K B Jandial
Fifty-four years ago, India, under the ‘Iron Lady’ Indira Gandhi, had delivered a historic and humiliating defeat to Pakistan in an unforgettable war leading to secession of East Pakistan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It was momentous as it negated the Two Nation theory based on which Pakistan was born. The gain of the resounding victory of Indian forces and Mukti Vahni was lost on July 2, 1972, at Barnes Court (Raj Bhawan) Shimla, while signing the Shimla Agreement, because Indira fell into the trap of the shrewd and cunning Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. A rare opportunity to settle the Kashmir issue was lost.
A similar chance to retrieve lost J&K territory was intriguingly missed in 1948 when the advancing Indian Army was abruptly halted for a ceasefire, letting Pakistan to retain 35 % of J&K territory without military or political logic – a blunder the nation continues to pay for.
Now, the question is: Are we witnessing history repeating itself in a different avatar? Has a stunning military victory once again been overshadowed by misinformation, political opportunism, manipulation, and a warped global narrative?
Today, India has crippled Pakistan’s major air force bases and destroyed nine major terrorist infrastructure sites in POJK and Pakistan, bringing it to its knees. However, Pakistan, born out of manipulation, falsehoods, and religious extremism, has crafted a false narrative to ‘snatch’ the victory from the jaws of defeat through information war based on lies and falsehood. Asim Munir’s undeserved promotion to Field Marshal was a ploy to make the world believe Pakistan’s victory over India. But Pakistanis are not naive; they understand the post-conflict spectacle staged by Shehbaz Sharif and Gen Munir. A critic on X commented, “After his promotion, Asim Munir is now entitled to a bigger bunker,” and another quipped, “Asim Munir has been promoted to ‘Failed Marshal,’ not ‘Field Marshal’ – only failures get promoted.”
Straight Talk
Pakistan Army’s strength doesn’t lie as much in its Shaheen, Ababeel, Ghauri, Babur, Fatah missiles, as in Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) which engineered an effective counter-narrative based on lies, distorted facts with overt support from Turkey and China. The ISPR has a structured propaganda strategy and training programs under which young trainees are required to produce anti-India content monthly, with monthly rewards. It has almost convinced their populace that Pakistan has “taught India a lesson,” bringing them on the roads in jubilation. It has also been able to spread its lies internationally through foreign media which is pathologically anti-India, welcoming Pakistan’s version, sidelining India’s version, much less the objective assessment. Their narrative gets validation from some anti-Modi political leaders who, based on Pakistan’s propaganda, consistently demand answers from Modi relating to the conflict and seek accountability for losses and casualties immediately after the ‘pause’ of Operation Sindoor. The Modi critics are chest beating over their ‘concerns’ on perceived loss of Rafale and other” huge” losses including casualties, demanding accountability for these.
The Congress and some of its allies are raising noises for a special session of the Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and hold Modi accountable for perceived Indian losses and India’s diplomatic disaster. For Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, it appears to be a T-20 match expecting ball-to-ball commentary over what happened, how happened and why happened. Back in their mind, they would relish India’s defeat in all aspects, as it would provide the golden opportunity to run down Modi. Desisting this time from questioning the stunning operation of defence forces, perhaps remembering the heat in the past for their contrarian view points, but their spokespersons, intriguingly, target Modi and Jaishankar for timing of the operation, ceasefire, and failed diplomacy.
After an amazing victory, India is now fighting a perception war within and outside India. Was it a really botched up and delayed operation with ‘sharing it with Pakistan’ or a spectacular operation marked by precision targets with incredible successes. With some opposition leaders and their loud-mouthed spokespersons brazenly doubting the success of the Operation Sindoor with the obvious objective to dampen the JOSH and victory euphoria, forcing BJP to launch Tiranga yatras all over India to sustain people’s prideful sentiments.
On 7th May, India avenged the barbaric killing of Hindu tourists at Baisaran when Indian Air Force destroyed nine terrorist headquarters and training camps, including three major terrorists’ organisations – Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, in POJK and Pakistan without crossing the LoC & IB.
India’s precision Missile strikes on Nur Khan and Sargodha air bases in the close vicinity nuclear facilities, sent shockwaves across Pak making Shahbaz and Munir shiver in their pants. When India successfully called out their nuclear bluff, Pakistan had no options except to beg USA & China for ceasefire. And it happened after achieving the objective what was a big deal on it?
Modi has been repeatedly propagating that this is no era of war. India, having no expansionist designs, has different priority to become world’s 3rd economy. It never wanted war or prolong it. The war was forced on India, and Pakistan was taught a lesson. So, when the offer of ceasefire came from Pak DGMO, there was no point in declining it. Moreover, Modi clarified that it is not a ceasefire but a “pause” in deadly Sindoor operation. Those leaders who foolishly talked about not accepting ceasefire without annexing POJK are unaware of the people’s miseries, wanton destruction of property and loss of life that armed conflicts always bring along with it. But they do not bother about these aspects.
