Costly Fiction

April 05, 2026

Newspaper, Opinions, Editorials

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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s warning to India against staging a false flag operation is not merely diplomatic posturing; it is a necessary reminder of the consequences New Delhi courted last year. He outlined precisely how such theatre might be orchestrated: through Indian operatives or Pakistani detainees, bodies conveniently laid to serve a pre-scripted narrative. The timing, as ever, is hardly coincidental.

Pakistan’s position is unambiguous. The Pahalgam episode demonstrated how quickly manufactured crises can spiral when evidence is scant, and accusations fly unchecked. India, despite its overwhelming advantages in population, resources, and military capability, found itself on the receiving end of a calibrated response that exposed the fragility of its claims. The Pakistan Air Force’s performance during that conflict remains a testament to preparedness. Should India attempt another such drama, the response will not merely be a repetition; it will be decisive and far-reaching.

War on Terror

The regional landscape is already precarious. With the Middle East in turmoil and global tensions at a boiling point, South Asia can ill afford another flashpoint ignited by theatrical aggression. Two nuclear-armed states trading fire on the basis of staged incidents is a gamble no responsible leadership should take.

The path to stability requires statesmanship, not spectacle. India’s current trajectory, driven by a leadership that privileges nationalist mythology over measured diplomacy, only compounds the risk. Until New Delhi produces a government more interested in dialogue than diversion, the spectre of conflict will continue to loom over the region. Pakistan, for its part, has made its position clear: peace is preferred, but provocation will be met with force. The choice, as ever, lies across the border.

Tribute To Malik Barkat Ali

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