Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

India should be worried. The Iran crisis gives Pakistan the validity it craves

The fact is, Pakistan is not a normal state, and its reason for existence, especially its army, is extreme and unremitting enmity to India.

There is an evocative Hindi phrase that best describes the Pakistani mindset on India. Hum to doobenge sanam, tumko bhi le dubenge. It means, I may drown, but I will take you down with me. The Pakistani establishment, especially its armed forces, gets its jollies not from improving the lot of its own people, but from hurting India any which way it can. In a war, it seeks not to win (which, given its relative size, cannot be a realistic goal), but to damage India as much as possible.

This attitude was on display clearly recently when Abdul Basit, a former envoy to India, said that in a hypothetical situation where America tries to take down Pakistan’s nukes, Pakistan may not be able to take on Uncle Sam, but would hit India instead.

He is quoted in The Times of India as saying to a Pakistani news channel: “If somebody casts an evil eye on us, we will attack Mumbai and Delhi in India without even thinking twice. We will see whatever happens later.” Quite clearly, this attitude may not be restricted only to a US attack on its nukes; it could happen even if Pakistan’s army sees itself as being under an existential threat from........

© ThePrint