Post Pulwama - way forward

There is no substitute to professionalism. Immaculately executed air ambush of two professional fighter pilots cost India two jets, yet saved 1.5 billion inhabitants of subcontinent a gargantuan disaster.
The more I pondered over the genesis, the more I got convinced that it started in 712 AD. Centuries of enslavement by Muslim 'invaders' followed by couple of centuries of British rule, left Hindus bitter, battered & insecure. The older the disease, the longer it may take to heal. It would be unrealistic to assume that seventy years of independence can make up for seven hundred years of subjugation. Psychological scars of protracted subjection are not going away in foreseeable future. Since one cannot choose his neighbors, we need to learn to live with this menace of extremist nationalist bully across our eastern borders. And no wonder, bullies are cowards.
So how do we psych ourselves up to deal the psycho next door.
First thing's first, 'put your house in order'. Home front is the real front. Our adopted way of governance is through democratic process. Two complete terms & we are already reaping the benefits. People have rejected the thugs & gave a chance to new party & leadership. This nation owes alot to Raheel Sharif who distanced Army from running the affairs of the state. Institutions like judiciary & NAB were given enough confidence to call the shots. New look establishment is over-arching & pro-Pakistan. And if Pakistaniat is at the core, then names don't matter whether Bajwa Doctrine or else.
Institutional empowerment however, is a continuous process & it must flourish if Pakistan has to realise its full potential. As it stands, we are on course.
Secondly sychronization of military establishment with the government on matters concerning national security is a force multiplier & Pulwama incident endorses this notion. There were apprehensions that once the honey moon between newly sworn in PTI government & military establishment is over, things can get fractous. But IK has grown in stature & has made many critics eat their words including the scribe. Since the critique was not based on some petty personal issue rather concerns over well being of Pakistan, there is no harm admitting an honest failure of judgement.
Thirdly, NAP must be implemented in true letter and spirit. No holds barred. In total execution of NAP rests the emergence of Pakistan as uniquely ideological, modern yet balanced Muslim state which finally is rearing to take the course set forth by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Fourthly, none of the above is possible without economic stability. After intial turbulence, the flight is being stabilized. A long way to go. Finanace Minister, instead of latching on to Bilalwal boy in parliament may focus on giving some results because economy is stil teetering.
Lastly, CPEC is critical. Chinese have invested in Pakistan longer than Pakistanis themselves. Its time to reap benefits of this association. We have already paid the price for this project & we just have to cross it over the finish line.
On foreign front, our decades long investment in Afghan Taliban is nearing fruition. We should not get any wrong ideas for accolades emanating from Washington DC, they just need us to broker the deal for face saving exit. They will turn on us once they don't need us. But real game is in our neighborhood, if we could tag along Aghan Taliban, our one end will be secure.
Current situation with India will see thawing once BJP Government hands over power to caretaker setup. This can result in two possible scenarios. One that BJP comes to power again. In which case, it wouldn't need war rattling for another four & a half years till elections season before next term. Two that congress takes over New Delhi which seems more likely of the two. Third generation Congress leadership in Rahul Gandhi & co would be more inclined to regional peace than jingoistic nationalists. Either way, war is not in sight for more than one reasons like presence of well primed battle hardened Pakistan Army which betters Indian Army on nuclear/missile technologies, air/training & conventional/ sub-conventional war fronts.
Our foreign office is headed by a Foreign Minister which is a blessing. Proactive diplomacy is the way forward. We need to play on our strengths. End of the day, its not about friendships like in our social settings, its all about national interests. We should get closer to Russia. Strengthen ties with Turkey. Bolster image of the country on every world forum. Use platform of IMCTC to our advantage. Because even if the tide is favorable, someone has to ride it.
Finally, there is no substitute to professionalism. Army cliché, sweat in peace saves blood in war never fit better than Pulwana incident. Had those boys not trained hard in peace, they could have not pulled the marvel of air war history, like they did on 27 February 2019. This kind of professionalism at all state institutions is the distance we have to travel to reach our full potential. 
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

