TODAY'S PAPER | MARCH 07, 2019

 HOME

 LATEST

 PSL 2019

 PAKISTAN

India plotted dangerous attack with Israeli help
Meher BokhariUpdated March 05, 2019

Facebook Count

Twitter Share
38
Timely intelligence and backdoor messaging made it clear to India that a befitting response would be given if
it were to go ahead with the planned attack.— AP/File

ISLAMABAD: India with the backing of Israel and at the peak of its standoff with Pakistan had last
week planned a “dangerous attack” to be executed from its Rajasthan airbase, a highly placed
government source revealed on Monday.

Timely intelligence and backdoor messaging made it clear to India that a befitting response would be given if
it were to go ahead with the planned attack, one which would possibly take the countries to a “point of no
return”.

Take a look: War is not a picnic, former Indian spy chief warns BJP-led govt

And as the nuclear armed neighbours wound up a tough week in what was possibly the most near-war situation
the two have been in since decades, no one is quite sure of what to expect next.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD

However, the top civilian source observed that the next possible escalation by India would not be in terms of
ground, air or missiles — but more likely in the form of a hybrid conflict in the nature of militant attacks,
economic measures etc.

Also read: Israel playing big role in India’s conflict with Pakistan

In fact, what India termed, and thus legitimised as “pre-emptive non-military strike” last Tuesday, was a first
of its kind violation of international border and Pakistan’s airspace since 1971.

A top government source says that New Delhi planned

strike from Rajasthan airbase and stepped back only
after warnings
It was followed by Pakistan taking down two Indian aircraft in a dogfight, leaving one Indian pilot dead and
another captured — who was later released as a unilateral gesture of peace.

Since then, Pakistan and India have continued to exchange gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC), only
having eased in the last 24 hours.

When inquired by this correspondent if this can be seen as a sign of de-escalation, the chief military
spokesman said, “There is a relative reduction in CFVs as compared to heavy exchange of fire during the
week”.

“However, based on this apparent ‘strategic restraint’ during the last 24 hours, we cannot lower our state of
vigilance and readiness. We have to stay prepared against any misadventure,” explained Maj Gen Asif
Ghafoor, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations.

In the other sitting with the top government source, there was considerable pride in Pakistan having thus far
shown inordinate maturity and a genuine desire for peace and having dominated all spheres of the standoff in
this precarious situation initiated by India in what the source saw as [Narendra] Modi’s war politics.

This highly placed government source recognised the “Modi dilemma” as one where the Indian prime minister
continues to beat war drums leading up to elections this May, thus the Catch-22 situation the Indian PM has
put himself in means “we are not out of the woods just yet”.
The source briefed a handful of journalists on the “dangerous attack” India had planned with the backing of
Israel from its airbase in Rajasthan, located about a 100km from the international border with Pakistan. Timely
intelligence and backdoor messaging made it clear to India that a befitting response would be given if it were
to go ahead with this plan, one which would possibly take the two states to a “point of no return”.

The source credited Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, ISI, as “one of the best in the world” and feared
the next possible escalation by India would not be in terms of ground, air or missiles, but more likely in the
form of a hybrid conflict in the nature of militant attacks, economic measures, etc, against Pakistan.

The same was reiterated a day earlier by military sources this correspondent spoke to.

The Pulwama trigger coupled with diplomatic plus political coercion had India embark on what is now being
referred to in military quarters as the “New Normal”. India by this new approach assumed punitive deterrence
would be accepted by Pakistan.

In what is largely seen as a dangerous precedent set by India — with far-reaching and worrisome consequences
— New Delhi also ironically is not in a position to take one more blow, with both elections overhead and
Pakistan continuously preaching and exhibiting the first two stages of the three dimensions of war, deterrence
and avoidance.

This double-edged sword dangles overhead, as the ball remains in India’s court, and the world’s eyes upon it.
Civilian and military leadership of Pakistan regret what they see as India having taken the course to a broad
spectrum dominance of Pakistan with acquiescence of international allies.

Standing at a critical juncture in our history and making significant economic headway, the topmost
government source recognised that proscribed organisations were only adding to Pakistan’s problems.
Statements in the past against such outfits were made under pressure and lacked political will.

