"Public Mood Should Not Dictate War": Ex-Envoy To Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions
As emotions run high in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, a former diplomat has warned that public mood should not dictate a war with Pakistan. Ajay Bisaria, former high commissioner to Pakistan, highlighted the key aspects of such an action and said its timing should not be based on what the people feel.
"For any operation to succeed, you need three elements: speed, surprise, and secrecy. There is an issue of choosing our timing, and that should not be dictated by the public mood," said the former diplomat on an ANI podcast.
Mr Bisaria, who has headed the Indian mission in Pakistan during 2017-2020, stressed the need to be able to fight the battle on its own if the situation escalates.
EP-292 with Sushant Sareen & Ajay Bisaria premieres today at 5 PM IST
"Speed, surprise, and secrecy...not public mood dictate a war," says Ajay Bisaria, former High Commissioner to Pakistan.
"Why didn't Russia stand with India after the Pahalgam terror attack?" asks Sushant… pic.twitter.com/kix1fASNtC
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2025
"We have to fight this battle on our own. When you escalate, you have to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, which is an uncontrolled escalation where you could even be fighting a full-scale war. And have the capacity, intent, political will, and national will to be able to do that," he added.
His comments assume significance amid the soaring tensions between India and Pakistan after 26 civilians were massacred in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam by terrorists with links to a Pakistan-based terror group.
Sushant Sareen, a strategic affairs expert, warned of the "massive costs" of war and said both countries will be vulnerable if the situation escalates to the point where India and Pakistan drop missiles on each other's cities.
"It is extremely critical that we prepare our public that there are massive costs and risks attached to any kinetic action. If missiles are going to be raining on each other's cities, then if Islamabad and Lahore are vulnerable, then so is Delhi," said Mr Sareen.
He also questioned Russia's position as a partner and whether they would support India in a scenario where it's pitted against China.
"Russians haven't really come out in our favour. This is something that we should ask our foreign policy establishments, that we have been saying 'Russia, Russia, Russia', and we have also been insisting that if tomorrow we have some kind of tiff with the Chinese, then will the Russians stand with us? There has been a body of opinion that said 'yes,'" he said.
"My question is, they did not stand with us on the Pakistani thing, why will they stand with us on the Chinese thing?" Mr Sareen asked.
Backing the government's decision to ban YouTube handles of Pakistani channels and creators, he said that it was not okay to allow them to utilise the Indian market to spread propaganda against India and make a profit out of it.
"Under normal circumstances, it's okay, fine, you're having a normal debate. It's fair enough. But these are not normal, but extraordinary circumstances. The other thing is banning YouTube; you subtly hit at their revenue stream. You cannot try and utilise my market and carry out poisonous propaganda against me and make a profit out of it. I'm not going to allow," said Mr Sareen.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
8 minutes ago
- The Wire
Nijjar & After: Facing Flak, Canadian PM says Progress in ‘Accountability' Paved Way for Modi G7 Invite
New Delhi: Faced with questions over the invitation to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for G7 summit, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney defended his decision, saying New Delhi had agreed to resume law enforcement dialogue in a way that 'recognises issues of accountability,' even as high-profile criminal investigations remains underway. On the evening of June 6 in Delhi, Modi posted on X about a phone call with Carney, noting that he had accepted the invitation to attend the G7 summit in the course of the call. The invitation came just over a week before the summit is scheduled to begin on June 15. Other non-G7 invitees, such as South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico, were invited at least a month in advance. Carney's office issued a readout, saying there 'was agreement to continued law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns.' Following Modi's post, in Ottawa, Carney was pressed by reporters about the optics of inviting Modi, given that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has previously alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in a campaign of ' violent criminal activity ' in Canada and also accused them of orchestrating the June 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India and Canada currently have vacant high commissioner posts in each other's capitals, after the top envoys were forced out last year. 'Won't disrupt process' Carney acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue but maintained that his government would not interfere in the legal process. 'We have now agreed, importantly, to continued law enforcement dialogue. So there's been some progress on that, which recognises issues of accountability,' he said, when asked directly why the Indian leader was being invited despite the allegations . He reiterated that the ongoing investigation would remain fully independent. 'We are a country of the rule of law. The rule of law is proceeding as it should in Canada, and I am not going to disrupt that process,' he said. India, for its part, has firmly rejected the allegations levelled by Canadian security agencies, including broader claims of foreign interference in electoral affairs. Canada had last year even accused Indian home minister Amit Shah of being involved in the alleged plot to target Canadian nationals. New Delhi has insisted that Canada has ' not shared with us any shred of evidence ' regarding the involvement of Indian agents in the Nijjar case so far. However, Indian authorities have cooperated with the United States , which has connected its own attempted assassination case involving a US-based Khalistani separatist to Nijjar's murder. Carney refused to say whether he believed Modi was involved in Nijjar's killing. 'First off, there is a legal process that is literally underway and quite advanced in Canada. It's never appropriate to make comments in any respect with regard to those legal processes,' he said. Carney also laid out the broader rationale for the invitation, pointing to Canada's role as this year's G7 chair and the need to engage India on global strategic and economic issues. 'First, we are in the role, Canada is in the role, of the G7 chair, and in those discussions, as agreed with our G7 colleagues, we're addressing important issues like energy security, the digital future, and critical minerals, among others,' he said. 