ISLAMABAD – It’s no secret that Pakistan’s image on the international levelisn’t great; the credit for which goes to some of our previous policies andconstant propaganda by India. However, during the last few days of tensionbetween Pakistan and India, Pakistan has, with its rational policies,emerged as the one on a higher moral ground.
The tension between the two countries escalated after the Pulwamaattack for which India blamed Pakistan without any evidence and waged apropaganda war against it. The statement Prime Minister Imran Khan gave inresponse was solid, concrete and very rational. “I welcome all kinds ofinvestigations to be done to find out the perpetrators of the attack,” heoffered. However, his offer was met with hostility.
Despite Khan’s invitation and assurances, India was quick to escalatethings against Pakistan. Indian government killed Pakistani prioner in anIndian prison, clashes erupted on LoC and India violated Pakistani airspaceand attacked “non-military targets” in Balakot. One civilian got injureddue to this misadventure of Indian Airforce.
What happened next was no surprise. Two of Indian fighter jets violatedPakistani airspace again and were shot down by Pakistan Air Force, onepilot was captured alive and produced before media. A clear message wassent to the neighboring country that any offense will be met withretaliation. A clear battlefield victory for Pakistan.
Tension escalated some more, few of Indian airports and Pakistani airspacewas shut down, forces of both countries are on high alert.
Amidst this tensed situation, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that thecaptured pilot Wing Cdr Abhinandan Varthman will be returned tomorrow. Thisgesture by Pakistan’s government is one of peace and shouldn’t be mistakenas weakness, for it was acquired through a military victory by shootingdown the intruding jets and capturing the pilot. By announcing theunconditional release of Adhinandan with a sole purpose to deescalate thetension, Pakistan has scored moral victory too. This can also be considereda political victory since it is a clear indication of Pakistans commitmentand seriousness towards peace in the region and should give us a betterstanding internationally.
Pakistan now stands on the higher moral ground.
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But it’s not time to celebrate the tactical victory. It’s time to cash it.
Pakistan needs to build a strong case against India for violating itsairspace, for carrying out a provocative attack against “non-military”(read civilian) targets and injuring a civilian Pakistani during thepeace-time – which calls for serious implications. Pakistan also needs togive ample attention to the extra-judicial killing of a Pakistani prisonerin an Indian prison, and ask for an apology from India for attempting totarnish Pakistan’s image by accusing it of Pulwama attack without anyevidence.
India’s failure to provide concrete evidence immediately afterward andhostile reactions are clear indicators that India doesn’t want peace in theregion – at least not until their elections are over. On the contrary,Pakistan has made efforts to further the peace process. This narrative isbased on facts and should be pushed properly on the International level.Pakistan needs to do this before we return the captured pilot tomorrow.Otherwise, we are just going to waste this golden opportunity wherePakistan has emerged victorious in every way. Who knows where we standtomorrow.
BY: Urooj Tarrar
