The leadership has once again put the nation on the back foot. Having lost valuable time in dwelling on modalities, we are now at a disadvantaged position
Post Pathankot air base attack, the debate in India has centered on the lack of proper reaction to available intelligence input which led to a heavy loss of life in the incident. While this is an important and sensitive issue that needs serious thought, what is more important is to take note of the repercussions in India-Pakistan relations. It is, therefore, vital to see the message that is emanating from Pakistan in the aftermath of this incident.
Some of the leading dailies in Pakistan, like Dawn and Express Tribune, were quick to emphasise that Pakistan has “quickly and unequivocally condemned the terror attack and offered its cooperation to India”. The Pakistani media also threw broad hints about India being too quick to blame Pakistan, even before the identity of the terrorists is established conclusively. “The hostile reaction by much of the Indian media to the alleged involvement of Pakistanis in the attack even before the barest facts could be established underlines just how difficult peacemaking will be”, Dawn said.
While these are just old tactics that has been used by Pakistan on earlier occasions to fend off pressure, what is new, however, is the subtle manner in which the Pakistani media is trying to manage international perception. Hints are being thrown about the Indian media advising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through its editorials to “stay the course” and not to stall or suspend talks with Pakistan in the aftermath of the attacks. Further, the media in Pakistan has called for strict action in case the attack can be conclusively linked to a Pakistan-based group. This is just a smokescreen, since it is well known that Pakistan has not yet acknowledged the involvement of its citizens in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack. Therefore, there is little chance that our neighbour will acknowledge its involvement in the Pathankot attack too.
In fact, Pakistan has gone a step further this time by attempting to give this attack a local sheen. It has prevailed upon the United Jihad Council to take the responsibility for this attack. The UJC is an umbrella organisation for Kashmir-centric terror groups, the main constituent is the Hizbul Mujahideen, which recruits only local youths from Kashmir in its fold. In its statement, the UJC has said that the attack was a message to India that Kashmiri fighters could strike at any sensitive installation across the country.
This is a brilliant move on the part of Pakistan, to take the heat off the Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Maulana Masood Azhar, who is a favourite of the Pakistan Army and especially the Pakistan Army chief, General Raheel Sharif. The terrorists were definitely not Kashmiris and, as such, the claim is false. Two aspects are evident from the manner in which events have unfolded post the Pathankot incident.
First, the Pakistan Army controls not only the civilian Government over there, but also the Pakistani media and, of course, its loyalists in the India/Kashmir-centric terrorist groups operating from Pakistani soil. It has brilliantly used its assets in the politico-strategic management of the incident. Second, having lost valuable time in dwelling on the tactics and modalities of the attack rather than the politico-strategic aspects, India stands at a disadvantaged position. Once again, the unimaginative Indian bureaucracy has missed the woods for the trees and put the nation on the back foot.
While contemplating the way ahead, it would be practical for both the Prime Minister's Mr Nawaz Sharif and Mr Narendra Modi to decide whether they should keep meeting and thus give reason to terrorist and mercenary elements to perpetrate violence or pursue a better option of keeping their friendship under wraps and leverage the same to give a behind the scene push to normalisation of relations.
The second moot point is: What more needs to be done to make Mr Sharif stand up to General SharifIJ While the former has received encouragement from the US, he has also received unmitigated support from Mr Modi. Yet, he has not been able to generate the guts to take on his Army Chief. It should be made clear to Mr Sharif that he can no longer run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. In case he continues to pursue his play safe dual policy, there is little hope of improvement in the India-Pakistan relations.
With the euphoria generated by the visit of Mr Modi to lahore having waned considerably, what is absolutely certain is that the time for letdown of guard in Jammu & Kashmir has definitely not arrived. It is, therefore, business as usual for the security forces deployed there.
(The writer is editor of defenceinfo.com)