
Dodgy claims
The Field Marshal further criticised India's attempts to position itself as the 'net security provider' in a region increasingly wary of its hegemonic ambitions and extremist Hindutva ideology. China also weighed in on the matter, with its Foreign Ministry issuing a statement on Monday affirming that its defence and security cooperation with Pakistan is part of normal bilateral relations and does not target any third party.
India's efforts to deflect responsibility for its setbacks during the conflict are not only an attempt to salvage national pride but also a reflection of a deeper miscalculation in its military capabilities and strategic posture. The confrontation, which escalated rapidly, saw India launching missile and drone strikes deep into mainland Pakistan, blatantly disregarding international law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing Islamabad without evidence of involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, referred to the unprovoked strikes as the 'new normal.' Expecting to gain an upper hand with its newly acquired Rafale jets and other advanced Western weaponry, India was caught off guard by Pakistan's swift and effective response. Not only did Pakistan repel the missile and drone assaults, but it also downed six Indian aircraft, including three of India's prized Rafale jets. This is particularly significant given that in 2019, after India's airstrike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Prime Minister Modi had lamented that had India possessed Rafale jets at the time, 'the result would have been different.' While India had bolstered its military capabilities with cutting-edge Western technology, Pakistan deployed J-10C fighters armed with PL-15 beyond visual range (BVR) missiles, obtained from its strategic partner, China. Pakistan also integrated AI-driven systems into its defence network, attaining a clear tactical advantage in real-time combat situations.
Pakistan has consistently demonstrated its military prowess in past conflicts over Kashmir, and this latest confrontation further solidified its operational capabilities. Lt-Gen. Singh's claim of Chinese involvement in the bilateral conflict is not only an attempt to deflect attention but also an indication of India's unwillingness to confront its own strategic miscalculations. By pointing to China, India hopes to maintain the narrative of its military superiority. However, such diversionary tactics will only go so far. Both the international community and astute domestic observers can see through the official rhetoric, recognising that the real issue lies in India's overconfidence and its failure to accurately assess its own military limitations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Tariff threat forces EU to hedge bets
Listen to article Barely months into Donald Trump's return to power, America's global standing has been bleeding credibility at a staggering pace, forcing many nations to prepare for a post-American world as tariff theatrics rattle the world. The American president's decision to impose a sweeping 30% tariff on EU exports has ruptured the fragile scaffolding of trust that long upheld the US-EU relationship. Although Europe has repeatedly aligned itself with Washington, often to the bewilderment of its own citizens, it appears to be showing signs of hedging its bets. EU allies, long and strangely willing to toe the American line on so-called "common" security and economic interests, are beginning to scramble for cover from Washington's whims, as the facade of shared purpose wears thin. The push for self-reliance is beginning to forge a rare moment of cohesion in the EU, finding an alternative to the disunity that marked the Brexit years. The shift was plain when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, while signing a cooperation pledge with Japan recently, remarked that the EU was now seeking "more reliable partners" to counter economic coercion and unfair trade practices — a barbed formulation that conspicuously sidesteps the US. Timing, too, is everything. The EU has yet to clinch a free trade deal with Washington, and the sudden tariff spike has landed like a hammer blow amid delicate negotiations with a looming deadline set by Washington. However, Europe's response is not simply reactive. European officials warned that such a tariff would "practically prohibit" transatlantic trade and inflict deep damage on economies that export over 20% of their goods to the US, with Germany alone sending over $174.5 billion worth of products in 2024. Brussels activated a first wave of counter-tariffs, suspended only until August 6, covering €21 billion of US goods. A second package, initially targeting €95 billion, was whittled down through fierce internal lobbying to €72 billion, sparing items like diagnostic reagents, semiconductor-manufacturing machines and key medical devices deemed too critical to Europe's own supply chains. Anti-Coercion Instrument Meanwhile, EU diplomats quietly dusted off their most potent, never-used tool: the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI). Designed in 2023 to deter economic blackmail, the ACI can impose duties, quotas, investment restrictions and limits on public procurement against any country that "coerces" EU members. Where WTO courts have failed, the mechanism allows qualified majority action — 15 states representing 65% of the EU population — circumventing the need for unanimity. Analysts observe that just floating the ACI sends a powerful signal: Europe is done being a passive victim of trade bullying. Germany, once cautious about escalation, now publicly supports considering the ACI. France has long championed it. Even Italy's far-right leadership, initially tipped to cosy up to Trump, has resisted side deals and endorsed a firm, collective stance. The recent EU-Japan pledge to deepen cooperation was one sign of the recalibration. So too is the EU's intensified internal debate over "strategic autonomy", a term that gained currency after Trump's earlier attacks on Nato and withdrawal from key international agreements. The sentiment was even more audible in the Spanish prime minister's recent statement. At a business forum in Paraguay, he not only decried the US for "unfounded and unfair" measures, but also proposed using retaliatory funds to create an EU solidarity fund for affected industries. Similarly, Denmark reported a record 74% public trust in the EU — up from 63% five years ago — crediting a shared sense of resisting external coercion. Earlier this month, the UK, still navigating post-Brexit independence, joined the WTO's interim appeals mechanism (excluding the US) to safeguard its ability to challenge future trade distortions. Asian allies are likewise on edge: Singapore's defence minister lamented that the US has shifted "from liberator... to a landlord seeking rent". Strategic autonomy A decade ago, the talk of "strategic autonomy" in Brussels elicited polite nods and little action. Today, it has become doctrine. In a recent interview with BBC, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that Europe can no longer be a free rider on US security guarantees, announcing stepped-up defence spending and trilateral security dialogues with France and the UK (the so-called E3). Together, the UK, Germany and France are working on a triangular alliance of major European powers, which Merz says will focus not just on security and foreign policy but on economic growth as well. France and Germany have extended joint procurement plans, while Spain