A war fueled by sheer bellicosity and hubris; a war that initially, was only on one side of the border, whilst the other side enjoyed from the comfort of their drawing rooms; a war brewed in Indian minds based on a war frenzy and hysteria created by ruling Indian polity, cooked up by Indian media; a war which captured the imagination of an entire nation, built on massive disinformation and misinformation campaign, fakery and lies; a war fueled by utter hatred and absolute disregard of enemy capabilities; and in words of the famous Indian author, Ravi Rikhye: ‘The War That Never Was.’
A war that started with unprecedented chest thumping and war mongering; saw bombing of innocent civilians, coined terrorist by India on night 6th/7th May 2025, in operation codenamed ‘Sindoor,’ shooting down of 5 Indian aircrafts, resulting in unanticipated retreat of IAF from the war theatre, bamboozled by the superior war strategy adopted by PAF, thus marking the end of a rather unceremonious IAF campaign; yet Indian aggression intensified on night 7th/8th and 8th/9th May 2025, with nibbling drone operations and cruise missile attacks on various Pakistani airbases. Death knell to Indian ambition was sounded at 0500 hours, 10th May 2025, with the commencement of operation ‘Bunyan-un-Marsoos: The Iron Wall,’ Tables had turned rather quickly with the unequivocal and unambiguous capitulation of the 4th largest air force, 3rd largest army, and the largest democracy. What the world witnessed on 10th May 2025, was unprecedented in the history of warfare; Pakistan unleashed its missiles, and within 3 hours or so, almost all Indian airbases, which were a part of the initial Indian aerial onslaught, had been destroyed, their S-400 unit taken out, a couple of Brahmos missile depots permanently neutralized, Pakistani drones swarming over Delhi and Gujrat, cyberattacks crippled India and jammed Indian IRS satellites. Thus, marking an abrupt end to Indian aggression, the Indian myth of conventional invincibility and primacy in South Asia is not only busted, but dead and buried. Precision strikes, hitherto unheard of in modern-day warfare, put the fear of God in the hearts of the enemy and forced India into unconditional submission. The fall of Indian forces, their unparalleled and prompt collapse, is nothing less than Spectacular. In only a matter of three hours, mighty India was on its knees, seeking US intervention, with its monstrous war machine and warfighting doctrine rendered toothless, in the wake of a relentless missile barrage and state-of-the-art air warfare by Pakistan. Ushering in an era of modern warfighting, based on full-spectrum domination and therein multi-domain warfare. David has well and truly knocked Indian Goliath down.
Key Takeaways
Neo Normal: India’s reckless attack on Pakistan sought to introduce a new normal in Indo-Pak relations, where India could initiate a war on no pretext, no reason or rhyme and no proofs, whatsoever and make Pakistan look like Gaza, Libya or Syria! India’s bid to introduce such an absurd notion, in Indo-Pak war calculus between two nuclear rivals, is a grave travesty, a horrible joke. Ludicrous Indian thinking brought the two rivals to the brink of a nuclear showdown. In doing so, India put this region and the entire globe at a grave risk by continuously seeking to decrease and diminish the nuclear threshold, which is reprehensible and deplorable. Pakistan forcefully thwarted this notion and reintroduced sanity, but the world needs to take note. Such mockery of established norms cannot be allowed, and a replay could witness a global catastrophe, which has not been seen, thus far. It’s time for the US and the West to realise that all current superpowers (P5) have made it on their own. In the words of great American scholar Dr Rodney Jones, ‘decades of relentless Western backing has not been able to propel India into the orbit’ and maybe another four won’t. In a nutshell, things are back to pre-6th May 2025, and they better remain there, for the sake of humanity.
Full Spectrum Domination: Modern warfare is driven by full spectrum domination in multi domain warfare, net centricity and therein seamless fusion of various domains i.e., cyber, EW, datalinks, cognitive, information, air, land and sea etc., enabling domination by a seemingly small, yet robust, dynamic, effective and well-oiled war machine. Causing mental paralysis, whilst dominating and virtually controlling the escalation ladder. Pakistan’s un-questioned spectrum domination resulted in air superiority, which was established in the opening hour of war, which saw India’s Center of Gravity unhinged: first by Raffaele fiasco, followed by neutralization of S-400 missile systems, a couple of days later. The era of full spectrum domination has arrived and proclaimed a resounding victory.
