- The global community is well aware of the prevailing tension between India and Pakistan on the back of continued patronage to terrorists and terrorism related perpetrations inflicting loss of innocent lives. Despite the Indian leadership, time and again cautioning as well as launching deep strikes inside the Pakistani territories, the Pakistani deep state persistently fails to curb self-defeating terrorism related activities. As the whole world is aware, the Pahalgam attack on the innocent tourists led the Narendra Modi government at the Centre to launch Operation Sindoor, striking deep inside the enemy territories with great aplomb. That the joint operation of the Indian armed forces succeeded in causing huge damage is proof of Indian resolve against such acts.
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PC: Firstpost
- The subsequent ceasefire sought by the Pakistani leadership was duly accepted, but there are no signs of thaw in the tension between the two neighbours, even as the Indian leadership has concretised its plans of not letting go of any acts of heinous terrorist strikes without substantive punishment. The usual bluff of Pakistani leadership about nuclear war has been effectively addressed by the Indian authorities. As reported recently, Pakistan is not prepared to lie low, as proved yet again by its petty-minded act of barring Hindu pilgrims from Nankana Sahib on Guru Purab. India isn’t consistently sticking to its syncretism either. The Indian authorities could have resorted to piling pressure on Pakistan by adopting more effective soft power measures. But alas!
PC: Hindustan Times
- In a despicable act but not wholly unexpected move, Pakistani authorities separated and barred Hindu pilgrims from travelling to Nankana Sahib for the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, while allowing Sikh pilgrims through. This was the first Sikh jatha (religious group) to travel to Nankana Sahib after Operation Sindoor. Hindu pilgrims were also part of the group. In barring the latter, Pakistan has further exposed its moral bankruptcy. It’s a failed basket case of a state that can’t stomach the fact that it will never be able to catch up with India. Hence, it resorts to petty tactics. Plus, Pakistan’s deep state has been trying to show division between India’s Sikhs and Hindus by working with known Khalistanis abroad. It won’t succeed.
PC: Moneycontrol
- That said, there’s also a recent trend in India to replicate Pakistan’s pettiness. But this tit-for-tat approach not only ill behoves our secular, syncretic traditions but also gives joy to Islamabad. Pakistan’s very existence is premised on the idea that a secular India can’t survive. We have proved them wrong for 78 years. When Op Sindoor was launched, dealing Pakistan a bloody nose, it was Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a Muslim and a Hindu, who together conducted the media briefings. It is this secular India that is the biggest challenge for Pakistan. But this secular strength needs to be nurtured and protected daily. Unlike Pak, as part of our integrated syncretic ethos, bringing Hindus and Muslims together is imperative. We should strive for it.
