Pakistan: A state in continuing existential crisis

By- Bhabatosh Pati

The biggest issue with Pakistan is its existential crisis. They find it really hard to decipher whether the state of Pakistan began in 0712 with the invasion of Mohammed Bin Kasim, or in 1947 by the famous Lord Mountbatten plan.

They are desperate enough, as it is evident from their numerous attempts, since 1999-when an Indian Airlines aircraft was hijacked to arrange for a swap of Indian passengers with three terrorists (one of whom is on the verge being listed as a global terrorist after the recent Pulwama attack)- to prove they started existing in 1712 and not in 1947. If India or any other nation proves that they can co-exist peacefully with India, then their existence is a threat. Therefore, they need to put their religious point of view above all.

Kashmir is only a means to their ends, their Islamic agenda; Kashmir is not their end.

The motivation factor for Indians to fight the Pakistani forces is different – it is based out of Nationalism. On the other hand, in the case of Pakistan, it is asymmetric warfare being fought where the motivation is religion. And when religion is a motivating factor, it becomes very difficult to wipe out your enemy; because it is an ideology that is being followed not a strategy per se. And hence, to wage and win a war against Pakistan is easy whereas to break its ideology is very difficult. This is the major concern for India right now.

While India sees it as a war between two modern states, Pakistan sees it as a religious war which is driven by sacred duty, and when people who are driven by sacred duty are sent to fight a war, even against the whole world it is very difficult to find peace, even if the war is won: it is like a futile task.

Behind the banner of religion, there is another fear of loss of identity. They are propagating religion in order to not lose their identity, and if they lose their identity their state will no longer exist, it will be a state without agenda.

Which is why the hatred for India is the basic motivating factor for them to keep them going because if this vanishes, their purpose and agenda will be failed.

In such a situation, Doval doctrine is sometimes put to books. That now the attacks should be offensive or offensive-defensive. If there is balkanization in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber under the strain of secessionist developments in those places, far more fragile Pakistan Punjab state will be compelled to redirect its energies from India.

Indeed, even before India said a word, Pakistan conceded Indian warplanes struck at Balakot. The way that India entered Pakistani air safeguards and bombarded a faraway focus without risk of punishment has sent a chilling message to Pakistan’s officers about defencelessness. The loss of life or degree of harm is unimportant to that message.

About the author:

Bhabatosh Pati is a BTech engineer by education with in-depth expertise in geo-strategic affairs. He is also an enthusiastic political strategist and a budding writer.

Also Read: Public Opinion On IAF’s Balakot Raid And Subsequent Indo-Pak Tussle

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