Four years ago, the Balakot incident transpired on February 27, 2019. Following its resounding triumph over the Indian Air Force Operation Swift Retort in 2019, the Pakistan Air Force commemorates February 27 as a day of accolade. This was the first occasion since 1971 when air forces invaded each other’s territory and conducted ballistic airstrikes.
In the aftermath of the Pulwama incident, in which 44 Indian troops were killed in a suicide attack, the Indian Air Force launched air attacks on Pakistan’s minute district of Balakot in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Indian action mirrored the extremist mentality and arrogance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was lamentably exposed on February 27, 2019. Pakistan kept gainsaying its involution in the Pulwama attack and even asked to hold those responsible and will be penalized. But as always, India suspected Pakistan.
The 2019 Balakot airstrike was an assailment by Indian aircraft on a suspected Kashmiri liberation fighters training facility in Balakot, Pakistan. Open-source satellite data showed that no main targets were assailed. Pakistan retaliated and shot down an Indian fighter jet and apprehended its pilot. This situation could have gone to a more dangerous level and at the edge of war. But to cool down this situation, Pakistan Army returned they’re apprehended more solid because once nuclear-armed countries go into this kind of situation, it can peregrinate anywhere.
Later, India propagated that they had killed 300-350 terrorists who had executed Pulwama. Pakistan and independent international media sources found this claim to be erroneous. While the airstrikes did take place, noon-ground damage except for a few trees and a crow was done and projected its defeat as a victorious triumph. India, with a preponderation mindset, took Pakistan for granted and needed to be more vigilant of Pakistan’s capabilities. Indeed, Pakistan is a tranquility doter and never wants any escalation, but when it comes to its sovereignty, it never compromises.
The airstrike was utilized by India’s governing party to boost its nationalist influence ahead of the April 2019 general elections. India’s hope of establishing an “Incipient Mundane” was crushed on that lamentable day. The entire incident was scripted to push Pakistan into a meek state.
India always finds space for low-level conflict below the nuclear threshold. Pakistan and India before becoming nuclear powers, but after becoming nuclear powers, there has been no war because of nuclear deterrence. Pakistan has always been on the side of subsiding tensions between both countries to maintain tranquility in the region. For long-lasting stability, there is a desideratum for resolving outstanding issues.
Due to unresolved Kashmir issues, there is a chance of these incidents. Pakistan is always inclined to negotiate over this issue, and India always backs out. During the Modi regime, human rights contravention in India has incremented. When a crisis escalates, we do not ken it will go, and it will end. India should celebrate solemnly, keeping aside their typical nationalist approach. As far as Pakistan is concerned, being a placidity doter nation, it is always eager to have dialogue. Pakistan accommodates ‘Fantastic Tea’ to its enemy as munificence is our principal.
About Author:
Author has done BS IR from Islamic International University Islamabad and is now working as Research Assistant at CISS AJK with focus on emerging technologies, nuclear politics and new trends in warfare.