In what has been an ambivalent set of claims and counter claims, Pakistan and India have locked horns over the veracity of the \u2018surgical\u2019 strikes that India claims to have supposedly conducted in Pakistan. Absurd as the Indian claim is considering the heavy fencing and surveillance of the Line of Control (LoC), some commentators have suggested that the intensity of the Pakistani reaction to this entire episode shows that it was not routine cross-border firing over the LoC as Pakistan claims it to be. It seems lost on them that the Pakistani reaction was in response to the political points that were scored in India over it, which was accompanied with the most virulent form of jingoism. In any case, Indian insistence of having conducted its alleged surgical strike achieves nothing but more hostility between the two South Asian neighbours, and with the act itself being nothing short of brazen aggression.
\nAmidst all of this belligerence on the part of India, Pakistan must be commended on its part for its measured restraint. While it is easy to pander to jingoistic sentiment to score easy political points, both the civilian and the military leadership have responded to the South Asian crisis in a mature manner. Hence, the statement by the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa that \u201cEscalation and warmongering do not suit anyone\u201d is a continuation of the Pakistani policy of defusing tension and bringing India towards dialogue. Unfortunately, India\u2019s hawkish reaction to the militant attack in Uri goes to show that militants continue to hold their veto towards any attempts at peace between the two countries. And while Indian Prime Minister Modi might be able to gain popularity by pandering to the jingoistic sentiment within his country, he would not be able to achieve lasting peace in South Asia unless he becomes willing to engage in meaningful dialogue with Pakistan.Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Mohammed Nawaz Sharif\u2019s policy towards India from the start has been one of extending cordiality and improving relations. As absurd as it is to be happening in this day and age, Prime Minister Sharif has received opprobrium for such an approach from within Pakistan, with accusations ranging from him being not patriotic enough to understand the supposedly perpetual Pakistan-India \u2018enmity\u2019 to him putting his \u2018business interests\u2019 first by appearing to be willing to trade with India. Even the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has indulged in this point-scoring against Sharif. While none of these accusations merit a response, they have greatly limited government\u2019s ability to take meaningful initiatives towards achieving peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In what has been an ambivalent set of claims and counter claims, Pakistan and India have locked horns over the veracity of the \u2018surgical\u2019 strikes that India claims to have supposedly conducted in Pakistan. Absurd as the Indian claim is considering the heavy fencing and surveillance of the Line of Control (LoC), some commentators have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n