Janay do Abhi

Easy bhai log. Janay do Abhi.
True that instinctive reaction was that we should have kept him for at least another week but janay do Abhi.
Will have to trust our leadership on this.
Indicators of extensive backdoor diplomacy include:
1.Trump's statement in Hanoi for a quick resolution of issue besides Pakistan's role/ leverage in US-Afghan peace parleys.
2. KSA's FM is not coming for a tête-à-tête with Shah g rather symbolising his country's involvement in resolution of issue. Also a payback on our role in Yemen.
3. UAE is also jumping in for mediation.
4. Our PM's confidence level at joint session was supreme wherein he did mention that there was missile threat till lastnight.
5. Seems like part of the deal that Shah g will attend OIC session except when Indian FM may grace the occasion. Obviously a milder stance than yeaterday.
In retrospect, a great diplomatic, operational & economic victory for Pakistan.
Kudos to FM, FO & team. Diplomacy has been par excellence. The idea of Pakistan's isolation emanated from India & culminated at Jati Umra. In over-simplified terms, not only Pakistan's ideology transcends geographic boundaries, it has allies which is clearly reflected in current episode. Whereas, Hinduvta starts from India & ends inside it. One Hindu country in whole world. A lone wolf to say the least.
Kashmir is alive again in the eyes of the world. This time its more effective. We are not physically involved & the world, ostensibly trusts us more on this issue.
At operational level, what PAF has achieved cannot be justified by any diction. An air ambush of olympian proportions.
On economic front, further escalation would have incurred colossal loss on both sides.
There is so much more to take home from these two weeks. Pakistan is united & Indian opinion on this episode is divided. May cost BJP next term. Khus kum jahan Pak. Early pilot release seems a face saving condition of India & a confidence building measure from Pakistan to show its true to its call for peace. Which should be followed by de-escalation on both sides. Sounds like a good deal matured by our friends outside. LOC will remain hot in near future.
Throughout the crisis, PM's brief & incisive speeches & posturing has been flawless.
And finally, averting war on our terms has been a special blessing of Allah & it seems that our current leaderahip is on His good side. IK has emerged as strong reliable leader with wolfish instincts. What an irony, Panama devoured a PM &
Pulwama introduced a statesman in Imran Khan. Horses for courses. Chai wala versus an Oxford Graduate was never an even matching.
Now put your worries of national security to rest. Time to get back to PSL folks.
Aur han janay do Abhi. Phir nahin aye ga. Agar aya bhi to Abhi ki tarah Swag se Swagat karain gay.
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

IAF Intrusion

On a lighter note:
'Sath wala ghanti bja kar bhag gaya'.
On a serious note, here are few words shared with me by a lionheart Captain of Pakistan Army,
'Sir, me and many like me have buried our comrades with our own hands. Let them come , for we long for the glory of being draped in green with swag and kissing death with the most beautiful swagat'.
On a political note which is niether light nor serious & mostly counterproductive in our case:
'Medical treatment of a jailed criminal who as per court's judgement yesterday does not need medical attention more than he is getting right now'.
''Zardari, Addi & Agha will be set free if not found guilty of corruption'.
'Information Ministers of Govt may pause their mud-slinging sport'.
Because Pakistan is facing security threat from outside. National consensus is a must on this issue.
Intrusion into our airspace by IAF tantamounts to initiating war.
Armed Forces are ready rather a step ahead of our enemy. Yesterday, COAS visited AHQ, MO & 10 Corps HQ. And this morning Banya attempted Air Intrusion in 10 Corps area.
But are rest of us united & ready? We took much longer to shift gears during war on terror & paid huge price for it. Right now time is not on our side. Although, Modi wants to hit & run & gain some political mileage but once initiated war takes its own course. For as long war hysteria lasts in our neighborhood, nation has to shift to battle mode & get used to it.
Kashmiris still drape their Shaheeds in Green Hilali Flag. They are fighting this war at their own & Hindu is doing us a favour by fixing blame on us. In an unwanted way, we are being dragged in to it. But if so, so be it.
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

Myth of Indian Swag

"Swag se karain gay sab ka sawagat" just came across these lyrics unwantedly & it made me laugh. Really....Swag??? Did not have the privilege to listen to Indian media or watch Indian movies for greater part of my life until Pulwama incident. Apparently, Indian media is on fire. Listening to Indian Media past week or so, it didn't look like that money loving, usuary stricken, cow dung eating & urine drinking, myopic nationalist, religously fanatic & jingoistic nation can do swagat at all let alone swag se. 

