Many legends in different time period have defined peace in different ways. What stands out common across those definitions that peace doesn’t mean inaction. It also doesn’t mean absence of conflict. It very much is a state of affair attained through strategies involving military or non-military actions or both to create an environment of tranquility. If we look at it from India-Pakistan relationship point of view, historically, it has always meant something opposite to what the real essence of peace stands for. Pakistan, through asymmetrical warfare, keeps on attacking and killing citizens and military personnel of India while India found a way or two to avoid an armed conflict. Pakistan remained beneficiary of the Indian doctrine giving priority to a non existent mode of peace.
India lead by Atal Bihari Vajpayee tried immensely to give peace a chance. It worked round the clock to engage Pakistan despite Kargil war thrust upon herself by Pakistan. India witnessed a change in government in 2004 leading to a vacuum of strategy. Government of India under UPA rule did not demonstrate political will to implement an effective strategy to counter Pakistan’s asymmetrical warfare. India faced increased number of deaths and destruction including 26\11 carnage in Mumbai just because UPA’s belief that avoiding conflict would yield peace. It didn’t yield peace, rather, it ended up emboldening Pakistan’s believe in the doctrine to bleed India by thousands cut.
In current context, emboldened by past activities, Pakistan tried another nefarious cut by executing Pulwama incident. To their surprise, India reacted boldly in self defense by hitting terror sanctuary in Balakot. It didn’t only surprise Pakistan but also the entire world. This is not a doctrine India was known for afterall. Pakistan once called Indian PM “Dehati Aurat” is now saying that Indian PM is a psychopath who can go to any extent. Manmohan Singh time and again went to Obama every time India got a cut by Pakistan. Now, Pakistan is begging for peace. This is a welcome change induced by revitalized Indian doctrine believing in the right definition of peace.
The infidels next door, as Pakistani politicians brazenly keep calling Indians, have changed their strategy from hot and cold to consistently hot. In all likelihood, India would not completely de-escalate the situation at border neither India would let implicit economic restrictions on Pakistan get reduced. It’s a revitalized India under Narendra Modi, an India, which Pakistan hasn’t dealt with before and neither seems to have a strategy to deal with.
