WEEKENDE
The
R 09 Mar-15 Mar 2019
Valour of Pakistani spirit
Brigadier S Shujah H Khurazmi (Retd)
reflects on the loftiness of Pakistani
perception
P
akistani act of returning cap-
tured Indian pilot is certainly not
the result of any foreign pressure
but reflects the valour of Islamic
principles of armed engagement. The first
full-scale conflagration between Islam and
Christendom occurred during the celebrated
Crusades spanning over a considerable length
of time and involving disparate peoples from
multiple lands. The armed struggle gave rise
to many legends that still form part of the
historical legacy of the Muslim and Christian
worlds. If the Christians revered Richard the
Lion Heart, the Muslim world was all praise
for the exploits of Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi
popularly known as ‘Saladin’ in the western
world.
Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi was an ethnic
Kurd and has risen to the heights of royal au-
thority by the dint of his abilities of head and
heart. He was the proverbial bastion that the
Christian forces failed to conquer though they
tried desperately. He kept the Muslim world
together during the turbulent times and suc-
ceeded in conquering the holy city of Jerusa-
lem and incorporating it in the Islamic world
where it remained for centuries.
The legend goes that during the campaign,
Richard the Lion Heart fell ill and Sultan sent
his trusted mendicant to treat him. The ap-
prehensions of the Christian king and his co-
horts as to the intention of the Sultan to send
his mendicant to harm him were laid to rest
when he conveyed the message of the Sultan
that he wants Richard to get back his health
so that he can fight him and kill him in battle!
This is the actual spirit of valour entertained
by the Islamic faith that believes in facing the
odds squarely and to strive to overcome them.
Viewed in this backdrop the criticism tak-
ing place about Pakistan’s action to hand the
humbled Indian air force pilot back to India is
difficult to understand. The pilot was made to
cross the Pakistani border in a secret attack
but the vigilance of the Pakistani air force
frustrated the designs of communal Modi
government and shot down the Indian plane.
The pilot was captured and brought to safety
following high Pakistani spirit of treating war
prisoners with kindness. He was given med-
ical treatment and the exceptionally honour-
able treatment meted out to him made him
to condemn the atrocity of the Indian media
opinion that is brewing with anti-Pakistan
enmity.
Wing Commander Abhinandan was sent
back to India without delay as Pakistani spirit
of valour was conveying to the enemy a mes-
sage that we are prepared to face you head-
on and do not believe in holding your pilot to
exchange him for a deal. It also conveyed that
we fought off your aggression with success
and will do again even if you come back and,
this time, with full strength.
Pakistani spirit is unconquerable and be-
lieves in confronting adverse situations with
verve and determination. Pakistan has not
Destruction of Modi aggression
Sending back with no fear
provoked India as it is Indian ferocious crack-
down against hapless civilians in occupied
Kashmir that has alienated unarmed Kash-
miris who are waging a struggle against In-
dian tyranny and had taken the extreme step
of suicide bombing in Pulawama. It was the
chicanery of the Modi administration that
tried to exploit an indigenous act of Kashmiri
resistance for gaining electoral support in the
forthcoming Indian elections.
Modi regime was confident that a diver-
gent attack on Pakistan on the pretext of tak-
ing action against terrorist groups will gain it
huge advantage in the election campaign. It is
the opacity of the Indian political perception
that it still uses Pakistan-bashing as an elec-
toral prop whereas Pakistani electoral pro-
cess is singularly free of this petty nuisance.
Modi was under the impression that Pakistan
will show restraint in case of an aggressive ac-
tion despite Pakistan making it very clear that
Comment 3
Viewed in this
backdrop the
criticism taking
place about
Pakistan’s action to
hand the humbled
Indian air force pilot
back to India is
difficult to
understand
it will correspondingly respond and without
delay.
The deftness of Pakistani military response
unnerved the Modi regime and elicited world-
wide condemnation of Indian aggression. The
local Indian opposition reflected worry over
his selfish policy that was based on the real-
isation of the horrid fact that it had opened
doors of serious armed escalation in the re-
gion. Modi has certainly suffered a set-back,
both in terms of electoral prospects and stra-
tegic failure. The lukewarm action of Indian
military points out that Modi did not even
succeed in convincing it for taking senseless
aggression.
The swift return of the Indian prisoner
merits applause as it reflects the calm and
collected attitude of Pakistan in respect of a
jittery enemy who is completely out of depth
with reality. Pakistani defence capability is
measured knowing how to respond. It is per-
fectly capable of facing Indian aggression and
the return of the Indian pilot shows that it is
imbued with the spirit of exceptional bravery.
Pakistan is not afraid of Indian designs and is
fully equipped to defend itself with full force.
Pakistani action of returning the Indian pris-
oner should be viewed in the larger aspect of
valorous intention and magnanimous spirit
and should be appreciated. TW
Brigadier S Shujah H Khurazmi (Retd) had
a distinguished career in law enforcement
and now is a social activist