By Uzma Ehtasham
India’s cynical politicization of the Pahalgam incident—an attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists—has unraveled into a sobering lesson in strategic miscalculation. What was meant to serve as a show of dominance, a chest-thumping performance before an increasingly hardline domestic audience, has ended up spotlighting the dangerous theatrics of New Delhi’s approach to regional politics. At its core, this episode is not only a failure of military judgement but a moral indictment of the political machinery that fed it. In its rush to project military superiority over Pakistan, India succeeded only in humiliating itself on the international stage. The Modi-led government, propped up by a jingoistic media ecosystem, had hoped for a swift and symbolic retaliation that would rally support in the name of nationalism.
What it got instead was global scorn. It is one thing to rile up local audiences with tales of heroism and imaginary victories, but quite another to deceive a world that still clings—albeit precariously—to the rule of international law and truth. India’s media played a particularly disgraceful role in the crisis. It barked like a cornered stray—loud, confused, and desperate for validation. False reports circulated with alarming speed, including outlandish claims that Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir had been captured, and that Indian forces were marching through the streets of Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. These fantasies, while laughable, exposed a more disturbing reality: a complete breakdown in journalistic integrity. When truth becomes the first casualty of patriotism, the space for informed democratic discourse collapses.
In contrast, Pakistan’s military and political leadership responded with restraint and tactical clarity. The highly coordinated “Operation Bunyan Marsus”, launched on a Saturday morning after three days of Indian air raids, sent a clear message—Pakistan would not be cowed, but neither would it escalate recklessly. Military analysts across the globe noted the precision, timing, and containment of the response. It was not reactionary rage—it was calculated strategy. The operation’s success forced India to step back, not with grace, but with gritted teeth. The myth of Indian invincibility had taken a serious hit. While New Delhi continues to flex for its domestic audience, the international community has seen behind the curtain. India may have missiles, but its credibility is now the issue under fire.
What makes this entire ordeal even more damning is Pakistan’s consistent call for dialogue. From the beginning, Islamabad offered to assist in the investigation of the Pahalgam and to open channels for comprehensive discussion. These offers were met not with seriousness but with missiles and drone strikes—tools of vengeance deployed not on military targets but innocent civilians. This is not strategy. This is state-sponsored rage. Yet from the ashes of conflict, diplomacy has begun to stir. The arrival of Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, in Islamabad marked a turning point. His meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was a clear signal that regional powers are no longer willing to be passive observers. The Prime Minister’s welcome of Saudi peacemaking efforts underscored Pakistan’s commitment to regional stability.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar took proactive steps, speaking with foreign ministers from the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, and Japan. Each call served to expose the reckless behavior of India’s war machine. The goal wasn’t to gather sympathy—but to present facts, share evidence, and call attention to the cost of unchecked aggression in South Asia. Perhaps most symbolically, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio broke tradition by speaking directly with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir. It was a move as much about optics as substance. Rubio’s call signaled an acknowledgment of Pakistan’s role as a stabilizing force and, more importantly, a recognition that diplomacy must now lead. He urged a negotiated settlement and offered America’s assistance in facilitating dialogue—an olive branch with implications far beyond the moment.
Pakistan welcomes these overtures. But let there be no illusions. The real measure of success lies in where these efforts lead. A durable peace cannot be achieved through short-term crisis management. It must address the root of the discord—the unresolved Kashmir dispute. The issue is not just about territorial claims or border control. It is about the right of a people to decide their fate, as per international resolutions. Unless and until India is brought to the negotiating table with honesty and accountability, the cycle of violence will not break. Pakistan has, in recent years, faced many trials—economic, political, and social. Yet in moments like this, when its sovereignty and dignity are challenged, there is a rare kind of unity that emerges. That unity must now be channeled into more than defence. It must shape a new diplomatic doctrine—one that rejects dependency, demands justice, and promotes peace.
(The writer is a public health professional, journalist, and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
