The cloak-and-dagger world of international relations, midnight phone calls and covert negotiations often play a pivotal role. A recent revelation by former Indian diplomat Ajay Bisaria sheds light on a critical juncture between India and Pakistan following the Balakot strikes in 2019.
Titled "Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship Between India and Pakistan," Bisaria's upcoming book takes readers on a roller-coaster ride through the turbulent diplomatic corridors of the two neighboring nations.
The narrative unfolds with the aftermath of India's Balakot strikes, a response to the Pulwama terror attack. As tensions escalated, several countries, including China, offered to mediate and send special envoys to facilitate de-escalation. However, New Delhi, maintaining a stance of self-reliance, declined these external interventions.
One particularly intriguing incident involved the capture of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by the Pakistani Army. Despite India's willingness to send an aircraft to retrieve the downed pilot, Pakistan refused permission, citing the sensitive optics of an Indian military plane landing in Islamabad amid heightened tensions.
The book also reveals a midnight call that never happened. Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, expressed a desire to speak to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. However, the call never materialized, with Modi reportedly unavailable at that late hour. The subsequent events unfolded in a whirlwind of diplomatic exchanges, with the US and UK envoys conveying Pakistan's readiness to de-escalate the situation.
Bisaria provides a behind-the-scenes look at the diplomatic dance between India, Pakistan, and the P5 nations (permanent members of the UN Security Council). The author recounts the efforts of Pakistan's foreign secretary to communicate intelligence about potential missile launches by India, urging the envoys to intervene and prevent an escalation of hostilities.
A noteworthy aspect highlighted in the book is the interaction between Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Khan reportedly sought China's support against India, leveraging the geopolitical dynamics involving the United States. However, Xi Jinping rebuffed this simplistic assessment, emphasizing that China would not prop up Pakistan against India.
As the narrative unfolds, Bisaria underscores the effectiveness of India's "coercive diplomacy" in shaping the outcome of the crisis. Prime Minister Modi's resolve to escalate the situation, coupled with clear expectations, eventually led to a de-escalation announcement from Pakistan.
The book promises to be a riveting exploration of the complex and high-stakes world of diplomatic maneuvering between India and Pakistan. With midnight calls, declined offers, and geopolitical intricacies, "Anger Management" offers readers a front-row seat to the drama that unfolded during those tense days in 2019.
.jpg)
0 Comments