Air-strike Afterthoughts…
Columns, In Black & White

Air-strike Afterthoughts…

March 2, 2019

Financial Shield

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is back on Indian soil and some say with his return a war has been averted. But we doubt if there would have been a war at all. Because apart from loss of lives, war also causes economic devastation and India today is a “financial asset” that super powers would like to keep safe.

The five-members of the United Nations Security Council — USA, Russia, China, France, UK — who are the most weaponised, have heavily invested in India.

The Americans have numerous companies in India — from Cisco to Coca Cola, from Pfizer to Pizza Hut. In fact out of the top 20 IT companies operating in India, 9 are from the US. 

Then we have to remember India is China’s 7th biggest export market. India is France’s 15th biggest trade partner and UK’s 20th. Russian investments in India has already surpassed its target of $30 billion and is expected to touch $50 billion by 2025 as the government is planning a ‘tax-free’ zone for Russian investment.

Apart from these nations, other powerful nations have invested too. There are over 1,305 Japanese companies registered in India. Also there are over 1,600 Indo-German collaborations and 600 Indo-German joint ventures operating in India.

Interestingly, an Islamic nation, UAE, is set to invest over $75 billion in India after BJP, a party perceived to be “Anti-Islam” came to power ! No wonder, the 57-Member Organisation of Islamic Co-operation  (OIC) invited India as the ‘guest of honour’ for its 50th year conference held in Abu Dhabi yesterday and ignored Pakistan’s objection.

Yes, today world is about economics. If you are a viable nation you become a relevant nation. India’s annual GDP is $2597.5 billion while Pakistan’s GDP stands at just $305 billion. In fact, Pakistan’s GDP is less than India’s one State, Maharashtra, which has a GDP of $425 billion! So Pakistan does not have many interests that superpowers need to protect.

But many pundits warn that when someone has noting left to lose, it is more dangerous. So Pakistan may wage a war. Again the Pakistan upper class consisting of Army Generals and Politicians who have made so much money renting out Pakistan as “operating base” wouldn’t want to lose their life before they can enjoy their ill-gotten wealth. 

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But Pulwama attack and the retaliation from India has made the world look up and has resulted in Pakistan’s isolation in the international world.

May be, this will force Pakistan to be a true democracy of its people, by its people and for its people and not of its Army, by its Army and for its Army Generals.

Cultural Isolation

Now, many hailed Wing Commander’s repatriation as Pakistan’s grand gesture of peace; it would be prudent to remember that the return of Wing Commander Abhinandan was an inevitability.

As expected there is talk of cricket matches and cultural bhaigiri. One “intellectual” even said, “This tit for tat is not the Indian way”! 

The hypocrisy of Indian “intellectuals” can be very frustrating. Lyricist Javed Akhtar and even Lata Mangeshkar were denied visa to Pakistan. But we didn’t hear Pakistani artistes, intellectuals and liberals protesting against their government for denying visa to Indian artistes?

Oh! Yes Pakistan did give visa to an Indian artist, an escape artist with exceptional talent in bomb-blasting — Dawood Ibrahim. And did we hear their Pakistani liberals scream, “send him back to India to stand trial”? Not even a peep there.

The fact is, when one nation can use terror as an instrument of State policy, why can’t we use cultural ‘isolation’ as one of our instruments of State policy?

Relationships are built on give and take, but when one side only takes joy and wealth and returns only bullets and blood… that relationship has to end… even culturally.

Politics of it all

Will BJP use this for politics? Yes, of course, it will. Didn’t Yeddyurappa say that it will win them more seats? Other parties would have done the same. That’s politics.

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There is no doubt this is Prime Minister Modi’s 9/11 moment. In 2001, George W. Bush was the most unpopular President in the history of the United States. He was not expected to win his re-election and then 9/11 happened.

One month later, America began ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in Afghanistan.  Three years later in 2004, he was a popular President perceived as being a strong leader and protector. And the fact that there was no more terror attacks in the US propelled him to Presidency.

Similarly, under Pm Modi each time there has been a terror attack there has been retaliation. Whether the Indian voter cares more about terror attacks or jobs, only time will tell but for the time being Modi is perceived as being a strong leader and that could help in the Hindi heartland.

But, by far the worse statement came from our CM H.D. Kumaraswamy. He said, “The Centre is claiming to have killed Pakistani terrorists by conducting air- strikes. But, by distributing sweets on the streets and unfurling the victory flag here, an atmosphere of animosity is being created between two communities.”

