WAR IS AN EXPENSIVE BARGAIN TO ELIMINATE A CHEAP ENEMY

WAR IS AN EXPENSIVE BARGAIN TO ELIMINATE A CHEAP ENEMY

Last fifteen days were like an action movie on a patriotic theme. So much happened from 14 Feb, the unfortunate day when an insane terror group carried out the barbaric suicidal attack on CRPF Jawans until the eagerly awaited 1 Mar when an Indian Air Force pilot in the captivity of Pakistan will be released. Like every Indian, I too, am anxiously waiting for the moment when Wing Commander Abhinandan will walk across the Wagah Border. 

Right after the Pulwama attack, the humanity seemed to have divided into two segments: The Warmongers and the We-Are-Against-The-War brigade. 

The last fortnight has seen so much of action in form of incidental jingoism and spirited opinions: Instinctive, reflexive, borrowed, mature and immature,

Political and apolitical, Religious and non-religious.

The modernised fourth pillar of democracy, the Media has been the worst contributor in aggravating the situation. 

The herd of menopausal, retired and now unemployed defence personnel, giving useless analysis on television and throwing out the secrets of armed forces like alms to all and sundry just to brag. The residual spirit of soldier in these so-called defence experts does not mind being ridiculed and insulted when they are interrupted by the rude anchors. Often, they are so pumped up that one grows curious to have a glimpse of their service record and what significant they had done when they donned the uniform. 

India's plight is terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. However, our belligerent neighbour always remains in constant denial of it. I am not against war if it is the only possible way to demolish the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan but the fact is, we already have had fought four. Did the things change? 

Over the time, our economy, our army, and our stature as a country have grown to an enviable height for our neighbours. We are strong enough to eradicate the roots of terrorism without a war. If we are a country with 70% literacy rate, we must reflect it. We are not like the nations which enter into war with just any country that refuses them favours. We have earned that reputation of being humble despite being powerful. 

Pakistan is near doom surmounting debt and almost no foreign reserves. A country with 80% population below poverty line and a terrible literacy rate resorting to unfair means is digging their own grave.  

A country is an abstract noun defined by geography and demography and is given life by the people inhabit therein. Pakistan as a country hates India as a country and vice-versa and the onus of this hatred lies on the script writers of the division to create Pakistan. Neither can we change history nor we can reverse the division. If you don't believe me check the social media where people from both sides spit venom forgetting that on these social platforms, they are not individuals but, they represent their country.

The locals who caught the Indian Air Force Wing Commander exhibited the same hatred by beating him and by shooting on his leg. Wing Commander's batmen might be better of those rustic Pakistani villagers. Also, the same villagers lynched their own pilot who later succumbed to the injuries caused by them. Hatred couldn’t identify their own warrior. That's what illiteracy and religious fanaticism can do. As is the current state of the two countries, those locals represent Pakistan and the Wing Commander represents India. 

I heard someone saying that we should thank them for not killing our pilot and only injured him.

Yes indeed. But, their intention behind keeping him alive was to torture him brutally to satisfy their hatred.

Terrorism is an idea, a doctrine, a disease which cannot be killed by escalation even if you intend to wipe off the entire population.

Khalistani terrorism in Punjab and LTTE of Sri Lanka are the two examples that have been eliminated by sheer determination. We should immediately change our policy of appeasement and partiality towards Kashmir. The controversial article 370 and article 35 A must have been abolished soon after the exodus of Kahmiri Pundits who were in majority in Kashmir. We need to act sternly against JkLF as we are determined to act against the terror groups on the other side of LOC. The support of our own people is a must more than anything. 

We are doing fine and let us not mar the wheel of progress by indulging into a war. War should never be the first option and for a powerful country, it ought not to be the only way out. That’s what being powerful should mean. The surgical strike in 2016  and the recently executed air strike corroborates that we can eliminate terrorists without harming the civil establishments.

·       The views expressed are personal.