By Atika Hassan
History has a strange tendency to repeat itself, particularly in the South Asia’s ever-volatile India-Pakistan stage. For decades, Pakistan has been compelled to undergo Indian diplomatic, political, and military aggression, frequently unprovoked and laced with hubris. During these times of hardship Pakistan’s strength is renewed. The latest war, precipitated by the Pahalgam terror attacks, again pushed this delicate balance to the limit. But this time, the situation was different. The war did not end merely at ceasefire lines it cured wounds long festering in Pakistan’s collective memory.
India’s History of Unprovoked Aggression
Since 1947, India’s strategic orientation vis-à-vis Pakistan has alternated between cold hostility and outright aggression. The Kashmir issue, which remained unsolved since Partition, has remained the focus of Indian animosity. Right from the 1965 war, which India waged after Operation Gibraltar, to the 1971 war when India took advantage of Pakistan’s domestic crisis, Indian aggression has often been cloaked in pretensions of “self-defense” or “counter-terrorism.”
In the past few years, India’s political leadership has escalated this aggressiveness. The Pulwama attack of 2019 provided a pretext for India’s ill-fated Balakot airstrikes a wild intrusion into Pakistani airspace, which led to Indian planes being shot down and the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan. Even after this humiliation, India has persisted in posing as a regional bully, instead of using diplomacy.
The recent Pahalgam terror attack again gave India a pretext to show off its military muscles. Lacking any credible evidence, New Delhi conducted cross-border raids, triggering a full-scale war that would boomerang dramatically.
Pakistan’s Military: Guardians of Sovereignty
Unlike India’s war-mongering, Pakistan’s military strategy has always focused on credible deterrence and responsible defense. The recent war proved the strategic wisdom and operational preparedness of Pakistan’s military.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) achieved the unthinkable by neutralizing India’s much-hyped S-400 air defense system, a feat that not only left Indian defense analysts flabbergasted but also re-settle the regional balance of power. The shootdown of several Indian Rafale fighter jets, a representative of India’s quest for air superiority, only further revealed the emptiness of Indian military boastfulness.
Pakistan’s Navy provided naval security, while the Army had iron-curtain defense on the Line of Control and international borders. Each military wing functioned with precision surgery, securing national sovereignty without any escalation.
Unity in Crisis: The Civil-Military-National Trifecta
Perhaps the most noticeable consequence of the war was Pakistan’s record state and societal cohesion. Traditionally, civil-military relations in Pakistan have been characterized by distrust and struggle for power. Civilian leaders often accused the military of overreach, while the military lamented political mismanagement.
But this war was a turning point. The civilian leadership, the military high command, and the people of Pakistan stood shoulder-to-shoulder in defense of the motherland. The diplomatic offensive of the government added to the tactical excellence of the military, and the selfless support of the country served as a moral force multiplier.
Public sentiment overnight changed. Public opinion, mainstream media, and social media were filled with messages of solidarity and pride in the Pakistan army. Criticism and skepticism were lost in a countrywide chorus of unity.
The Trump Mediation & India’s Humbling
India was clearly the loser in a grand diplomatic defeat and had to look to America for assistance. President Trump’s mediation, masked as a ceasefire agreement, was India’s silent confession of the strategic error made by it. What was to be a show of strength against Pakistan turned out to be a humiliating retreat for New Delhi. For Pakistan, the victory was not only in war but also in moral and diplomatic areas, as well. It vindicated Pakistan’s consistent demands for dialogue, and resolution of conflicts through peaceful means were appropriate and that it was India’s violation of peace that was spotlighted.
Healing the Old Wounds
This war was not just a repulsion of the external threat. For a country frequently mired in domestic division, this external threat re-ignited national purpose. The civil-military harmony exhibited during the war is a model that can be replicated for future governing and strategic decision-making.
Conclusion: Beyond Victory
The war may have been won in terms of battlefield victory, but the accumulated new consciousness cannot be overshadowed by the day’s successes. Not only did Pakistan make tactical advances in the war and managed to seal diplomatic successes, but also it was a process of reinstituting national morale, healing old wounds, and exhibiting a spirit of unity in adversity.
As Pakistan goes forward, this opportunity should be taken to firm up democratic institutions, deepen civil-military cohesion, and seek long-term stability. Success on the battlefield should flow into success in nation-building.
