As soon as the news broke out of the attack on Army Convoy on 14th February, the country was reeling under pain and anger. On the contrary, the reaction from Pakistan was hideous. Their talking about the attack reeked of sadistic pleasure, the usual social media trolling and mocking the deaths were the most abominable things they did.
Indian government’s juvenile steps and subsequent failure too gave them immense joy. But when Pakistan was mourning the deaths of innocent children died in Army Public School attack in 2014, India stood by them.
India’s unsuccessful airstrike (as later claimed by international media to have no casualties) in Balakot on ‘terrorist camps’ on 26th February, was followed by Pakistan Air Force crossing the border, the very next day shooting down India’s outdated fighter plane, and capturing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, as PoW.
Later Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release of India’s pilot welcoming much praise from around the world, even becoming a ‘strong’ contender for ‘Nobel Peace Prize’ for a brief period of time.
So, ISI backed Terrorists killed India’s 40 plus CRPF Jawans, stunned their counterpart by crossing LoC the very next day, pulling down their plane, arresting the pilot, and by releasing just one PoW, and won the game. Pakistan outplayed India diplomatically, militarily and morally.
The question again rises here about India’s weak leadership. Narendra Modi led government has brought India enough shame on the international front in just fifteen days than the previous governments did in their entire tenure. One after another diplomatic failure dulled Indian people’s ‘Josh’.
Was the airstrike a calculated move? Didn’t the MEA think about the grave repercussions of breaching other’s security? Why did India go with antiquated fighter planes? Many rational questions haunt common Indians. But who will answer?