is that the South Asian hegemon has started thinking of itself to be a global power. India should know that it is far from being a global power. The boastfulness on the part of India is primarily because of its reliance on alliances. However, the ground facts speak of India losing ground to China in South Asia. In the words of Admiral Karambir Singh, former Naval Chief of India, “There are four to six Chinese research vessels operating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) beyond India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in addition to over 600 Chinese fishing vessels that are in the IOR beyond India’s EEZ for every year since 2015-2019.” The ground facts amidst the regional developments have aroused anxiety in New Delhi. South Asia, like other world regions, is opening up to regional connectivity.
Resilience In The Face Of Aggression: Pakistan’s Strategic Response To India
As a frontline state in the war on terror, Pakistan had sacrificed over 90,000 lives and suffered over $152 billion in economic losses
The Indian Ocean is central to China’s vision of regional connectivity, and CPEC, with China and Pakistan as lead countries, will connect the region with East and Central Asia. Regional connectivity will not only strengthen the prospects of economic integration but will also bring in new trading partners. With economic cooperation in the lead, South Asia’s political outlook will be more conducive towards economic engagement with adjoining regions. In the evolving power dynamics, Pakistan’s role as a trading hub along with China’s presence in South Asia will define the region’s political outlook. India’s regional hegemon status will be neutralised as well.
CPEC and China’s presence in South Asia is the new reality. India has not joined Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), neither it approves the idea of CPEC. To show resentment towards regional connectivity, India has employed terrorism as a tool. However, India’s adversarial tendencies will be thwarted back just like Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) failed attempts to sabotage the development work in Balochistan has been exterminated.
Pakistan is a sovereign state with a strong military and nuclear power. Pakistan’s military is battle-hardened, having fought back militancy. In a recent counter terrorism attack, 54 Fitnatul Khawarij militants were killed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The militants were trying to infiltrate through the border along North Waziristan.
India’s brow-beating against Pakistan is nothing but another Bollywood saga to weaken Pakistan, to which India has lost miserably. The international community is well aware of the fact that Pakistan as a nation has stood up against militancy and extremism. As a frontline state in the war on terror, Pakistan had sacrificed over 90,000 lives and suffered over $152 billion in economic losses. Pakistan will continue its battle against the extremist elements and will promote the narrative of geo-economics. Pakistan’s economic partner, China, aligns with the narrative of regional connectivity. Terrorist outfits targeting Chinese citizens working on development projects in Pakistan have been countered. Both Pakistan and China are determined to weed out the ill of terrorism from the region. Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and China’s economic prowess together will defeat terrorism.
Note: This article appeared in The Friday Times.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are of the author and do not necessarily represent Institute’s policy.