Exterior Manoeuvre: Despite India’s international clout, she increasingly found herself in an uncharted territory, where the US, Europe, Russia, ME and UN failed to see Indian justification in seeking a swift retribution, without sufficient cause. Moreover, hubris and arrogance frequently displayed by the Indian EAM at various occasions in the past 3 years, came back to haunt him and India. Pakistan’s diplomacy, on the other hand, remained almost flawless, with unwavering support from ironclad brother China, Turkey, Azerbaijan and ME.
Disinformation/Misinformation Campaign: Such a delusional campaign can shape narratives and seemingly create paranoid tendencies in domestic audiences, but it cannot win a war. At the end of the day, strategic vision/clarity, backed by truth, physical and electronic evidence, based on hard facts, sweat in peace, unflinching resolve and unwavering belief in the Almighty, wins war. The war of narratives may not necessarily pan out as perceived. Even Western media’s bid to back the Indian narrative was eventually thwarted, through observance of diplomatic norms and logic by setting the record straight, by various Pakistani diplomats, senior army officers.
Hyphenation: In 2005, decoupling and delinking India and Pakistan witnessed the era of de-hyphenation by the US, wherein India and Pakistan were no longer seen as equal partners in South Asia and the relationship with both countries developed on different planes. However, India’s desire for mediation by the US under a relentless missile barrage and unmatched air superiority has made her revisit her policy of 3rd party mediation and the US policy of de-hyphenation has been overturned and has ushered in a new era of hyphenation.
Lawfare in Warfare: Pakistan made a good case internationally for the right to self-defence, as enshrined in the UN charter, in the face of an unprovoked threat posed by Indian aggression. Lawfare provides a legal basis and an instrument for resolving international disputes. Pakistan needs to vigorously pursue lawfare, not just in war but otherwise, as well.
Externalisation of Kashmir Issue: Kashmir has once again been put back at the center stage of world politics, which needs to be pursued with unprecedented zeal, to put an end to the misery of Kashmiris, suffering over the last 8 decades. This opportunity must not be fumbled, Kashmiri Indians have lived a life of oblivion for far too long, their right to self-determination is inalienable and needs to be driven relentlessly. India can no longer be allowed to play with innocent Kashmiri lives, ever again.
@ Initiation of Dialogue: The Indian Government’s position of not engaging in a dialogue with Pakistan has been successfully upended, post-US mediators’ intervention in the Indo-Pak war. The dialogue process at a neutral venue is a good omen to begin with. Let’s make full use of this opportunity and make sure that the US stays involved as guarantor of the agreement(s) brokered with US mediation. Because in the past, India has always run away from bilateral agreements on one pretext or the other. This automatically forecloses the bilateral talks clause in the Shimla Agreement.
Re-establishing Strategic Deterrence: Indian aggression and fury unleashed after initial strikes on the night of 6th/7th May, seemed like a ‘carte blanche’ to the Indian government, which diluted Pakistan’s strategic deterrence. However, the overwhelming response, punitive measures by Pakistan’s armed forces, not only re-established deterrence but also drilled some sense into the Indian polity and armed forces. The response was apt and sufficient. India will think at least ten times before launching any unprovoked offensive, hereafter.
IWT: IWT is the lifeline of 250 million Pakistanis. India cannot be allowed to hold their lives hostage! No, never again. India cannot and will not be allowed to weaponize water, which in any case is a heinous crime against humanity and is reprehensible and despicable. IWT must be restored fully to its ‘original status’ before India illegally and unilaterally suspended the treaty, without any legal recourse or an ‘out clause’ in the World Bank brokered treaty. India’s submission to a ceasefire provides an opportunity to right this wrong. Advantage must therefore be driven home in no uncertain terms.
Indian Hand in International Terrorism: Pakistan made a tremendous case of Indian use of terrorism as a matter of state policy. All Western media outlets registered Pakistan’s claims. In the wake of the newfound space, Pakistan needs to put all evidence in front of the international community, so that India’s hands are tied, hereafter. We have already lost ~90,000 lives to this heinous, monstrous policy pursued by India. No more lives can be lost at the altar of militant Hindutva ideology. Doval’s doctrine of exporting terror in the region and beyond, has been thoroughly exposed internationally.