Closer look will unveil that Indian media turns out to be the culprit in given scenario. They are over-sensationalising Pulwama. They seem hysteric to say the least. They are inciting the ugly extremist Hindu nationalist element for war. They are putting their politicians on the spot, pushing their defence analysts to sing war & throwing some illogical fuel to fire of Hindu fanatacism. Reasons for this sickness could be traced in financial, historic, political & psychological backdrop. Financial gains are served by creating war-hype which in turn yields higher ratings for anchors, shows & media house. Secondly, historic reasons. For thousand years of Muslim rule followed by British has left psychotic scars on Hindu mentality. Loads of insecurity. Even if there are any sane heads among this nation, they wouldn't voice their concerns for fear of their own lives. Thirdly, the political reasons wherein, it fares well with Modi Sarkar to play up media's war sickness because elections are round the corner. Finally, all above reasons contribute to shaping up present day Hindu psychology. There is an unusual self proclaimed sense of well-being propagated by Indian media. Through film & cricket, they have raised their level in their own eyes all by themselves, hence, the swag nonsense. But war with Pakistan will niether be fought with Rajni Kanth's chamatkar, nor Amitab's charisma nor that tilted hat cartoon Bipin with his fictitous surgical strikes. They are confronted with a battle hardened, well oiled war machine and they know it. 

Its a general principle that coward is always cruel. Indians have tried to supress Kashmiris but Kashmiris are not giving in, not yet. Brutalities of coward ruling Hindu against Kashmiris are growing by the day. Kashmiris are bruised, battered & cornered. What options do they have? Old may exercise patience & restrain, but the young won't. Anyone including war mongering India Media wishes to know how Dhoni & Indian Cricket fan teenager convinced to blow himself may click on the link below. He was made to rub his nose on the ground by the Indian security forces. He chose to retaliate.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2019/feb/17/adil-ahmad-dar-diehard-dhoni-fan-turned-pulwama-suicide-bomber-1939908.html
War drums will stop beating after upcoming Indial Lok Sabha Elections but Kashmiris will continue to hit back unless they are treated better which is unlikely because swag bhi jhoota hai aur swagat bhi.
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

Pulwama's impact

Whether it was a suicidal of a freedom fighter or recurrent genocidal of Modi Sarkar, Pulwama has a serious clash of interest with Pakistan's current internal & external situation & aspirations. Straightaway blaming Pakistan without any evidence is the nonsense that has been going on unchecked for some time now. Like 2008 fake Bombay Attacks, India has a track record of orchestrating such incidents. And if it has manipulated again, it cannot get away with it. Pulwama suicidal plot is so lame that its not even selling inside incredible India. It has no chance to sell outside. Why so? Let's explore:
India is already marginalised to irrelevance in current Afghan situation. Its two decades' long policy of bleeding Pakistan from Western Borders is on ventilator. Kalbhoshan case is set for hearing at ICJ. Congress has made some political ground in recent elections & is threatening to oust Modi Sarkar in next elections. As a consequence of brutal atrocities of Indian forces & shameless silence of International media/community, Kashmiris are entitled to indigenous freedom struggle. We are morally, socially & religiously bound to support Kashmiris. They still carry Pakistani flags & pay huge price for this association. Current surge in freedom movement does not have outside backing. India, be alarmed, Kashmiris are not taking it anymore.
As for Pakistan, things are different. No elections in sight. Govt has full term ahead of it. 'Everybody' is on the same page which is a good omen & a force multiplier. Anti state media has lost its sting & fat money of its patrons. Even Shahbaz Sharif condemned India today. Some extensive diplomacy is going on. We luckily have a Foreign Minister. Foreign Office is also working. Engagement with all big players is proactive & fruitful. Russia is cool with us. US needs us to broker its face saving exit from Afghanistan. China is on board & CPEC is going ahead lock, stock & barrel. Game Changer would be an understatement. Role in Yemen had immense impact. KSA is bringing in money, they sense its workable for more than one reason. Besides giving grief to Iran, Saudis will be sole providers of Western China's lifeline for progress, the oil. With refinery in Gawadar, China is likely to get cheaper price of oil; total win-win scenario. Yes, Iran wouldn't appreciate Saudi presence at its borders. But Iran has never been useful to Pakistan. Its sectoral identity never allowed it to see us as reliable neighbors. But we may tag them in in mutually beneficial joint economic ventures.
Pakistan is flexing to make an impression on international & regional power matrix & trying to come out of previous govts' economic quagmire. It is logical to conclude that Pakistan has little to gain out of Pulwama type incidents.
In the backdrop of foregoing, it is logical to conclude that Pulwama type incident only serves Modi's political interest. But the plot is flimsy. Can he be the architect of Pulwama? Can he kill few people for political gains? Probability is higher. May be in frustration, he was feeling genocidal again. May be he killed his own people again. Expect nothing less from the Butcher of Gujrat. If Mr Bipin Rawat doesn't want to swallow his false pride, he may get another fake video made of imaginary surgical strikes & continue to cherish his Army's fictitous heroics. But if he still insists, we are relatively free from Western Borders & battle hardened thanks to Indian proxies of past two decades. 
Way forward for Pakistan is to vehemently pursue its case at international forums, engage all stakeholders on the issue, discuss our stance on national & international media, hire lobbyists, ask for tangible evidence against baseless Pulwama allegations of India & continue to expose hoax of incredible India. There has never been more opportune time to take the game to India. Like every other challenge, Pulwama offers an opportunity to re-assert our regional role & re-claim our international nuisance. 
Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

