Why did India STOP?
If you followed the 4-day Operation Sindoor of India against Pakistani terrorist infrastructure, you must be scratching your head as to why India stopped pummelling Pakistan when most Indians (and our well-wishers) thought India was on the verge of a major win which could redraw international boundaries in favour of India. Why did India agree to “stoppage of firing and military action”? Ahm, NOT CEASEFIRE clearly! Are they not the same? Never bother, no worries, keep smiling. Indians can make Buddhu even out of Buddha.
The reaction
Most people who were glued to their TV sets, social media handles and “chai pe charchas” were irked. More irritating was the behaviour and continued assertions of POTUS (BSDK, who is this fellow treating India and Terroristan as school yard kids?). Almost everyone who was on the outside of this military strategy was clueless. The Indian foreign secretary looked upset. Someone had just thrown India under the bus. The big question was: Had India thrown itself under the bus? Suicide by choice, and that too for giving another life to an evil perpetrated on India for decades (and centuries). Centrist, leftists, right wingers, up wingers, down wingers and even swingers, everyone felt India had screwed itself (once again). The mistakes of Raja Dahir, Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the Battle of Talikota and other historical events started doing the rounds.
Commentators and public questioned why India had been partitioned, why did India go to UN (when they were winning) in 1947–48, why did India not use the Air Force in 1962 Indo-China war, why did we give China and Pakistan a free pass on many occasions, why did we sign the Tashkent deal in 1966, why did we sign the Indus Water Treaty, why did we sign the Shimla Agreement (even after creating Bhantadesh). Was 2025 another occasion when India had given away its advantages? Had it sacrificed its interests? Why? Why? Why? Adding fuel to the fire were half-truths and fake claims of Pakistan being echoed by the usual suspects of the western media (with puppet master China in the background). Fast heart rate, high blood pressure and an agitated mind imagined India snatching equivalence with Pakistan from the wide jaws of victory.
Many Indians were ready to question if the chest was “56 inches” or “56 mm”. Anger was palpable, just like when India loses an important cricket match and people start throwing stones at Dhoni and Tendulkar’s house. Emotions just ran high. India felt, its heroes should be taught a lesson.
The Counter reactions
For a few hours, even the government had no answers. They were not even prepared for this backlash. Then came the DGMOs conference. Gone were the two lady officers and the foreign secretary. The conference did its job and educated a 24 — 7 Indian with gory details of Pakistan’s misdemeanours and India’s strong hit back. But still the question remained. Why stop? Why not go on for another 10 days? Perhaps, Shani (Saturn) and Brihaspati (Jupiter)transits were not auspicious. Or was it Rahu? And then came strategically leaked news bytes making their presence felt on U-tube. Some logical answers followed:
· Answer 1 — India had achieved its strategic objectives and thus did not need to continue. Ok, so the bar of the strategic objectives was limited. If so, why? I guess even India had outperformed its expectations. So, they said — We have not only passed the exam but scored 90%. Baki kya bacha (What is left).
· Answer 2- India had downed American and Chinese jets. Also, Turkish, Chinese and American military technologies had been thrashed. The Americans couldn’t afford to lose face, so they asked the Indians to stop. And India agreed. Why? So, when did India become responsible for the share prices of Lockheed Martin and Chengdu? What’s in it for us? Logic like this is not only downright foolish, but also, does the Indian government and media think most Indians have no dimag (brain).
· Answer 3 — India has struck the nuclear assets of Pakistan, and radioactive material has started spreading in the nearby areas of Pakistan. If not controlled could spread to the rich Sheikdoms and the rest of the Middle East (with the change in wind direction). Thus, India had to stop. Really? If so, how was this verified? It is like losing a clear victory to Duckworth-Lewis.
· Answer 4 — Pakistan contacted India and requested India to stop. Indian government picked up Sam Pitroda’s line of thinking: Jo Hua, so Hua( What happened, has happened, forget it). Oh, so you forgot the Sindoor of the women whose husbands were killed in cold blood.
Perhaps, all (some or none) of these answers are true, but they still don’t answer the real question — why India stopped. Are “We the People of India” asking for too much? Or are we behaving like a typical Indian parent who questions their child’s report card even when the child gets 99.99 out of 100? They ask, Why didn’t you get 100.
Most of us will never get a satisfactory answer, but a lot has changed, and we should expect and be ready for more change in the coming days, months and years. We must question, but also do what we can. As PK, a renowned journalist, says, do what you can. “If you can write, you should write, if you listen (just like and subscribe), if you can donate, go ahead (no amount is small) and if you can speak, SPEAK and if you can do none of these and can just stand, then stand behind someone who can lead you. So, when elections come, don’t go on a holiday or sit on the sofa and watch a movie, be MOVED or you will be REMOVED.
Remember, enemies need just one victory. This is not the age of Rama, Krishna or Buddha. This is the age of Kaminey, and you need Heropanti to counter it.
