The road ahead
Listen to article
The military, especially the air force, made the nation proud. But what is done, is in the past, however stellar it was. Today and tomorrow is another day with its own set of challenges. Now is the time to know and be ready for what is possible, what beckons and what must take our wholesome attention.
To celebrate, to learn, to dissect and analyse will be in the weeks ahead. I promise my readers I will return to those in due course. But what stares in our face is immediate and must consume our absolute attention even as the armed forces of Pakistan continue to keep a keen watch over an enemy smartening from his losses and a bloody nose that it got from the valiant armed forces of Pakistan and its absolutely amazing people who went out in throngs on streets to defeat what the enemy had intended to suppress and subdue.
It helps to remind what militaries do: "war is a continuation of politics by other means" — Clausewitz. What it translates into is that when the military instrument is applied it must create 'space' for politics to pursue its aims using the space opened through application of military force.
We must differentiate between wars too: there are wars of annihilation as was mostly the case in the medieval era, as well as till WWII when nations were either demolished or recreated out of ashes but to destroy them to ruin was what signaled the end. Not so in the modern era when the space for war with the kind which is prevalent is greatly restricted — Russia despite being a nuclear power cannot seem to end what it began in Ukraine, a country of little military means. It is also because of the world we live in.
When one nation goes down it disrupts and demolishes the entire construct of markets and supply chains which have tied the world into a coexistent entity — a safety against annihilation. Even hate, contempt and venom must have limits. Clausewitz thus retains his credence.
The skirmish with India has opened the space for politics to bring back the issues that plague Pakistan's progress and development into international spotlight. What had been reduced to bilateral whims of India after Simla has found renewed relevance around the world and in the Security Council at the UN. It is up to Pakistan now to benefit from this opportunity. Balochistan continues to suffer from a foreign-based, foreign engineered, and a foreign financed campaign against the state of Pakistan and its unity.
The Jaffar Express incident is too recent to forget. India is the foreign master perpetuating this insurgency as borne by the two apprehended Indian agents in Balochistan — one a serving Naval Commander of the Indian intelligence in Pakistan's custody. Indian leadership has publicly claimed its role in fomenting trouble for Pakistan in Balochistan.
Similarly, Indian hand in encouraging terrorist activities by the TTP — a proscribed terrorist group based in Afghanistan - against the people and the state of Pakistan continues to consume our precious resource and focus. They instigate, encourage and finance terror in Pakistan.
This must come up as Pakistan's imperative concern when we sit down to talk with India following the ceasefire. We want guarantees and assurances that such a heinous resort of a neighbour will be promptly dispensed with. Wild allegations by India on inverse charges of terrorism in made-to-order enactments in Kashmir and elsewhere against Pakistan will not wash without substantive proof and fair investigation.
We just came out of a war costing precious lives and losses in billions of dollars even as Indian government posts flyers with handsome remuneration to anyone who can provide information about the incident or the possible attackers. The irony is not lost.
India unilaterally suspended the Indus Water Treaty which was brokered by the World Bank which per its statutes cannot be suspended, held in abeyance, or abrogated by any one side. It is the lifeline of Pakistan and an 'act of war' if Pakistan's right to the three western rivers and its waters is in any way impeded, redirected or tampered with.
This will need to be reinstated in its original jurisdiction without exception to any of its clauses and contents for any other negotiation to begin, even before the two sides agree to meet. Any provision of the Treaty that Indian wants reopened for discussion can only be undertaken when the Treaty is in place status-quo ante.
Pakistan too may like to renew considerations of its share in the three eastern rivers considering changes in water availability, population explosion and threats of food insecurity in areas originally fed by these three rivers. Similarly, the free flow of rivers in areas currently occupied by India in Jammu and Kashmir will need to be ensured in renewed commitment and verifiable processes.
If Indian-Occupied Kashmir reeks of unease and disquiet despite the presence of over 700,000 military and paramilitary personnel, there must be a more founding and sustaining cause at its root. The disputed status of the region since 1948 and the unactioned UNSC Resolutions that detail the need to honour and respect the right of the Kashmiris to determine their future through a plebiscite explain why the people of Kashmir remain alienated and dispossessed.
That a fight for freedom by those oppressed by a forced occupation is enshrined as a right in the UN Charter. That it turns ugly on occasions is inherent in long struggles for freedom.
To India it is terrorism; to the Kashmiris, their fight for freedom from forced occupation; to Pakistan it is a legacy issue used by an odious neighbour to label Pakistan for India's own failure to give Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
Kashmir needs urgent international attention to resolve the dispute per UN Resolutions and the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Kashmir is critical to peace in this region and a nuclear flashpoint between India and Pakistan as has evinced in this and every conflict; except this time, it came much closer to nuclear blows.
