Page 3 - 15MAR2019E

Editor’s Note

Dialogue, not war is the option!

Tehelka Special correSpond- the same”. When IAF destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed
enT Riyaz Wani has covered Val- camp in Pakistan, it was a day of reckoning to avenge
ley like no other journalist and is the massacre of Pulwama braves. The pre-emptive Indi-
among the most respected scribes. an Air Force strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied
Our cover story “On the brink” is Kashmir deep inside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region
an in-depth report about rising had sent a strong message to Pakistan. ‘JeM had openly
tension between nuclear neigh- claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack on CRPF
bours following air strikes from both soldiers on February 14. For India, enough was enough
sides of the border in the aftermath of as Pakistan had tested our patience in view of its in-
Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF volvement in attacks in 2016 on Pathankot Air Force
personnel on February 14. There are claims and coun- station on January 2 and Uri on September 18 and other
terclaims but being a rogue State, Pakistan is capable of acts. However, India’s ‘non-military strike’ against a ter-
indulging in an irrational act. rorist camp and airstrikes by Pakistan are escalating
A desperate Pakistan claimed that it had shot down tensions. For Pakistan, it was like a catch 22 situation-
two Indian military aircraft over its airspace and cap- dammed if it confirmed, dammed if it denied?
tured a pilot. The Ministry of External Affairs sum- Pakistan leaders were confused, rattled and stunned.
moned the acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Syed On the diplomatic front, Pakistan whose economy is in
Haider Shah and lodged a strong protest and objected a tailspin has been isolated. The US has warned Pak to
to Pakistan’s vulgar display of blindfolded injured IAF shun terror and no support is coming it’s way. To fur-
Pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in ther isolate Pakistan, External Affairs Minister, Sushma
violation of norms of Geneva Convention. This has trig- Swaraj has rushed to China for a meeting with Foreign
gered outrage in the country. Pakistan’s act of aggres- Ministers of Russia and China. Though India has for long
sion is in contrast to India’s non-military anti-terror been a victim of cross-border terrorism, it still needs to
pre-emptive strike at JeM terrorist camp at Balakot. exercise restraint but be prepared militarily for any
Pakistan’s provocative actions prove its doublespeak eventuality. The political leadership should shun from
as on one hand its Prime Minister, Imran Khan amidst politicizing the airstrikes with elections in mind. Prior-
air raids and escalating tension invited India for peace ity should be to bring back IAF Wing Commander safe-
talks and in the same breath said that Pakistan’s move ly. Dialogue, not war is the only option because no one
to send its aircraft into India was “only intended to con- knows the end of a war.
vey that if you can come into our country, we can do
(chARAnjIt AhujA)

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Volume 16, Issue no. 5, 1-15 march 2019, RELEASEd on 1 march, numbER oF pAgES IncLudIng covER 68
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