In his long-awaited speech, the Indian Prime Minister claimed to have established a new normal — on the lines of a forever war — through the operation named Sindoor. Originally the name was intended to effeminise the enemy, the operation was hastily rebranded once its underlying misogyny was exposed.

I disagree only on the details. The war that started in 1947 never ended. The new normal India has established can only be described as suicidal stupidity. More on that later.

I wanted to start where we left off last week — with a plea to my readers to wish for sanity to return to India, leading to the resumption of the peace process. I have a feeling you not only wished for it, but your wishes came true. You must know you were in great company: Pope Leo XIV not only blessed the emerging ceasefire but also prayed for the miracle of peace. I could not be more grateful. But let us not get ahead of ourselves.

Last Friday, after sending in my column, I went to the office for my show and returned home at midnight. Despite my exhaustion, a sense of foreboding gripped my heart. You'll remember the Indian media's tamasha the night before. Having lived a fulfilling life, I seldom worry about myself.

But I am the father of two charming young ladies whose lives are only just beginning. They had to sit their O-Level and A-Level exams amid this madness. This is the third time India has made me worry about their safety — first in 2016 after Uri, then in 2019 after Pulwama, and now. In a nuclear tinderbox like South Asia, such brinkmanship is unforgivable. I will never forgive India for that.

But when an Indian missile struck Nur Khan Airbase, it wasn't the nuclear threat that came to mind - it was the safety of the visiting Saudi........

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