What an insult to Muslims. Is the CM trying to say Indian Muslims love Pakistan and not India? Is he saying Muslims are not patriots?

May be, the CM does not know one of the jawans, who lost his life in the Pakistani-sponsored terror attack in Pulwama, was a Muslim named Naseer Ahmad of CRPF’s 76th battalion.

We assure CM Kumaraswamy that Naseer’s 8-year-old daughter Falak and 6-year-old son Kashif will not be sad that Indian Air Force destroyed the terrorist training camp in Pakistan that killed their father.

The CM should know Naseer’s elder brother Siraj-ud-Din, asked  “for how long will soldiers continue to be killed by terrorists. Every time they die, the country will just mourn and the government will simply come out with strong condemnations.” At least now after the air-strike, he will feel his government will not meekly stop at lip-service.

That said our troublesome neighbour now knows that every attack will have a reply.  Also the separatists in the Valley will think hard, and stone-pelters will think twice before bending down to pick up a stone, because now we live in an India that does not bend backward to accommodate peace talks, but steps forward to strike right back.

e-mail: [email protected]

11 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “Air-strike Afterthoughts…”

  1. There appears to be more than meets the eye behind Pakistan conducting itself as if nothing adverse has happened following the straphing of it’s airspace by Indian mirage planes.One wonders if that is so why is it raising the loud and shrill voice of retaliation against it’s neighbouring State. India should keep up the pressure on Pakistan to ensure that it dismantled it’s terror outfits.It is also high time that article 370 and article 35A are abrogated to enable the border State with mainstream India.This is essential as anti national elements in the State are also as responsible as Pakistan for the chaotic situation aggravating of late in the valley.

    • Hanuman says:

      @Chakravarthy Peddling the same nonsense. If removing the 2 articles is so easy without repercussions, why Modi has not done it? After all, he is a real leader, says the SOM. Real leaders, are brave and do what is best.

  2. Manava says:

    Most of so called investments in India by the permanent members of the Security Council, is because of cheap labour in India, and on the software development side, they can get away paying IT coolies pittance in international salary terms. If China cares about its economic interest in respect of India, why does it still hold the territories it occupied. If other Western powers care about the investments in India, why they do not elect India to be a permanent Security Council members, and help to solve the J and K issue? Still , why US, dumps so many billions of dollars in Pakistan and keeps quiet when it attacks J and K through insurgents, if it values economic interests in respect of India?
    Investments are double -edged sword. The author forgets, may be does not realise that these investments he quotes will be used as a leverage t by those powers. When theese powers threaten to remove then, India will have to listen to them!
    The simple fact is India is crying out for these investments, and hence, cannot expect all the powers quoted to listen to India. The author uses intellectual arguments, while decrying India’s intellectuals! The reality is China and US support Pakistan,, and they are doing this since the time of Mao and Eisenhower. Just attacking terrorist cells there does not solve the terrorist or J and K Problem. Look at Israel, which has a better military machinery than India and their air force is very strong , and any terrorist attack by Hamas gets a swift response. Yet, Palestinian issue is not solved and so would be the J and K issue.

  3. Hanuman says:

    The author gets confused equating outsourcing with investments. CISCO and other companies have outsourced certain tasks to Induia which otherwise would become expensive if carried out in the US. A look at USD – Rupee exchange rate explains this. India is economically very significant just like Japan or Germany-both are not permanent members of the UN Security Council; It t is still a third world country like Brazil, doing the outsourcing work, without any significant innovation , whilst China grew into a superpower. If these Western companies shift their outsourcing work to other third world countries, then India faces massive techie unemployment. That is the leverage, the poster above, indicates that these Western companies have.
    Despite the so called mature aircraft industry, India wants to buy Rafale fighter, not the state-of-the art fighter, and more importantly has to acquire the smart bombs from tiny Israel to use against the Pakistan terrorist camp recently.

    • Hanuman says:

      “India is economically very significant just like Japan or Germany-both are not permanent members of the UN Security Council”

      Should read: ” India is NOT economically very significant just like Japan, and hence very little international sway politically or economically. I should also add, many of these countries listed by the author also run call centres in India, as it costs cheap to do so , say instead of locating them in US or Germany. In summary, India has cheap work force for these companies.

