An ex-diplomat's perspective. Duality of standards is rather jarring.
The government knows what our losses are. The issue is how it serves our national interest to publicise them in the international context. Combined Western and Pakistani efforts are to keep the focus on Indian losses and not those of Pakistan. (At the centre is our purported Rafale loss and its link to opposition led attacks on government for the purchase of Rafales).
Pakistan’s credibility as an instrument to keep India in check has to be preserved. The reputation of its armed forces which are seen as guarantors of its unity has to be preserved too. Simultaneously, India’s military stature must not be boosted. The profile of a pacific minded militarily dependent India is preferred.The West has worked to maintain a strategic balance in the subcontinent.
That legacy is very strong and is difficult to disown. India is difficult to handle and while a rising India has to be engaged and economic opportunities exploited some pressure points have to be maintained. This is part of a hegemonic mindset. Other countries also do not reveal their military losses unless evidence is already available publicly. Iran claims it has downed upto three F 35s. US/ Israel are silent.There is internal controversy over the effectiveness of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites which the Administration wants to scotch. It is under no pressure to reveal the “truth”publicly.Israel imposed stringent censorship on domestic and international media on reporting its losses. It is not officially clarifying matters despite Iran’s claims and media reports and speculation. Even Germany is suppressing any information on the blowing up of Nord Stream 2, its own asset, despite widespread international speculation.
UK’s F35 is stranded in Kerala for a couple of weeks and many damaging stories are appearing on social media. UK is not revealing the real reason. Look at the CENTCOM chief saying Pak extends phenomenal cooperation in counter- terrorism, and this after Pahalgam, and Trump wanting to mediate on Kashmir.This thinking requires an undefeated Pakistan.
Unfortunately, in our polarised politics the issue of our losses has become a tool for the opposition to attack the government, unmindful of the external impact of this domestic politicking. Why should we do self- damaging PR for Pakistan, sundry Western lobbies and Chinese weaponry.
The government knows what our losses are. The issue is how it serves our national interest to publicise them in the international context. Combined Western and Pakistani efforts are to keep the focus on Indian losses and not those of Pakistan. (At the centre is our purported Rafale loss and its link to opposition led attacks on government for the purchase of Rafales).
Pakistan’s credibility as an instrument to keep India in check has to be preserved. The reputation of its armed forces which are seen as guarantors of its unity has to be preserved too. Simultaneously, India’s military stature must not be boosted. The profile of a pacific minded militarily dependent India is preferred.The West has worked to maintain a strategic balance in the subcontinent.
That legacy is very strong and is difficult to disown. India is difficult to handle and while a rising India has to be engaged and economic opportunities exploited some pressure points have to be maintained. This is part of a hegemonic mindset. Other countries also do not reveal their military losses unless evidence is already available publicly. Iran claims it has downed upto three F 35s. US/ Israel are silent.There is internal controversy over the effectiveness of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites which the Administration wants to scotch. It is under no pressure to reveal the “truth”publicly.Israel imposed stringent censorship on domestic and international media on reporting its losses. It is not officially clarifying matters despite Iran’s claims and media reports and speculation. Even Germany is suppressing any information on the blowing up of Nord Stream 2, its own asset, despite widespread international speculation.
UK’s F35 is stranded in Kerala for a couple of weeks and many damaging stories are appearing on social media. UK is not revealing the real reason. Look at the CENTCOM chief saying Pak extends phenomenal cooperation in counter- terrorism, and this after Pahalgam, and Trump wanting to mediate on Kashmir.This thinking requires an undefeated Pakistan.
Unfortunately, in our polarised politics the issue of our losses has become a tool for the opposition to attack the government, unmindful of the external impact of this domestic politicking. Why should we do self- damaging PR for Pakistan, sundry Western lobbies and Chinese weaponry.
