(By Khalid Masood)
India, it seems, remains trapped in the illusions of the 19th-20th centuryโoverestimating its global standing based on the sheer size of its market and its strategic alignment with the United States. Mistakenly equating economic potential with geopolitical wisdom, Indian policymakers continue to peddle a foreign policy marred by duplicity and theatrics, believing the world can be swayed by diplomacy rooted in misinformation and propaganda.โฃโฃ
Militarily, India clings to outdated doctrines like the “Air-Land Battle” conceptโobsolete in an era defined by multi-domain warfare, where electronic, cyber, and space warfare now define the true contours of modern combat. While great powers are adapting to these realities, India’s military training remains largely confined to counter-terrorism operations, leaving its armed forces ill-prepared to operate or win in a full-spectrum conflict at tactical, operational, or strategic levels.โฃโฃ
The Pahalgam attack drama, orchestrated by the Indian deep state and swiftly blamed on Pakistan, was a textbook example of self-deception. Indian media indulged in hysteria, yet global observers remained unconvinced. The glaring lack of security at the site and the Indian governmentโs failure to apprehend any suspects raised serious doubts. When Pakistan formally objected at the United Nations Security Council and demanded its name be removed from a resolution, the global consensus swiftly aligned with Islamabad. The result left Indian diplomats stunned, exposed, and diplomatically cornered. Inside India, however, jingoistic media spun a parallel reality, inflaming public sentiment and pushing decision-makers toward a reckless path.โฃโฃ
Instead of introspection, Indian arrogance culminated in blatant aggression. On the night of May 7, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) launched over 80 advanced aircraft, including Rafales, in a massive standoff strike aimed at civilian populations in Azad Kashmir and Pakistanโa clear violation of international law and a naked act of war. Acting as judge, jury, and executioner, India bombed without provocation, killing 26 innocent civilians, including women and children.โฃโฃ
But India miscalculated gravely once again.โฃโฃ
The PAF, operating with calm precision, scrambled only 27 aircraft, including JF-17 Thunders and J-10Cs armed with PL-15E missiles, and executed a masterclass in modern aerial warfare. Supported by Chinese targeting satellites and Pakistanโs own Erieye AWACS, PAF pilots leveraged sensor-fusion tactics to devastating effect. Indian Rafale pilots, overconfident and unaware, were ambushed in a dimension of warfare they neither anticipated nor understood. By the time their radar warning receivers detected incoming missiles, it was too lateโthe PL-15Es had already sealed their fate. Their prized SPECTRA electronic warfare suites failed to respond in time. Within minutes, three Rafales, one Su-30, one MiG-29, and an Israeli Heron drone were shot downโleaving the IAF humiliated.โฃโฃ
โฃโฃInstead of learning from this stunning setback, India resorted to swarm attacks using kamikaze dronesโan act of desperation aimed at probing Pakistanโs air defense systems. Of the hundreds launched, only one damaged a surveillance radar in Lahore, injuring four personnel. The rest were neutralized by Pakistani electronic warfare units and 35mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns, showcasing Pakistanโs dominance in the electromagnetic domain. Yet, Indian mediaโled by propagandists like Arnab Goswami and fake military analysts like Maj Gaurav Aryaโclaimed false victories, broadcasting delusions of Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi lying in ruins. By the next day, reality forced several channels to retract and apologize.โฃโฃ
โฃโฃOn May 9, Pakistan responded with calculated, lawful military retaliation. Precision strikes destroyed forward operating airbases and ammunition dumps in Indian-occupied Kashmir. The much-hyped S-400 air defense system, Indiaโs pride, was neutralized by hypersonic missiles fired from the JF-17sโa testament to both technical skill and strategic planning.โฃโฃ
โฃโฃThe Indian leadership, steeped in RSS-fueled delusions of grandeur, had convinced its public that Pakistan was a bankrupt state incapable of resistance. That false narrative led them to this moment of historic humiliation. Now, cornered and bloodied, they are quietly searching for mediators to ask Pakistan for restraint.โฃโฃ
โฃโฃAs we witness this turn of events, one is reminded of a timeless truth:โฃโฃ
โฃโฃ”๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ญ.”