and Italy have explored loosening Nato's centrality in favour of EU-driven defence cooperation. Similarly, Spain and the Netherlands, once sceptical of EU defence, now champion flexibility in EU budget rules to fund military modernisation. Even before taking office, the German chancellor had made waves on the night of his election victory by declaring that the Trump administration was "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe". Asked in the BBC interview whether his view had shifted, he responded that it had not, noting that Trump was "not as clear and as committed as former US presidents were, former US administrations were". Observers point out that European defence budgets, long kept low relative to GDP, are now under political pressure to rise. The EU's joint procurement loan facility — €150 billion in shared borrowing — aims to accelerate drone and artillery acquisitions. An Institute for Global Affairs (Eurasia Group) report finds that Western Europeans are urging their leaders to "stand up to Trump" and even seek partial autonomy from Washington. Even before Trump's return, think tanks were noting how Washington's browbeating of Europe and Latin America was prompting those regions to forge independent arrangements — from a European "army of Europe" to new Asian trade pacts — to hedge against US caprice. One Pew report found that in the past year, only 27% of Europeans have confidence in Trump and fear is growing that a faltering US will neglect Nato and other security guarantees. Remarkably, the 2025 Democracy Perception Index shows China overtaking the US as the world's most positively viewed major power. Beijing is now negotiating a standalone climate pact with the EU. Analysts calculate that Chinese clean tech exports reduced global emissions by roughly 1% in 2024, strengthening Beijing's claim to climate leadership. Latin American nations are doing the same. Brazil, fresh from calling US tariffs "overtly political", established a new Brazilian tax office in Beijing — only the fifth of its kind — signalling where Rio now sees its most dependable partner. The old trust in American stewardship is obsolete, and Europe's halting steps toward strategic autonomy and the assertive postures of others show that a shared resolve to envision a world without Uncle Sam's shield is gaining momentum. The writer is a Lahore-based senior journalist


Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Govt bans land travel for Arbaeen pilgrims
Listen to article The federal government banned the overland travel for pilgrims heading to Iraq for the Arbaeen, citing security concerns in the restive Balochistan province, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on Sunday. Naqvi said that the decision had been taken after consultations with the Foreign Ministry, the Balochistan government, and the security agencies, adding that the pilgrims would be allowed to travel to Iraq only by air. Arbaeen, marking the 40th day of mourning after Ashura, sees millions of pilgrims, including thousands from Pakistan, travel to Karbala, Iraq, annually. Traditionally, many Pakistani pilgrims journey by road through Balochistan and Iran. However, due to the deteriorating law and order situation in the province — including increased terrorist attacks by Indian proxy outfits — the government deemed the move necessary for public safety and national security. "After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that Zaireen will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year," Naqvi posted on X. "Zaireen will, however, be able to travel by air. Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming days," he added. "This difficult decision was taken in the interest of public safety and national security." On the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for arranging flights to facilitate the pilgrims, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced four special flights from Karachi between August 8 and 11, with return flights from Najaf scheduled from August 18 to 21. According to a PIA spokesperson the fare has been set at Rs212,000 per person, and the ticket sales had started. He added that more flights could be scheduled if necessary. Officials said passengers traveling by air individually will have to be sponsored by local people, otherwise they cannot enter Iraq. Meanwhile, private airlines have sharply increased fares, with tickets now ranging between Rs300,000 to Rs350,000. Tour operators estimate group travel expenses at $1,400 per pilgrim, compared to just $550 for land travel. This has raised fears that tens of thousands of low-income pilgrims might be unable to afford the journey. Salars — pilgrim group leaders — argue that the ban that has been announced just 15 days before Arbaeen has caused significant financial losses. They said that many people had already made advance payments for visas, vehicle certifications, and hotel bookings. They demanded that the government allowed supervised bus convoys under security agencies' protection or provide alternative transport arrangements. "This loss isn't borne by the rich but by the poor," a pilgrimage organiser told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymously. He questioned why the ban wasn't announced earlier during a recent trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq, where travel restrictions were discussed. During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Naqvi briefed him on Balochistan's security situation and the new pilgrim policy. The prime minister directed for the initiation of the Gwadar Safe City project to enhance security in the region. Naqvi emphasised the need for better pilgrim management. Starting next year, he said, the pilgrims will only be allowed to travel under officially registered group organisers, with special embassy-issued visas required for independent travel. This system aims to curb illegal travel and overstaying issues. Meanwhile, Naqvi also visited Quetta and Azad Kashmir. In Quetta, he paid tribute to martyred soldiers at the Frontier Corps headquarters, praising their sacrifices in maintaining peace. Later, in Muzaffarabad, he met the family of Major Rab Nawaz, a martyred officer, and offered condolences.


Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
BD orders 25 Boeing planes as part of push to ease US tariffs
DHAKA: Bangladesh has ordered 25 aircraft from Boeing and ramped up imports of key American goods in an effort to defuse trade tensions and bring down the steep tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, a senior official said on Sunday. The moves are part of a broader strategy to narrow a $6 billion US trade deficit with Bangladesh and avoid a looming 35% tariff hike that has rattled the country's export sector, especially the garments industry which risks losing competitiveness in one of its largest markets. 'We need new aircraft urgently, possibly within the next couple of years,' Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman told reporters. 'Initially, it was 14 planes — now it's 25,' he said, referring to an earlier plan to purchase aircraft from the US-based manufacturer. Alongside the aircraft deal, Bangladesh is boosting imports of wheat, soybean oil and cotton from the United States. A new agreement signed earlier this month will see the country import 700,000 tonnes of US wheat annually over the next five years. Officials hope that these steps will help improve trade relations with Washington and soften the impact of the Trump administration's tariff measures.