Most analysts agree that Operation Sindoor (OS) caused considerable damages to the terrorist and military installations in Pakistan in a much shorter amount of time than anticipated. Given Pakistan’s history of backing terrorism, no country publicly condemned India for the reprisal. According to credible sources, the destruction would have been far worse if China and Turkey hadn’t stepped in to save Pakistan.
The Arab and Western worlds’ indifference during the OS let Pakistan understand how isolated it was diplomatically. For the first time, a large majority of Muslim nations expressed dismay at Pakistan using Islam as a justification for attacking India to claim victimhood. At the outset, both Arabs and Persians rejected Pakistan’s approach to paint Hindus as Islam’s enemies.
In the aftermath, the innocent Baloch, Pashtuns and the people of POJK have paid the price for Pakistani military’s humiliation. The authorities have since harassed, jailed, and tortured thousands of residents, including women and students from these occupied territories, accusing them of being Indian agents and traitors.
Political awareness in POJK is making it harder for the military to maintain authority over civilian areas. Due to a dramatic change in attitude, the majority of people in Gilgit now see Pakistan as an invader, and the locals who once referred to Gilgit as Pakistan’s fifth province have been defeated. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan now regard themselves as part of Jammu Kashmir and emphasize unity with the residents of Muzaffarabad, Ladakh and Srinagar. Many also seek India to exercise its constitutional obligation by appointing representatives from POJK in the Jammu Kashmir Assembly.
The Pakistani military imposes hegemony in the goal of preventing the country’s disintegration, oblivious to the fact that meddling in civilian affairs is the leading cause of Pakistan’s decline. The military uses media control to silence critics and keep human rights abuses from receiving international notice. The military’s sway and noose around the judiciary prevents civilians from accessing justice. In a debauched effort to bolster national security, the military recently forced the parliament to enact the 27th constitutional amendment, making the army chief the leader of all three branches of the government.
With President Trump promising General Asim Munir a lucrative role in the Middle East, there is concern that Pakistan will have the wherewithal to incite instability in India once more. As we speak, there has been a new wave of terror incidents in Kashmir, with accusations leveled at Pakistan and China. The Pakistani military is returning the nation to the 1990s, a time when both Pakistan’s minorities and its neighbors suffered.
Pakistani military’s actions in Kashmir could force India to resume Operation Sindoor. Whether the conflict will result in a final resolution for Gilgit remains to be seen.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.
