On 14 February 2019, a terror attack killed 40 Indian soldiers at Pulwama, Indian Occupied Kashmir. The unfortunate incident happened when a convoy of Indian soldiers was hit by an SUV full of explosives. The incident was condemned by leaders from all over the world including Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Mr. Khan immediately offered all possible assistance to probe the incident. But the Indian government hastily blamed Pakistan for the attack without proper investigation and took a dangerously belligerent path.
The Pulwama attack created a serious deadlock between the two nuclear-armed countries. While Pakistan characterized the attack as a “false flag operation”, India was all set for “retaliation”. The situation between the countries turned into an “international crisis” when Indian warplanes in wee hours of the morning of 26 February crossed the international border and dropped bombs in Pakistani territory.
On the very next day, Pakistan conducted retaliatory airstrikes in the Indian territory and also shot down an Indian warplane that had crossed over into Pakistani air space and captured its pilot who ejected and landed on Pakistani side of the border. The bellicose rhetoric, war hysteria and reckless actions by India in the wake of Balakot incident posed a grave threat to peace and security in South Asia and the wider region. It was Pakistan’s restraint and responsible attitude in unilateral release of the captured Indian pilot Abhinandan which averted serious aggravation of the crisis.
The Pakistani authorities had called the Pulwama attack which triggered the whole crisis a false flag operation staged by the BJP government to make electoral gains in the upcoming election by whipping up anti-Pakistan sentiment and by projecting itself as being “tough” on Pakistan. Pakistan maintained that the operation was aimed to divert the public’s attention from domestic issues and create a regional crisis until the general elections which were due in April of that year.
Pakistan’s stance seems to have been greatly vindicated on account of the revelations made during the recent police investigations of Arnab Goswami, a firebrand Indian TV journalist and staunch supporter of the BJP government. The police have retrieved Goswami’s WhatsApp messages which raise serious questions about the Indian official narrative around the Pulwama attack and the Balakot Incident. During his conversation with Partho Dasgupta CEO of Broadcast Audience Research Council in India on 23 February 2019, Goswami hinted towards the Balakot airstrike and its importance for Prime Minister Modi in the upcoming elections.
Goswami texted; “something big will happen”.
After a few messages on other matters, Dasgupta asked, “Dawood?”, referring to the notorious gangster Dawood Ibrahim who is wanted in several cases.
The conversation continued:
Arnab Goswami: “No sir Pakistan. Something major will be done this time.”
Partho Dasgupta: “Good.”
Partho Dasgupta: “It’s good for big man in this season.”
Partho Dasgupta: “He will sweep polls then.”
Partho Dasgupta: “Strike? Or bigger”
Arnab Goswami: “Bigger than a normal strike. And also, at the same time something major on Kashmir. In Pakistan, the government is confident of striking in a way that people will be elated.
Exact words used.”
Arnab Goswami’s leaked chats have exposed the Indian propaganda and lent credence to Pakistan’s longstanding stance on Indian proclivity for false flag operations. Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked for the world’s attention towards the Indian propaganda while saying, “in 2019, I spoke at UNGA on how India’s fascist Modi govt used the Balakot crisis for domestic electoral gains. Latest revelations from communication of an Indian journalist, known for his warmongering, reveal the unholy nexus between the Modi govt & amp; Indian media”.
Indian false flag operations like the Pulwama attack and consequent Balakot airstrike are part of India’s Hybrid warfare against Pakistan. As I have discussed in my previous article, India is trying to defame Pakistan through propaganda tactics and present Pakistan as the hub of terrorism. But the recently leaked chats have exposed India and vindicate Pakistan’s desire for peace in the region. After the leaked chats international community must see for itself that how Mr Modi, in his quest for power brought South Asia to the brink of a nuclear holocaust.