  4. Kannadiga says:

    ಭಯೋತ್ಪಾದಕರಿಗೆ ಬೈದರೆ ಮುಸಲ್ಮಾನರಿಗೆ ಬೇಜಾರು ಆಗತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ ಒಪ್ಪಿಕೊಂಡ ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಯವರಿಗೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದ
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಉಗ್ರರನ್ನು ಕೊಂದಾಗ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಿಸಿದರೆ ಎರಡು ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಒಳಗೆ ವೈಮನಸ್ಯ ಎನ್ನುವ ಮೂಲಕ ನಮ್ಮ CM ಯಾರನ್ನು ಉಗ್ರರಪರ ಎನ್ನಲು ಹೊರಟಿರುವುದು?!
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    ಕುಮಾರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ:— ಯುದ್ದಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಸೈನಿಕರು ಮೋದಿಯಲ್ಲ….
    ಮಂಕ:—ಸಾಲಮನ್ನ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಬ್ಯಾಂಕಿನವರು ನೀನಲ್ಲ…?
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯವರು ತಾವೇ ಯುದ್ದ ಮಾಡಿದ ತರ ಸಂಬ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಸರಿ..

    ನೀವು ಯಾಕೆ ಸತ್ತ ಉಗ್ರರೆಲ್ಲ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಕರ ರೀತಿ ಉರ್ಕೋತಾ ಇದ್ದೀರಾ 🙄
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
    ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡಲು ನನಗೂ ಒಂದು ಅವಕಾಶ ಕೊಡಿ ಎಂದು ಕೇಳುವ ನಿಖಿಲ್ ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ.. ಸೇವೆಮಾಡಲು ರಾಜಕೀಯನೇ ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ.
    ಸೈನ್ಯಕ್ಕೂ ಹೋಗಬಹುದು ಅಲ್ವೇ?
    {ಅದು ಎಲ್ಲಿರಬೇಕೋ ಅದು ಅಲ್ಲಿಲ್ಲ.. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಹೋಗೋಲ್ಲ. 🤪}
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಪಾಕ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಇಮ್ರಾನ್ ಖಾನ್ ಅವನನ್ನು ಹೊಗಳುತ್ತಿರುವವರು ಬೇರೆ ಯಾರು ಅಲ್ಲ, ತನ್ನ ಅಪ್ಪ ಸದೃಢನಾಗಿದ್ದರು ಪಕ್ಕದ ಮನೆಯ ಅಂಕಲ್ ನನ್ನು ಅಪ್ಪ ಎಂದು ಕರೆಯುವವರು!
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಮಸೂದ್ ಅಜರ್ ಖಾಯಿಲೆಯಿಂದ ಬಳಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ: ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ

    ಹಾಗಾದ್ರೆ ಭಾರತಕ್ಕೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿ “ಆಯುಶ್ಮಾನ್” ಯೋಜನೆಯ ವಿಮೆಯಿಂದ ಚಿಕೆತ್ಸೆ ಕೊಡಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ!
    🤔
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    ಮೌನ ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಇದ್ದಾಗ, ಸೈನಿಕರು ಮೌನವಾಗಿದ್ದರು,

    *ಒಬ್ಬ ಚಹಾ ಮಾರುವವನು ಪ್ರಧಾನಿಯಾದ, ನಮ್ಮ ಯೋಧ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಚಹಾ ಕುಡಿದು ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ!*
    #56″💪
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    ಪ್ರತೀಕಾರ ತೀರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದು ಸೇನೆ, ಮೋದಿ ಅಲ್ಲ: ವಿರೋಧ ಪಕ್ಷಗಳು

    ಆ ಲೆಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿದ್ರೆ, ತಾಜ್ ಮಹಲ್ ಕಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಮೇಸ್ತ್ರಿಗಳು, ಶಹಜಹಾನ್ ಅಲ್ಲ!
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಅಂದು ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರಿ ಪಂಡಿತರ ಮಾರಣಹೋಮವನ್ನು ಕಾಂಗ್ರೇಸ್ ತಡೆದಿದ್ದರೆ,ಇಂದು ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರದ ತುಂಬೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬಂದೂಕಿನ ಸದ್ದಿನ ಬದಲು.ವೇದ ಮಂತ್ರಗಳ ಘೋಷ ಮೊಳಗುತ್ತಿತ್ತು🙄
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ,ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶವನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವ ಸೈನಿಕರ ಜೊತೆ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಕೇಳುವ ಜನರಿರುವ ಏಕೈಕ ದೇಶ ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾರತ.
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಇವತ್ತು ಇಸ್ರೇಲ್ ನಂತಹ ಬಲಾಡ್ಯ ದೇಶಗಳು ನಮ್ಮೊಂದಿಗಿವೆ!

