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By:

Correspondent

21 August 2024 at 10:20:16 am

Shattered Narrative

The recent claims made by Noreen Niazi, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, completely expose Pakistan’s military myth-making and underline the widening gap between India’s capabilities and Islamabad’s illusions. In a widely circulated interview, Niazi challenged the official Pakistani account of the confrontation that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, claiming that the country’s military leadership concealed the true extent of India’s military advantage during Operation Sindoor...

Shattered Narrative

The recent claims made by Noreen Niazi, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, completely expose Pakistan’s military myth-making and underline the widening gap between India’s capabilities and Islamabad’s illusions. In a widely circulated interview, Niazi challenged the official Pakistani account of the confrontation that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, claiming that the country’s military leadership concealed the true extent of India’s military advantage during Operation Sindoor last year. Her most striking assertion, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “could have fixed Pakistan” had India chosen a more aggressive course, has predictably triggered fury in Pakistan because it strikes at the very foundation of the establishment’s self-image. Pakistan’s military establishment has always survived not merely through coercive power but the manufacture of perception. Its most enduring weapon been the narrative that Pakistan possesses an equal strategic footing with India despite the overwhelming differences in economic scale, technological capacity and military depth. That carefully constructed illusion has suffered a remarkable blow from a family member of Pakistan’s own most prominent political prisoner. Niazi’s remarks shatter the reputation of Pakistan’s most powerful institution — the army headquarters in Rawalpindi — and its current chief Asim Munir, considered the mastermind of the Pahalgam massacre. Pakistan’s generals have always presented themselves as the ultimate guardians of national security, using confrontation with India as both a strategic doctrine and a domestic political instrument. Niazi’s statements have thoroughly exposed this hollow claim. The statements also expose United States President Donald Trump’s repeated assertion that his intervention apparently helped bring an end to the confrontation, which saw the Indian armed forces striking deep into terror bases within Pakistan. The episode should also force a rethink within India. For months, sections of the domestic political ecosystem questioned the government’s handling of security matters, sometimes treating every military assertion through the prism of partisan suspicion. While a democracy must permit scrutiny, mindless scepticism cannot become reflexive cynicism, particularly when national security decisions are involved. The credibility of India’s armed forces cannot be reduced to domestic political contests. Nor can strategic assessments be shaped by ideological preferences. Countries are judged not by the volume of their arguments but by the strength of their institutions. The Pahalgam attack was intended to project vulnerability in India and undermine the confidence of a rising power. Instead, it produced the opposite effect. With Operation Sindoor, India demonstrated that it would make Pakistan’s terror affiliates pay dearly while retaining the diplomatic and military maturity to control escalation. The significance of this episode lies in the fact that the age in which Pakistan could use terror, brinkmanship and propaganda to maintain an artificial balance is drawing to a close. For decades, Islamabad relied on a combination of terror, international intervention and the assumption that India would exercise restraint regardless of provocation. That calculation has become hopelessly outdated.

Bad Roads, Ugly Politics


The pathetic state of roads in Mumbai city as well as its suburbs has made daily commute a dangerous affair. The residents are miffed with the BMC over its lackadaisical attitude. Mumbaikars tweet photos, post videos to grab attention, but everything is in vain. Who cares for the common people. Backbreaking journeys have become part and parcel of life. Political leaders are busy mud-slinging.


This year the monsoon took a break after almost four and half months. During this time some of the roads virtually became non commutable. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde first announced to make Mumbai roads pothole free.


Its almost two years now the BMC has concretised only 9 percent of roads it planned to concretise. This decision was taken when it came to light that due to the properties of bitumen in asphalt roads, potholes are a regular occurrence due to contact with water during monsoons.


Hence, to solve the problem of potholes, the corporation has adopted a policy of cement concreting of 6-meter-wide roads in phases. The decision was taken but the dilly-dallying affair made things more difficult.


Mumbai’s traffic does put a lot of strain on roads which is not the case in the other developed countries. Second most important aspect is concretisation of roads is done partly and in phases.


The worst problem which is faced is repeated digging for cables and drainage, which weakens the roads. Above all corruption in BMC makes matters worse as a result everything comes to grinding halt.


According to experts, repairing potholes is a reaction with symptomatic treatment. By and large we are dispensing superficial treatment without addressing the root cause. The long-term solution will be to have roads with no potholes but what we need is the means and technology to achieve this. But for this political will is necessary which we lack on every step.


Mumbaikar’s are convience that corruption in the municipal corporation is the main reason. Contractors have had a monopoly over the last 20 years and this is the reason why reputed companies never come ahead for these projects.


As a result, in the name of attendance and repair, the BMC does shoddy work. Crores are spent but the end result is nothing. The BMC is not paying attention to the crust. If the crust is weak, potholes will see an increase. Without any thought or technical know-how, potholes are filled with cold mix.


This is the reason why the city and suburbs continue to have craters on the roads.


Craters, a serious threat to the safety and security of people. Mumbaikars fade up from their repeated visits to orthopedic surgeons.


They are in a mood to teach a proper lesson to those who were at the helm of the affairs.

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