IK is still on the pitch

Primary role of the legislators is to do legislation and at ours, legislation is the only thing they don’t do. 5 February Kashmir Day was on Tuesday and a little tweak of legislation could have shifted this holiday on Monday the 4^th February. Nobody wants to work on a lone working Monday sandwiched between a weekend and a gazette holiday. Consequently, Monday became a burden on people to go to work. It cost national exchequer full day’s work as most of the public/ private offices and educational institutions had least attendance and people had to make new and old excuses to take the day off. Whereas, had Monday been off; people would have gotten a long weekend and on Tuesday, they could have come fresh for work, saving one day of work/ financial loss to a nation begging money from others to payback interest on its debts. Developed countries do such legislations and that is probably why they are developed and we are not.

Unfortunately, legislation is not likely to happen in current govt’s tenure. Besides omniscient issues of lethargy and incompetence, reason is simple, ruling party doesn’t have majority in both Houses to affect any legislation. Willy-nilly, Govt has opted for Ordinance based change but the fruition of the same may take minimum three years to show. In order to divert peoples’ attention from real issue of Economy, Govt needs to keep the opposition and the people embroiled in non-issues.  Hence, in an organized way, BigMouthPieces latched on the opposition on past corruption and poor governance. Opposition is very limited on options. Its leadership is more occupied on corruption cases and lack of medical and other facilities in jail than the real issues. They cannot mobilize masses, nor do they have moral locus standi for it. They are totally immersed in media and parliament rhetorical slugfest, playing right in to the hands of govt’s game plan for next three years. Parliament in this regard is a burden on national treasury for the whole length of the current term.

Can govt show some results in fourth year in office? It’s a tricky question. IK has set some lofty goals to achieve. And there is nothing wrong with setting the bar high because not failure, but low aim is a crime. But Team PTI for greater part is a collection of past waste of opposition parties. People like Murad Saeed have had made some ridiculous claims of overnight economic recovery. Sarwar Khan has no acumen of energy sector and current gas crisis seems to be the beginning of bigger energy related crises in times to come. CM Punjab is dubbed to match the flare and guile of Waseem Akram; a practical joke of proportions. So much can be written on the subject but for a short blog entry, we can conclude that Team PTI is the chink in IK’s armour. Obviously, this team cannot achieve the goals set forth by IK but how short it falls of the mark, remains to be seen.

Yet, hope is the fuel of life. IK is still on the pitch. Most definitely, things have already changed. Ministers and party workers of PTI are also involved in corruption but they do it underhand with the fear of consequences. In past, ministers did corruption audaciously, Rana Mashhood took bribe on camera and is still the senior member of PML (N). At least, such shameless corruption is on the hold. Even bureaucracy and other officials are being cautious these days. Bribery is no more a norm rather a risk.

Another sibling of corruption which has been bleeding us for a while now, is extremism. Unchecked religious extremism is the root cause of our internal security issues. Somehow, monster of religious extremism successfully used its ‘leverage’ against past govts. But the handling to TLP and Asia Bibi case has been highly commendable. We need to check all types of extremist tendencies including the other end of the extremist spectrum i.e. liberal extremism.  

For the first six months in office, for its political and media strategy, Govt is the winner. However, it may keep people occupied in pointless TV and Parliament bickering with the opposition, it has to show some tangible results by the end of the term. Although, it cannot deliver its promise for weakness of team and loftiness of targets yet the funny part is that however short it may fall of its targets, PTI will get another term which may include Sindh as well.

Now that corruption and extremism is checked and IK is still on the pitch, there is a thin silver lining on the horizon.

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.