    ಇದೆಲ್ಲ ಮೋದಿ ವಿದೇಶ ಪ್ರಯಾಣದಿಂದ ಹೊರತು ಮೊಮ್ಮಗಳ ಮುಖದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ ಮೂಗನ್ನು ಕಾಣುವವರಿಂದಲ್ಲ!
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    ಇಮ್ರಾನ್ ಖಾನ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯ ಎಲೆಕ್ಷನ್ ಮುಂಚೆ ತಾನು ಮೋದಿ ತರ ಕೆಲ್ಸ
    ಮಾಡ್ತೀನಿ ಅಂದಿದ್ದ….
    ಗೆದ್ದ ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾಕೋ ರಾಹುಲ್ ಗಾಂಧಿ ತರ ಆಗ್ಬಿಟ್ಟ.
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಪಾಕ್ ಇನ್ಮೇಲೆ ಚೈನಾವನ್ನೂ ನಂಬುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ.
    ಈಗ ಅದರ ಬೆಂಬಲಕ್ಕಿರುವ ಒಂದೇ ಒಂದು ಆಸರೆ…ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶದ ಗಂಜಿಗಿರಾಕಿಗಳು.
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    ಅಭಿನಂದನ್ ಬಂದಿಸಿದಾಗ ಮೋದಿ ನೇರ ಹೊಣೆ..ಅಭಿನಂದನ್ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನ ಬಿಟ್ಟಾಗ ಇಮ್ರಾನ್ ಖಾನ್ ಶಾಂತಿಪ್ರಿಯ ನಾಯಕ..ಭಾರತದ ಕೆಲವು ಗಂಜಿ ಗಿರಾಕಿ ಗಳ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ
    ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

    ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಜಿ ಟೊಮೊಟೊ ಬೆಲೆ 300 ಆದರೂ ಅವರು ದೇಶದ ಜೊತೆ ಇದ್ದಾರೆ, ಭಾರತದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಬೆಲೆ 2ರೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾದರೆ ಬೀದಿಗೆ ಬಂದು ಬಂದ್ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ
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    ದಾರಿ ತಪ್ಪಿದ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರು ಐಸಿಸ್ ಸೇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ
    ದಾರಿ ತಪ್ಪಿದ ಹಿಂದೂಗಳು ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್
    ಸೇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ..😂
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    ಸೋನಿಯಾ ಗಾಂಧಿಯ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಭವಿಷ್ಯ ರೂಪಿಸಲು ಹೋಗಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಂತ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಭವಿಷ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅಪಾಯ ತಂದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಡಿ!

    *#ಜಾಗೋ ಮತದಾರ ಜಾಗೋ*
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    ಕಿ.ಮೀಟರ್ ಹೋಗಿ ಎಣ್ಣೆ 🍻 ಹೊಡದೆ ಎಂದು ಬೀಗಬೇಡ,ಬಾರ್ಡರ್ ದಾಟಿ ಕಾಫಿ ☕ ಕುಡಿದುಬಂದಿದ್ದನ್ನು ನೋಡಿದಿನಿ.💪ಜೈಹಿಂದ್ 🇮🇳
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    ಅಭಿನಂದನ್ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ
    ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದ ಪಾಕ್ ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರು.
    ಪಾಕ್ ಸುಪ್ರೀಂ ಕೋರ್ಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಜಿ.
    ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯವಾದವನ್ನು ಕೆಲವರು ನೋಡಿಕಲಿಯಲಿ
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    *ಮೊದಲೆಲ್ಲಾ ಭಾರತ ಶಾಂತಿ ಬಯಸುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಈಗ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ಥಾನ ಶಾಂತಿ ಬಯಸುತ್ತಿದೆಯಂತೆ.*

    *ಇದು ನಿಜವಾದ ಅಚ್ಚೇ ದಿನ್…*

  5. Sunil says:

    Great points Kannadiga!

  6. Benami says:

    @manava, You keep mentioning IT coolies and IT sweatshops in your comments.
    Do you have a psychological problem?

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