'Partnerships in building infrastructure in the emerging and developing world are also part of the agenda. There are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions,' Carney stated. 'In my capacity as G7 chair, and in consultation with others, some of whom also make these determinations, it makes sense to include India, the fifth-largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country, and central to a number of those supply chains.' 'Won't even get a slap on the wrist' According to Globe and Mail , the decision to invite Modi drew criticism from within Carney's party as well. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal, whose constituency in British Columbia includes the temple where Nijjar was killed, said he did not agree with the government's decision to invite Modi. 'My constituents are telling me the message that we are sending is they can come and kill Canadians on Canadian soil and they won't even get a slap on the wrist,' he said. Opposition leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, said that the invitation was 'necessary', but that conversations on security issues should remain on the table along with economic matters. 'We need to sell our natural gas, our civilian nuclear power technology and other resource projects to India,' he said Friday, as quoted by CBC news , adding, 'We want to see the government work on addressing security issues at the same time when the prime minister has those conversations'. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
India.com
17 minutes ago
- India.com
Condemn This So-Called Bangladesh Election...: Awami League Leader Rabbi Alam
Rabbi Alam, Chairman of Joy Bangla Brigade and vice president of Bangladesh Awami League, USA, has condemned the announcement of national election by the interim government of Bangladesh and maintained that Sheikh Hasina "is the duly elected Prime Minister" till 2029. In an interview with ANI, Alam slammed Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, for announcing that a national election would be held in the first half of April 2026. Sheikh Hasina, president of Awami League, was ousted from power in a student-led uprising in August last year. She fled to India, and an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate, was formed. "As you know, Bangladesh went through was a false flag operation. The protest led by the students was hijacked by (people now in) the interim government headed by Dr Yunus," Rabbi Alam alleged. Rabbi Alam said "many false allegations, many false claims, empty promises" were made. He said the announcement of a national election is "like a lollipop being handed to a young child". Rabbi Alam said Bangladesh is to be run by a democratic form of government. "Our constitution is the core of the fundamentals of the nation and this constitution gives the rights. Sheikh Hasina is democratically elected. We will condemn this so-called election because, according to our constitution, Sheikh Hasina is the Prime Minister until 2029. People are the main powerhouse in a democratic form of government. People voted, elected Sheikh Hasina...," he said. "With a false flag operation, Dr Yunus robbed our democracy," he alleged. He expressed concern over the law and order situation in Bangladesh and blamed Muhammad Yunus. "We know that the country faced a heavy backlash. There are many incidents of rape, killing, arson, burning, fire. Lynching, mob justice is every day matter," he alleged. He also said that Dr Yunus "doesn't understand politics" and "is an economist". Bangladesh's interim government on Friday announced that the national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. "I am announcing to the countrymen today that the next national elections will be held sometime in the first half of April 2026. Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide you with a detailed roadmap for the elections in due course", said Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, in an address to the nation through state television, BTV, on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Political parties in Bangladesh have expressed mixed reactions to the announcement of the national election.
The Hindu
18 minutes ago
- The Hindu
'Criminal betrayal of our soldiers': Congress slams Modi Govt over 'failing' to isolate Pakistan
The Congress on Saturday (June 7, 2025) alleged that the Modi government has failed to isolate Pakistan on the global stage after the Pahalgam terror attack, calling it a "criminal betrayal" of Indian soldiers and citizens. Congress' head of media and publicity department, Pawan Khera, said instead of strong action against Pakistan, China armed it with fifth-generation jets and missiles and the World Bank and the ADB gave more aid to the neighbouring country. He claimed that the UN Security Council also named Pakistan Vice-Chair of the Anti-Terrorism Committee, just days after the terror attack on Indian soil. "After the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, we expected strong actions and global isolation of Pakistan, but what has actually happened? "China is arming Pakistan with 40 fifth-generation stealth J-35A fighter jets armed with cutting-edge PL-17 missiles. Azerbaijan is investing $2 billion in purchasing 40 Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets," Mr. Khera said. "The World Bank has pledged USD 40 billion for Pakistan's development. The IMF approved USD 1 billion bailout to Pakistan. Russia has signed a USD 2.6 billion agreement to rebuild a steel plant in Karachi," he said in a post on X. Khera also claimed that Kuwait and the UAE have relaxed visa rules and offered 10 billion-dollar investment deals and Pakistan has joined the China International Mediation Organization, gaining greater influence in Asian diplomacy. "The UN Security Council has named Pakistan Vice-Chair of the Anti-Terrorism Committee, just days after a terror attack on Indian soil! "This is not just a diplomatic failure. It is a criminal betrayal of our soldiers and citizens," Mr. Khera said. Another Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said in a post that IMF gave $1 billion to Pakistan on May 9, the World Bank decided to give $40 billion to Pakistan soon after Operation Sindoor and ADB gave $800 million to Pakistan on June 3, even though the ADB president met PM Modi on June 1. "Have we failed in our Foreign Policy?" she asked. "Why are the 4 terrorists who indulged in Pahalgam carnage still alive and going around?" she said. "You are able to eliminate Naxals, but not able to eliminate these 4 terrorists, even after a month? Who is responsible for the intelligence failure? "151 tours, 72 countries, many hugs, kisses and gifts. Still no results. India needs answers," Chowdhury said. The Congress leader also said that a special session of Parliament was required to ask questions on US President Donald Trump's claims, more than 11 times, of "brokering a ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. "Why is PM Modi not denying his claim?" she asked.
