Stand Down, 'Pindi
Pak generals should know that a far better-resourced India will respond to every escalation
The generals in Rawalpindi GHQ are leading Pakistan down a dangerous path of escalation. After Operation Sindoor successfully targeted multiple terrorist bases inside Pakistan, there were signs that Pakistan's civilian govt was willing to de-escalate. But Pak army swatted such notions aside, vowed retaliation and forced the civilian dispensation to fall in line. This is the real tragedy of Pakistan where the civilian govt has been reduced to a mere rubber stamp by military generals. But the generals must know that in the current round of escalation, cessation of hostilities must come from Pakistan. India has and will respond forcefully to every provocation from across the border. This is the new normal. It needs reminding that the escalation was initiated by Pakistan with the April 22 Pahalgam attack. India only responded with a measured, high-precision operation against the terrorists and their handlers.
Yet, Pak generals chose to further increase provocations by trying to target multiple Indian military installations with drones and missiles on the intervening night of May 7-8. That all of them were intercepted and shot down by India's Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems, which included the top-of-the-line S-400, highlights New Delhi's superiority in this regard. In fact, since Balakot 2019, India has spent considerable resources on getting a state-of-the-art air defence grid up and running.
Pakistan, which again tried to breach Indian defences at various points along the International Border yesterday, clearly has nothing comparable. Indian forces, in response to Pakistan's failed targeting of military installations, pierced Pakistani air defence systems with Israeli-origin Harop and Harpy drones, knocking out the air defence system in Lahore – reportedly a Chinese-supplied HQ-9. Drones are another area where India punches way above Pakistan. While New Delhi is marching towards becoming a drone manufacturing hub, Islamabad has no comparable industrial depth and can only perhaps rely on Turkish and Chinese drones.
Given these metrics, Islamabad can ill afford to carry out a long-drawn conflict with New Delhi. It simply doesn't have the resources. It's actually likely to run out of ammo if it chooses an escalatory matrix. India's solid ordnance base ensures no such concerns. Note also that Pakistan's iron-brother China has been very careful not to get dragged into the conflict. Thus, Pakistan's playing a losing game here. India's economic size, ability to absorb the fallout of conflict, and far greater conventional military depth give it a clear edge. India's consistently stuck to the de-escalatory paradigm. Pak generals should get off the suicide track and stand down now.
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This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
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