I hope that sanity returns soon to the sub-continent and hawkish talk (and now action) of war mongering does not get out of hand. It is all too easy for things to escalate. It is never easy for them to be brought back into control once they have done so.
In what seems to be a case of military provocation and pressure tactics against Pakistan, Indian planes violated Pakistani airspace yesterday. Even though the violations have been officially termed as ‘inadvertent’, two border violations on the same day are a little too much. It will be interesting to see whether international community says anything against these violations or remains silent spectator.
According to latest Dawn update:
ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Indian planes violated Pakistan’s airspace on Saturday, but fighters of the Pakistan Air Force chased them away, military as well as civilian officials confirmed late in the night.
Air Commodre Humayun Viqar Zephyr, a PAF spokesman, told Dawn that the Indian planes intruded into Pakistan’s airspace in Azad Kashmir and Lahore sectors, but left as soon as they sighted the PAF jets.
He said there was no cause for concern as the PAF was “fully alive to the situation and capable of giving a befitting reply in case of a misadventureâ€.
Official sources said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani were immediately informed about the incident and the matter was taken up with the Indian authorities.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman confirmed that Islamabad had got in touch with authorities in New Delhi, implicitly conceding that the violation did take place. But she hastened to add that Indians had done it inadvertently
From Pakistani side, I am heartened to read the messages of unity where both Government and opposition leaders have put aside their petty differences and unequivocally condemned this act of aggression.
Lets see what effects such violations will have. Will Pakistan now move its armed forces towards Indian border leaving the western border less guarded? With the Pakistani border on both the West and the East being violated routinely, something will have to give? But what? Who will win in such situation? How will such acts effect the democratic government in Pakistan?
Will good sense prevail and will diplomacy prevail over aggression? I certainly hope it does.
“My information, which is the correct information, is that it was a technical incursion, which happens when planes are flying at 50,000 feet. When they turn, a slight incursion could take place,” he said. He said they had “lightly entered Pakistan soil”, adding “incursions do happen”.
source
This is nothing but internal power struggle in Pakistan between Armed forces and civilian govt.
It is better to violate airspace then to violate humanity
Hahaha! They are so sensitive on the eastern side, but so oblivious of what is going on in the western side. Why?
1-Contrary to someone say below, such violations have each others’ airspace have not happened (at least the known ones) in a long time. Now there are 2 such violence within hours of each other.
2- The political leadership of Pakistan–yes, President Zardari too–can proudly say that the whole nation is behind it; this is especially relevant after the APC where all major political parties fully supported the govt. Pakistan is no longer a sham-democracy.
3-Zardari is trying hard to control the fallout. Escalation with India will only support the hard-core elements in Pakistan. But even Zardari has said that Pakistan’s cooperation should not be taken as a sign of weakness. By the way, don’t forget the repeated shameless ‘cricket diplomacy’ of Zia ul Haq or the ‘handshake of peace’ from Musharraf to Vajpayee in Kathmandu.
4-There has been plenty of outrage and genuine grief in Pakistan during the Mumbai terrorism. And, yes, it can rightly said that Pakistani society has not been able to contain the religious militancy. Yet, Pakistan itself has suffered greatly at the hand of this militancy. I think there are simply too many of these forces exist in Pakistan to be countered. This is not a trivial point.
5- The civilian govt. was given power only after the military’s alpha male President Musharraf became too weak, too controversial, too irrelevant. This govt. has tried to exert itself but has been shut up by the real powers in Pakistan. PML-Q is still intact as the hyena-in-wait as the re-incarnation of the civilian face of another coup should the new democratic govt. stray too far from the ‘right path’.
6- Indian media has been a major disappointment. Barring a few voices like Indian Express’ Shekar Gupta most discourse is too jingoistic. ‘Bomb. Bomb. Bomb’.
7-India will hurt its own interests by initiating a war. I am not even talking about the potential use of nukes by anyone.
Fellow Pakistanis,
Mr 10% and his vile lot have cowed to every Indian whim hence the evil Indian action of yesterday. The Indian media’s hysteria is akin to a Yash Chopra blockbuster with them egging on India to teach Pakistan a lesson of sorts.
But let it be said here and now that India is warned, let her not engage in silly misadventures. My post on the topic does all the talking, if interested see below:
http://blog.otherpakistan.org/
FEIMANALLAH PAKISTAN
Wasim