In the stark theatre of international conflict, victory is measured by more than just military outcomes. It is judged in the quiet aftermath, in the credibility of a nation’s voice, and in its ability to face reality with composure. Following the recent engagement dubbed ‘Operation Bunyan um Marsoos,’ which saw Pakistani forces achieve a decisive tactical victory by downing Indian aircraft, this second, more telling battle—the battle of narratives—has exposed a deep and chronic fragility at the heart of the Indian establishment.

There’s nothing more human than the instinct to hide our shame. After an apparent loss, a person either accepts it or does everything they can to pretend it never happened. Pakistan’s reaction was that of a clear winner—measured, confident, laying out the undeniable evidence without fanfare. But India’s response was a masterclass in shame avoidance. Instead of a quiet acknowledgement of what........

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