B L Saraf
For an ordinary observer past few days developments which saw Pakistan materially battered and bruised have brought forth two takeaways, essential to be noticed. The foremost one undoubtedly has a military angle and the other, not so less important, bears a huge socio/political connotation.
There are no two opinions about the fact that Pakistan has been dealt with a severe blow by our valiant soldiers of Air Force, the Army and the Navy, to the extent that number of its vital defense installations stand immobilized. This is in addition to the destruction caused to the dozens of the facilities, located deep within, used to harbor and train the terrorists whose only job was to sneak in to Jammu and Kashmir and create mayhem by killing innocent civilians- mainly on the religious considerations. The latest Indian action arose in response to the 22nd April Pakistan sponsored terrorist attack on the innocent tourists, in Baisaran Meadow of Pahalgam.
It is for the domain experts to analyze the effects and after effects of the 6/7 May action launched by our armed forces to neutralize terrorist facilities in Pakistan. However, all knowledgeable observers are agreed that Indian action has redrawn the red lines and a bar has been raised for Pakistan to understand that henceforth any of its misadventures will be met with all the might of Indian state. The point has been driven home. It is now for Pakistan to deter from embarking on the unholy path which will only lead it to the doom. In this regard one hopes that these strikes will cause a serious rethink in the Pakistani establishment about its policy of using terrorist proxies to bleed India in Kashmir and elsewhere However , given the past experience it could well turn out be only a wishful thinking that Pakistani establishment will mend its behavior and give up this policy. Therefore, it can’t be said with certainty that these devastating strikes have ensured that henceforth there will be no terror attack from Pakistan. When the Prime Minister says that war on terror is not over and the ceasefire is only a pause he too can’t be sure that Pakistani establishment will remember the lesson, which in a hard manner was brought home to it.
In one of his many Press briefings held during the period retaliatory action – imaginatively called Operation Sindoor – was on the Foreign Secretary , Vikram Misri put it very aptly : ” Indian steadfast unity is in itself is a challenge to Pakistan.” That, according to the Foreign Secretary ,explains why Pakistan has relentlessly gone after of Gurdwaras , Temples and other religious places in India and destroyed them, indiscriminately killing innocent devotees and the priests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 12th April address to the nation said that greatest strength of our nation is the unity among various sections of the society which is an eyesore to the adversary.
What the Foreign Secretary said is fully borne out by the conduct of the terrorists who picked up the innocent tourists only on the consideration of a religious faith.
India’s true faith in religious harmony and gender equality came out spontaneously when in the time of war two brave women Officers , Colonol Sofia Quereshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, became country’s voice . A Kashmir born Officer , sitting in the middle , showcased Bharat’s belief in ” Unity in Diversity.”
On the capabilities of Colonel Sofia Quereshi India’s first Chief of the Defense, General Bipin Rawat , the then Army Commander of Southern Command, under whose command she worked, said : ” In the Army we believe in equal opportunities. There is no difference between male and female officers. She was chosen not because being Muslim but because she had the abilities of leadership to shoulder any responsibility.” That is the Idea Of India – the bedrock of our civilization.
Here , it will be quite appropriate to recall the statement of a noted Pakistani journalist – a retired Pak Army Officer – Ayaz Aamir , which he made when former Prime Minister , late Atal Behari Vajpayee, midway during the declaration of 2004 Lok Sabha Sabha election result, rushed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan and handed over his resignation to President. He made the decision just on seeing trends which were clear that the NDA led by him was not going to return to the power. He didn’t wait for the final results to come out. Watching this development, Aamir noted , ” It is not the geographic size of India or its demographic number that matter most .It is the country’s stead fast faith in democracy, peaceful transition of power, firm belief in synergetic culture , regard for demographic diversity, Yoga and the Auyrveda that make India big.” He was probably speaking in comparison to his country, Pakistan. This time it is both India’s Military prowess and the Civilization strength founded on the principle of multiculturalism, alluded to by the Pakistani journalist, that have diminished Pakistan.
For us it also time to introspect a little bit. It may not be always advisable to call in military for an action. Sometimes it becomes prudent to bring the economic, social, cultural and societal might to bear on the adversary. Kashmiris have shown this when they, in one voice, rose against the perpetrators of Phalgam carnage : as people across communities in the mainland demonstrated during the Operation Sindoor that Indians are one when it comes to safeguard the nation.Every single Indian stood rock solid behind our brave soldiers engaged in the Operation .
A thought must be given to what some knowledgeable observers have said that if India has to become a fully developed country and a real global leader it must resolve its issues with its neighbors, including Pakistan. The current war may be an opportunity to revisit the legacy of past wars and devise measures for the “strategic peace.”
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
