While this might seem par-for-course for those familiar with Indo-Pak bluster, there is a point one might do well to recollect. But, on that, later.
Foremost, let's look at the reason behind Pakistan's hardline stance. They have stated that this is being done (repeatedly!) to mark their protest against the "atrocities" on India's "unjust" and "unilateral" actions, and "suppression of human rights" in J&K. Espousal of human rights anyone, coming from the champions of jihad and terrorism?!
Well, once you are done laughing at a) the blatant lie, and b) the irony of where it is cimg from, let's also look at facts.
India has always maintained that it is well within its right of administering J&K in the ways it deems best, as per its own internal constitutional processes.
For the UNinitiated
Those harping about UN intervention and India not removing its troops (in self-defence) along the LoC need to also know and understand that as per the same UN's resolution, any de-militarization is contingent on 3 conditions. The UN resolution unequivocally states that India will de-militarize ONLY AFTER Pakistan does so on its side of the border. In the event of Pakistan mobilising troops on its LoC, India is well within its rights of self-defence.
"No politics, please"
Rewind to Pakistani movie stars not being able to get their much-coveted entry into Bollywood.
All of us know that the IPL is also a synonym for "sour grapes" in every Pakistani heart.
Remember Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and others not being able to enter, let alone perform, in India - especially after 26/11.
Now I'm not getting into the "whether to call them" debate right now.
But just go back and think movies, think sports, think music.
Think about ailing children/patients or people who India entertained to still come over and get treated at our best facilities.
Think about anything where the Pakistani citizen or economy could benefit by simply cashing on the wave of India's success in that field.
"Let's not mix politics between our relations" is an oft-repeated refrain from Pakistan's sideon every such occasion. The pattern is just unmistakable. Every. Such. Occasion.
Cut to 2019. Now, when we make repeated requests to the Pakistani side, such goodwill gestures and homilies have conveniently been put to the sword.
Why?
Only because it doesn't help them and only because it hurts only us in this instance.
Most importantly, also because, it shows they never believed in the small talk on earlier occasions either. It was just that the previous occasions helped them. So it never hurt them to preach about all.thr good things that the other side (India) should do. In the event of no such stance from us, it would only provide fuel to these guys to cry themselves hoarse about not mixing politics with sports/music/arts etc.
Our response
In the present context of airspace denials despite repeated requests for no less than our nation:s PM, the hypocrisy has stood thoroughly exposed. The shoe is on the other foot now and if Pakistan even dares to bring any such trash talk in future when it suits its own interests, their hardline-driven aviation policy - like every other policy of theirs - will come to haunt them.
We must also ensure that we close the Arabian Sea side link from our side towards Pakistan and get them to divert their ships towards their ports, which have till now used routes on our side.
Get flights emanating from/to Pakistan which are plying towards/from Australasia/South Asia/S-E Asia to also go through the same drill that we have been provided.
Leave aside all the espousals about mixing or not mixing politics with policies but for once, I do want us to mix our intelligence and geo-strategic resources with our abilities and response capabilities.
Jai Ho!
