By: Asem Mustafa
Two years and Operation Swift Retort, February 27, 2019 was nightmare coming true for the Indian Air Force and world was stunned with the Indian audacity that could have triggered a full fledge war.
Pakistan’s reply to intruding Indian Airplanes was replied with ‘Swift Retort’ while Indian planes made good with ‘Operation Swift Retreat’ leaving behind their Wing Commander Abhinandan who made emergency exit when his plane got shot and was arrested by the Pakistan authorities.
It was magnanimity on Pakistan’s part that Indian pilot was returned who if successful would have killed many as his plane carried enough arsenal to blow many a buildings. Prime Minister Imran Khan made many a suggestions for regional peace and extended his hand towards Indian Premier Modi, for peace and friendship in the region. Both Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi made it clear that Pakistan stance on regional peace should not be considered as weakness.
The defender of the nation skies, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan’s loud statement at the backdrop of government stance holds a clear message that any misadventure from Indian side will not be tolerated and will have overwhelming and catastrophic results in folds.
The two countries have been at daggers draw for over seven decades on a dispute (Kashmir)that was left unsettled owning to the malicious and cunning approach of the British government which deliberately made the demarcation a hotly contested dispute. The Indian army invaded the region in 1948 and founding father Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah ordered the troops to liberate the region from Indian occupational forces. What exists in the form of liberated Kashmir was fought and won by the Pakistan troops who pushed Indian army back.
The recent hotline contact between, Director General Military Operations from Pakistan and India have been viewed globally as a step towards peaceful South Asia. United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres has viewed the recent development as a positive sign and it is hoped the region with this contact will help serve the masses in the two countries who are in millions below the poverty line.
The world has witnessed many a warring nations coming at negotiating table to resolve their internal disputes and the most recent ones are not long in the past decades and more are dismantling of the Berlin Wall between East and West Germany. The two Koreas namely South and North are also in talk while the arch foes America and Russia are also doing the needful to ensure peace in the region. Indian hegemonic designs, in the region has always been questioned. The neighboring countries around India have problems with Indian approach and Pakistan is always looked by other countries in neutralizing that effect. Pakistan has always raised the slogan of peace and prosperity for all in the region and its approach for regional growth with CPEC in fold is viewed with great awe globally.