Also present on the occasion, Finance Minister Asad Umar revealed that on ground work against proscribed
organisations had started before the Feb 14 Pulwama attack in India-held Kashmir. In the second last meeting
of the National Security Committee (NSC) the decision to speed up the progress against these organisations
had already been taken and his ministry had decided to set finances aside for these elements to be successfully
rehabilitated post deweaponisation.
A day earlier, the ISPR director general told this scribe, Pakistan had decided as far back as 2014 to put an end
to such organisations as they “don’t have currency today and are transforming a just Kashmir cause into
terrorism”.

At the NSC meeting it was unanimously decided between the civilian and military leadership that not
responding was out of the question. An unemotional, rational decision albeit in the domain of irrational (read
nukes) had to be taken, and the country’s leadership was on the same page.

Pakistan had already offered “investigation sans any qualifier” with regards to the Pulwama attack and shown
willingness to discuss terrorism; signs of unprecedented maturity and willingness for conflict resolution on
behalf of Pakistan. The government source on Monday felt that India’s intention lay exposed in its handing
over of the Pulwama dossier two days after having attacked Pakistan. The dossier apparently “lacks actionable
evidence” but is under review by both the Foreign Office and ISI.

Stone cold warnings

In the midst of serious diplomatic manoeuvrings under way, the spokesperson for the military was very clear
about two things. Firstly, if India chooses to escalate from here, it will not be about India Pakistan anymore, it
will be about the region. Secondly, India shall not be afforded any face saving at the cost of Pakistan’s
integrity and sovereignty.

The lowest of the escalation ladder being no war and the ultimate, nuclear; India has right now, what every
country enjoys at each step of the escalation ladder, an exit, if it so chooses (wisely at that) to let things be
from here on. Unfortunately, that might not be the case as felt by the ISPR director general, “India emotionally
is not prepared to take this exit point”. All weekend, India has been in pursuit of “pumping, luring, provoking”
Pakistan out of the “performance, capacity and moral ascendancy” it continues to display. India seemingly has
returned “back to the drawing board” to ascertain what kind of response to save face with. However, what
remains critical are exit points, knowing when to back off, as any further adventurism by India shall be “too
dangerous and critical”.

With regards to his question “you know what National Command Authority means” last Wednesday, the ISPR
director general was unambiguous in clarifying “whereby Pakistan will always choose peace over war,
dialogue over hostility, be very clear, we shall never compromise on defence of our beloved motherland” so
for the time being Pakistan’s “alertness is on high”.
Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2019

Facebook Count

Twitter Share

38

Read more

Economics and the war drums

Trump says India, Pakistan facing a 'very dangerous situation'

Shun the TV, stop a war

On DawnNews
‫متنازع وائرل ویڈیو ‪':‬میں پریشان نہیں ہوئی بلکہ عزت ملی'‬

‫رافیل معاہدے کی خفیہ دستاویزات 'چوری' ہوچکی ہیں‪ ،‬بھارتی حکومت‬

‫تھنڈر کا استعمال کیوں کیا؟ ‪JF-17‬بھارتی جہاز گرانے کیلئے پاکستان نے‬
‫)‪Comments (38‬‬
‫‪1000 CHARACTERS‬‬

‫‪PopularNewestOldest‬‬

‫‪Syed‬‬

‫‪3 days ago‬‬

‫‪Super, the whole nation is with you.‬‬

Recommend 59

Tarar

3 days ago

So much solace. What a position of relative dignity we are enjoying because of right moves by the state
apparatus. Good times to be a Pakistani I guess. Say no to war but be always ready!

Recommend 99

Manu USA

3 days ago

Where is 2nd Pilot?

Recommend 488

READ ALL COMMENTS

Latest stories
Trudeau denies 'partisan' meddling in prosecution

Trump still hopes for North Korea deal after ominous report
Insta-Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II makes first Instagram post

Will create new tax authority if FBR cannot be fixed, PM Khan warns
'Islamabad wants de-escalation,' foreign minister tells Pakistan's top envoy in India

'Opposition to be taken into confidence regarding crackdown on proscribed

organisations'
Hillary Clinton trolled Donald Trump with a Mean Girls meme

Warner Bros. CEO is being investigated for sexual misconduct

7 ways for women to make their voices heard in the workplace

Hillary Clinton trolled Donald Trump with a Mean Girls meme

Warner Bros. CEO is being investigated for sexual misconduct

7 ways for women to make their voices heard in the workplace

Hillary Clinton trolled Donald Trump with a Mean Girls meme




Most popular
Foreign journalists find holes in Indian narrative on F-16 usage, Balakot strike
India plotted dangerous attack with Israeli help
FIA’s ex-DG Tariq Khosa quits all-important task force