The unstable environment and the ensuing militancy, the water dispute, and the persisting conflict between two nuclear neighbours has its roots in one source — Kashmir. If the world can resolve Kashmir — because India would not do so on its own - we can gift peace to this entire region and hope and promise to its two billion people. The US has offered to help find this noble end; may she stay the course.
Pakistan displayed remarkable capability as a nation to face off India's aggression. Its armed forces reinforced the conventional deterrence in no uncertain way. Perhaps India will learn its lesson. At its core though is strategic deterrence through Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
It is imperative that this foundation is stoutly preserved against any inducement in the name of safety and security through alternate mechanisms of any kind. Pakistan cannot be divested of physical possession and instant access to its nuclear weapons.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
UN to cut budget by 20%, slash 6,900 jobs: internal memo
The United Nations flag flies in front of the Secretariat Building at the United Nations headquarters in New York City September 18, 2015. PHOTO:REUTERS Listen to article The United Nations Secretariat is preparing to cut its $3.7 billion budget by 20% and slash about 6,900 jobs, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The directive, which asks staff to detail cuts by June 13, comes amid a financial crisis triggered in part by the United States, which annually funds nearly a quarter of the world body. UN may cut staff by 20%, internal memo says — Reuters (@Reuters) May 30, 2025 In addition to US foreign aid cuts under President Donald Trump that have gutted UN humanitarian agencies, the US owes, for arrears and the current fiscal year, nearly $1.5 billion. The memo's author, UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan, did not cite the US failure to pay. He noted that the cuts are part of a review launched in March dubbed "UN80." "It is an ambitious effort to ensure that the United Nations is fit for purpose to support 21st-century multilateralism, reduce human suffering and build better lives and futures for all," Ramanathan said. "I count on your cooperation for this collective effort whose aggressive timelines are recognized." The cuts would take effect January 1, the start of the next budget cycle. In public briefings to UN diplomats this month, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he is considering a massive overhaul that would merge major departments and shift resources across the globe. He said the UN may consolidate some agencies, trim others, move staff to cheaper cities, cut duplication, and eliminate redundant bureaucracy. "These are times of peril, but they are also times of profound opportunity and obligation," Guterres said on May 12. "Make no mistake: uncomfortable and difficult decisions lie ahead. It may be easier and even tempting to ignore them or kick the can down the road. But that road is a dead end." The US failure to pay its assessments has also created a liquidity crisis for the UN, a problem exacerbated by China's repeated late payments. Together, the two nations account for more than 40% of UN funding In addition, the Trump administration has withdrawn hundreds of millions of dollars in discretionary funds, forcing the abrupt halt of dozens of humanitarian programs that UN officials have said will cost lives. The proposed US budget for the coming year, which must be approved by Congress, has eliminated or drastically reduced funding for several UN programs, including peacekeeping. A U.S. State Department spokesperson did not comment on the proposed UN cuts, but said a Trump-ordered study was due by early August. 'Funding for the UN, along with other international organizations, is currently under review,' the spokesperson said. In April, Tom Fletcher, who leads the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told employees that US funding cuts would force the agency to trim 20% of its staff to address a shortfall of $58 million. Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group, said it was unclear if the cuts would affect the Trump administration's position. 'Diplomats think that Guterres hopes that if he shows he will make these cuts, then the administration will ease off on their threats to zero out funding for the UN,' Gowan said. 'That's possible. It's also possible that the administration will just pocket the cuts and not make any concessions.'
