India and Pakistan are headed towards a full-scale war after 54 years, given the kind of escalation that is being witnessed, thanks to our neighbour, whose sole intent has been to somehow create conditions which would impact the unity and integrity of our country.
Unfortunately for Islamabad, this strategy has not worked and in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, where 26 innocent people lost their lives, New Delhi has resolved to give a befitting and appropriate reply in every manner to the perpetrators and their promoters.
To begin with, Indian forces carried out precision attacks on terrorist hideouts and training camps within Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as well as some places on their side of Punjab. The Indian action accounted for the death of many terrorists, including the one who had been responsible for the brutal execution of American journalist Daniel Pearl, many years ago.
A desperate Pakistan, in order to avenge the attacks, was in a fix since there are no terrorist training camps which are on the Indian side and are supported by the Army. Therefore, it has chosen to target civilian assets and houses in order to create panic and also to satisfy their domestic constituency which was in total shock following the Indian offensive. Significantly, it was for the first time since 1971 that their side of Punjab was hit by the Indian security forces and the targets included both Bahawalpur and Muridke.
The Pakistan Army has decided to adopt unethical means by hitting civilian areas in India resulting in the deaths of many people. In addition, it has been sending in drones and fighter jets (some of these were brought down by the Indian security forces) in an attempt to hit airfields and other military establishments. These attacks have got an appropriate and befitting response and many of these have been neutralized by superior equipment deployed along the border and near sensitive places.
As days have been unfolding, there seems to be no let up and despite appeals by some western countries, Pakistan is refusing to de-escalate the situation. The result is that a full-scale war seems to be round the corner, and unless good sense prevails, the hostilities would not cease so easily.
Simultaneously, there is a propaganda war that is also on, both in the electronic and social media, in particular where falsities and half-truths are being dished out without any hesitation. If Pakistan social media platforms are to be believed, their country has made big hits. On the Indian side, some TV anchors, acting irresponsibly, had two days ago declared that Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, amongst other places were under continuous offensive by our military.
Propaganda has always been a weapon deployed by opposite sides during increased hostilities, and plays a vital role in any conflict. During the Second World War, Goebbels, who was considered the most successful practitioner of this art, was used successfully by Hitler to brainwash his own people as to also demoralize his opponents. In modern warfare, this element is always factored in, and has been deployed for affect.
In the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, All India Radio, in order to counter malicious propaganda on Radio Pakistan, had produced a programme, Dhol ki Pol, conceived by Charanjit. Through this Pakistan lies were nailed, and the programme went on air by stating that it was Radio Jhootistan (Pakistan) and the newsreader read out the information imitating the style of the Pakistani Radio. This had become very popular.
During the American offensive against Saddam Hussain and later in Afghanistan, TV networks like CNN and BBC with embedded journalists propagated falsities and inaccurate information for the rest of the world. In both the Russia-Ukraine war and in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, this instrument of misrepresenting facts is effectively used to engage the enemy in psychological warfare.
Therefore, much of this would happen, especially from the Pakistan side, since it is on a weak wicket in order to defame India. Citizens should be mature enough to separate the chaff from the wheat and decipher the truth.
Coming back to the present conflict, India should use this opportunity to now permanently weaken and disable Pakistan. In 1971, Indira Gandhi had created Bangladesh, thus dismembering Pakistan following the war. A similar strategy needs to be devised and executed this time as well.
Top functionaries of the government and the BJP have been talking of reclaiming the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Depending on expert advice from the security establishment, this could be the moment they have been waiting for. PoK should be liberated and made a part of the Indian territory, which it rightfully was.
Kashmir has been an area which has always been disputed by Pakistan and it has taken the issue to various international platforms. However, once India wrests the PoK, it shall be able to demoralize the Pakistan Army beyond any redemption. It would be seen by many BJP supporters as another promise fulfilled. There is also an opportunity to help the Baloch rebels to break away from Pakistan. As it is Pakistan is a country controlled by the Punjabi elite and politicians and its provinces have been openly airing out their resentment against the unjust domination.
Finally, the Modi government must also reconsider the proposal of reconstituting a National Integration Council, where leading citizens from all walks of life and communities, could be provided a platform to provide suggestions to the current dispensation, particularly for crisis situations. This would help in strengthening internal security. Between us.