Regrettably even in this situation, certain anti-Modi leaders are desperately trying to find holes in our splendid victory. This time, unable to find fault with the unimpeachable digital evidence, they now question the timing and manner of the ceasefire, statement of Foreign Minister and the role of Trump. Opposition leaders target Modi for ceasefire rather than Pakistan for terrorism and hitting civilian areas which resulted in civilian casualties and damage to scared Nangali Sahib Gurdwara. Pakistan, shamelessly, had plans to target the revered Golden Temple but with cooperation of the SGPC, Indian Air Force’s air defence system thwarted Pak nefarious plans.
Many argue that Pakistan shifted its narrative, taking benefit of delayed operation. Was the military operation really delayed?Immediately after Pahalgam’s massacre Pakistan did manage to secure a cover by signing a major crypto currency deal with World Liberty Financial (WLF), founded in 2024, in which Trump’s family holds a 60% stake. The WLF’s homepage features Trump’s portrait, indicating his unusual interest in Pakistan and embarrassing Modi by leaking the ceasefire plans prematurely. Trump’s style-blackmail and business interests, he has sought to link ceasefire with future trade with Pakistan and India, though India’s Foreign Ministry denies any such trade talks.
Trump’s repeated talk of halting military actions has shaped global perceptions, casting him as an unpredictable leader undermining global stability. His praise for Pakistan-a failed state with terrorists growing with State’s support,and shady crypto dealings-and its weakest President, while ignoring Modi, says more about him than us. India does not need validation from Trump. This is a new India-strong, self-reliant, and unfazed by opposition theatrics or foreign approval.
Trump linked the 4-day conflict, triggered by brutal terror strike at Baisaran, with Kashmir resulting in loss of face of PM Modi and Indian diplomacy. Interestingly, he shifted the focus from terrorism to the “thousands of years old Kashmir issue”.Laughable! Posted on X platform, he said, “I will work with you both to see if, after a thousand years, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.” The leader who
Opposition leaders are much concerned as Trump hyphenated India with Pakistan, a controversial move that reminds of outdated U.S. foreign policy. Yes, it violated India’s long-stated principle of no third-party mediation on Kashmir; Trump’s assertions are an obvious cause for outrage in Delhi. But, New Delhi no longer trusts a leader known for diplomatic flip-flops. His remarks about mediating Kashmir-suggesting “a solution after a thousand years”-is not new. He made similar offer to Imran Khan during his meeting with Imran Khan, in his previous avatar. But Modi countered him reiterating India’s unambiguous stand that “Terror and talks cannot go together… Terror and trade cannot go together…. Water and blood cannot flow together.” He told the global community including Trump that “our stated policy has been: if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism; and if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
To present a united front globally, India sent seven multi-party delegations to 33 countries to counter misinformation and highlight its military achievements. The government strategically included articulate MPs across party lines to assert India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and share evidence of military action. The aim: shift global focus from Kashmir to terrorism. Among the standout voices were Shashi Tharoor and Asaduddin Owaisi-at times fierce BJP critics-whose diplomacy bolstered India’s outreach. They appeared more nationalists than those claim to be, day in & day out.
This diplomatic outreach, along with other moves like keeping the pro-Pakistan Indus Water Treaty in abeyance after Baisaran killings, reflects the Modi government’s tougher strategy to make it feel the heat for bleeding India which India has now stopped accepting it quietly. Unlike Pt Nehru’s overly generosity terms-granting Pakistan near-total control over three key rivers of J&K at the cost of his own people “in a spirit of goodwill and friendship” between two countries. Intriguingly, Pt Nehru found illegal occupation of 35 % of J&K territory since 1947-48 by Pakistan in “spirit of goodwill and friendship”. But Modi is making Pakistan feel the cost of bleeding India. In the current paradigm shift, theIWT is rightly linked with end of cross border terrorism. Pakistan is now made to pay for bleeding India.
Those who are forcefully negating the perception of resounding victory over Pakistan, could only hurt India’s cause rather than demean Modi. One frustrated senior Congress leader contemptuously compared terrorists roaming around in Kashmir with visits of MPs (Parliamentary delegations) around the world. The current negative perception war will also impact the defence forces, which perhaps they don’t care.
Despite repeated defeats and global humiliation, will Pakistan stop bleeding India? Perhaps not. And in the event of continuous terror strikes, will the Modi government respond with the same strength and resolve?
(feedback :kbjandial@gmail.com)
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