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, India close to completing border troop reduction, senior Pakistani general says
SINGAPORE: Pakistan and India are close to reducing the troop build up along their border to levels before conflict erupted between the nuclear-armed neighbours this month, a top Pakistani military official told Reuters on Friday, although he warned the crisis had increased the risk of escalation in the future. Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire was announced. The spark for the latest fighting between the old enemies was an April 22 attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. New Delhi blamed the incident on 'terrorists' backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. On May 7, India launched missiles at what it said were 'terrorist infrastructure' sites across the border, and as Pakistan responded with its own attacks, both countries built up additional forces along the frontier. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), said the two militaries had started the process of drawing down troop levels. 'We have almost come back to the pre-22nd April situation… we are approaching that, or we must have approached that by now,' said Mirza, the most senior Pakistani military official to speak publicly since the conflict. India's Ministry of Defence and the office of the Indian chief of defence staff did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the remarks by Mirza. Indian aircraft: Pakistan airspace to remain closed until June 24 Mirza, who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue forum, said while there was no move towards nuclear weapons during this conflict, it was a dangerous situation. 'Nothing happened this time,' he said. 'But you can't rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different.' He also said the risk of escalation in the future had increased since the fighting this time was not limited to the disputed territory of Kashmir, the scenic region in the Himalayas that both nations rule in part but claim in full. The two sides attacked military installations in their mainlands but neither has acknowledged any serious damage. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned Pakistan this month that New Delhi would target 'terrorist hideouts' across the border again if there were new attacks on India. 'Dangerous trend' The two countries have fought three major wars, two of them over Kashmir, and numerous armed skirmishes since both were born out of British colonial India in 1947. India blames Pakistan for an insurgency in its part of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir that began in 1989 and has killed tens of thousands. Pakistan says it provides only moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination. 'This (conflict) lowers the threshold between two countries who are contiguous nuclear powers…in the future, it will not be restricted to the disputed territory. It would come down to (the) whole of India and (the) whole of Pakistan,' Mirza said. 'This is a very dangerous trend.' India's aggressive posture threatening regional peace, Masood Khan Reuters has reported that the rapid escalation of hostilities ended in part because of behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving the US, India and Pakistan, and the key role played by Washington in brokering peace. India has denied any third-party role in the ceasefire and said that any engagement between India and Pakistan has to be bilateral. But Mirza warned that international mediation might be difficult in the future because of a lack of crisis management mechanisms between the countries. 'The time window for the international community to intervene would now be very less, and I would say that damage and destruction may take place even before that time window is exploited by the international community,' he said. Pakistan was open to dialogue, he added, but beyond a crisis hotline between the directors general of military operations and some hotlines at the tactical level on the border, there was no other communication between the two countries. India's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, 'talks and terror don't go together' in response to a question on the possibility of dialogue with Pakistan. Surprisingly, Pakistan and India agree to ceasefire Mirza said there were no backchannel discussions or informal talks to ease tensions. He also said he had no plans to meet General Anil Chauhan, India's chief of defence staff, who is also in Singapore for the Shangri-La forum. 'These issues can only be resolved by dialogue and consultations, on the table. They cannot be resolved on the battlefield,' Mirza said.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Afghan FM to visit Pakistan soon
Listen to article The Afghan Interim foreign minister is expected to travel to Islamabad soon on a first visit in two years, highlighting the growing high-level exchanges between the two neighbours in recent weeks. "He (Amir Khan Muttaqi) will visit Pakistan soon. Dates are being worked out," said a diplomatic source on Thursday. The source said the Afghan side has already accepted the invitation. According to a source, this will not be a daylong trip but a three-day trip where a whole gamut of relations would be discussed. In April Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Kabul in a first visit by any Pakistani top diplomat in three years. The visit helped ease tensions between the two countries. The sources said Muttaqi's visit was part of efforts to increase high level exchanges. The two sides drew up a roadmap envisaging a series of visits by officials and ministers from both sides when a Pakistani delegation led by its special envoy Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq visited Kabul in the third week of March. The Afghan Taliban government's recent actions against groups posing a threat to Pakistan played a key role in the increased interaction between the two sides. Pakistan had long been urging Kabul to tackle the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other outfits. But Kabul publicly denied their presence and privately expressed their inability to deal with them. However, Pakistan finally managed to convince the Kabul regime as it undertook certain steps including crackdown on Afghan nationals who were part of the TTP. The Afghan government also proceeded against Afghan nationals who were facilitating their fellow citizens to join the TTP. Those steps helped ease tensions between the two sides. In another major sign suggesting shift in its approach was a statement by Senior Afghan Taliban commander Saeedullah Saeed who, on Wednesday, warned militant factions against unauthorised jihad, particularly in Pakistan, saying such actions were against Shariah and the orders of the Islamic Emirate's leadership. Speaking at a police passing-out ceremony, Saeed said that fighting in any country, including Pakistan, without the explicit command of the Amir is not permissible. "Joining various groups to wage jihad abroad does not make one a true mujahid," he stated. "Only the Amir of the state has the authority to declare jihad — not individuals or groups." Saeed emphasized that those carrying out attacks independently or moving between regions to conduct operations cannot be classified as legitimate fighters under Islamic law. "Jihad based on personal ego or group loyalty is considered 'fasad' (corruption), not legitimate resistance," he added. He further stated that the Afghan leadership prohibited unauthorised entry into Pakistan, and any such act constitutes disobedience. "Groups attacking in the name of jihad are defying both Shariah and the authority of the Afghan Emirate," he warned. His public statement is seen as a result of recent efforts both by Pakistan and China urging the Kabul administration to change its approach towards these groups. Sources said Pakistan would continue to encourage the Taliban government to carry out such measures. In return for these steps, Pakistan and China are willing to support Kabul both economically and diplomatically. Pakistan already indicated that it was ready to upgrade ties with Afghanistan by exchanging Ambassadors in a major diplomatic win for the Afghan Taliban government.
