Malik M. Ashraf<\/p>\n
Although relations between Pakistan and India have never been tension-free but they have never been as strained and perilous as they have been since Modi became Prime Minister of India. His communal policies in line with the RSS philosophy of \u2018Hindutva\u2019, particularly against Muslims within the country, ending the special status of IIOJ&K, and a hostile posture towards Pakistan have posed serious security challenges to the entire region. His obsession with the implementation of RSS philosophy of \u2018Hindutva\u2019 has almost blurred his vision of the possible consequences of treading such a dangerous path, which in the long run may also jeopardize India\u2019s own security.
\nHe is a kind of politician who can put the security of his country at stake to achieve his political agenda. He enacted a false-flag operation in Pulwama, which he blamed on Pakistan, and created war hysteria to win the ensuing elections. Thank God the situation was saved from going out of control due to the restraint shown by Pakistan, which only took defensive action against Indian aggression, and the intervention of some friendly countries.
\nAnd now again, Modi adopted the same strategy on the eve of elections in Bihar and unfurled yet another false-flag operation at Pahalgam. Within minutes of the tragedy, the Indian government and media started accusing Pakistan of having orchestrated the attack and whipping up war hysteria. Against the backdrop of the hype created, it had almost become inevitable for India to attack targets in Pakistan to assuage the public sentiment and salvage its political capital. Pakistan had immediately not only distanced itself from the Indian allegations but also condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms. It also offered to cooperate in any impartial and independent inquiry into the incident.
\nThe way the attack was executed exposed India before the international community, and the Indian narrative failed to attract the envisaged support. It was widely condemned, but nobody gave credence to the Indian allegations against Pakistan. However, Pakistan\u2019s offer to participate in any independent probe into the incident received a nod of approval from the majority of the international community. Both countries were advised to exercise restraint and not allow tensions to go beyond control, and resolve the issue through dialogue.
\nThe US President Donald Trump, whose administration also had been active in talking to both countries, also termed the Indian attacks in Pakistan as shameful, which is probably the strongest diplomatic rebuke to India. The UN Secretary General also declared India an aggressor.
\nWhile diplomatic efforts were on to defuse the situation, Pakistan on the basis of its experience after the Pulwama episode and later developments, prepared itself for any likely Indian aggression and minced no words that it did not want war with India but would respond in a befitting manner to any aggressive action by India. The fears proved right when India launched 24 air attacks on six religious sites in Pakistan on the night between 6 and 7 May. Like the 2019 indiscretions committed by India in which it lost its two planes and endured the capture of one of its pilots, even this time, it had to suffer the biggest ever embarrassment when Pakistani planes taking defensive action downed 5 of India\u2019s planes, including the much hyped Rafale fighters. The brigade headquarters of Indian security forces in IIOJ&K was also destroyed. In the exchange of fire along the LOC, the Pakistani forces also had the upper hand.
\nIn the meantime, some friendly countries, including the US President, have been advising restraint and resolution of the issue through dialogue. The US President even offered to help in this regard. Speaking to correspondents, he said, \u201cI want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there. It is so terrible. I get along with both. I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop. They have gone tit-for-tat, so hopefully they can stop now.\u201d
\nBut it is regrettable that India has not responded positively to these diplomatic initiatives from the international community and again violated the airspace of Pakistan last night by launching drone attacks at different places, which have caused some casualties. However, the Pakistani forces, which were vigilant after the first attack, managed to destroy all 12 drones. The situation is surely very alarming. Pakistan has shown commendable restraint so far, but it reserves the right to hit back. It is an evolving situation. How Pakistan responds to these provocative attacks is yet to be seen. But there is an unswerving determination to retaliate. If it does retaliate, it could lead to a full-blown war between the two countries.
\nBefore that happens, it is obligatory on the UNSC to take immediate notice of the snowballing security situation and stop India in her tracks. The US President must also play a role as a friend of both countries before it is too late. There is not only an imperative need to defuse the current situation but also to take measures that remove the irritants between the two countries permanently. In this regard, not only should the Pahalgam incident be probed by an independent international commission, but it should also have the mandate to investigate terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including on the Jaffer Express, to lay bare the ground realities in this regard. The blame game between the two countries has to stop to thwart moves for false-flag operations.
\nIndian involvement in terrorist attacks in Pakistan and support to insurgency in Balochistan has been properly documented by Pakistan, and it has already presented a dossier in this regard to the UN and the powers that matter. Pakistan itself has been the victim of terrorism, and the world community is fully aware of it. It was now time for the international community to prove its anti-terrorism credentials. It is also obligatory on the international community to help in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in consonance with the UN resolutions. The relations between Pakistan and India cannot become normal till the resolution of this dispute. Kashmir is a nuclear flash point between the two countries. The kind of madness displayed by Modi can take the two countries to a point of no return. Therefore the UN and world community must act before that happens.<\/p>\n
The writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Malik M. Ashraf Although relations between Pakistan and India have never been tension-free but they have never been as strained and perilous as they have been since Modi became Prime Minister of India. His communal policies in line with the RSS philosophy of \u2018Hindutva\u2019, particularly against Muslims within the country, ending the special status of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3489],"class_list":{"0":"post-477420","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-malik-m-ashraf"},"yoast_head":"\n