@ Reputational Loss: Pakistan has proven its prowess in the conventional domain and has established an unquestioned superiority. Perhaps, this was the biggest blow to Indian egotism. India’s political and armed forces leadership has suffered a huge reputational loss and loss of face. It’s after Kargil that the Indian army and its soldiers have once again been cut to size. We now once again know that an Indian soldier is not 10 feet tall, instead he’s 4 feet tall and human. Plus, the myth of Indian diplomatic, economic and military might has been laid to rest.
Lessons
Many a lesson can be drawn from the last 4 days; a few major lessons will be listed below:
Pride Hath a Fall: Indian hubris and arrogance witnessed in the first 3 days of war, was unbridled. As the maxim goes, pride has a fall and India’s fall from grace, its capitulation, in the wake of relentless missile onslaught, is self-evident. At the diplomatic front, India was also a victim of its false pride and arrogance. Europe, the US and even Russia, therefore, paid no heed to India.
Never Underestimate Your Enemy: India, in its vanity, committed the mistake of underestimating Pakistan’s resolve and preparedness. What followed was a lesson in modern warfare, like world has never seen before. India committed the cardinal mistake of underestimating Pakistan’s resolve and capabilities. The result is for all to see.
Era of Inter-Domain Warfare: Pakistan skillfully demonstrated its mastery in full-spectrum domination. India, on the other hand, was all talk, all brass and no brains. Pakistan’s preparedness in cyber, EW, cognitive and information domains i.e., was the undoing of ill-prepared and chest thumping Indian forces. It was a moment of reckoning; the future of modern warfare is here. What happened on night 6th/7th May and early morning 10th May will be taught in the world as a masterclass.
Strategic Restraint Redefined: Pakistan demonstrated immense restraint and prowess, stood resilient and resolute, unprovoked in the face of shameless operational onslaught and media blitz. Emboldened by Pakistani restraint, which was misconstrued as a sign of weakness. India’s cruise missile attack on airbases in urban/suburban centers crossed a red line and the resultant retribution was swift, which witnessed Indian polity and armed forces buckle and collapse almost immediately, under an unrelenting missile barrage targeting military facilities, all across the borders. Restraint does not mean lack of resolve or resources; that’s the lesson India learnt, gulping its pride.
Indian Disregard for International Law and Treaties: IWT has withstood multiple challenges, ever since its signing in 1960. The treaty has withstood wars, skirmishes, conflicts and disagreements. It has stood the test of time. Until recently, when India blatantly disregarded the World Bank brokered IWT. India’s claim to be the regional hegemon has suffered a serious setback because of its unruly behaviour, wherein it bullies smaller nations into submission by its sheer size, economic and military muscle. It has been made amply clear to India, in the language they understand, that international laws and treaties need to be respected.
Strategic Stability: India chose war mongering and war frenzy over sanity and restraint and in doing so, crossed the Rubicon on the night of 6th/7th May 2025, putting the strategic stability of South Asia at stake. Pakistan reasserted strategic stability in the South Asian paradigm by undertaking a series of synergized actions. No country, even as big as India, can be allowed to play with the lives of 1.7 billion people.
Conclusion: “India played the Game of Chicken,” and look who blinked first! Her hubris, arrogance and conceit have been truly exposed. Her claims to great power status now seem hollow and credulous. India’s reputation, its myth of a regional hegemon, net security provider in Asia, a diplomatic power house, a global economic power and a military giant, have all been thoroughly smashed and blown into smithereens. India’s leadership has been humbled and its nefarious designs defeated. India’s polity, diplomacy, military and its satanic weaver Ajit Doval have met their match. Doval Doctrine of massive cross-border terrorism has seen its last, it is defeated, and its cohorts will soon find no place to hide. They are being and will be chased down and neutralized for good, it is only a matter of time, because when the puppeteer falls, all his cronies and puppets vanish. 10th May 2025 will be remembered as perhaps one of our finest hours, and a moment of reckoning, yet. A day etched in modern-day warfare history, written by our brave Armed Forces, which drilled sense and sanity into the mind of our unruly neighbour. India emerged as an incorrigible bully, which has shown its rightful place, having lost its well-crafted image and reputation. Pakistan, on the other hand, has emerged as a country to reckon with, a serious, rational, mature actor, and an unequivocal and unambiguous victor in the shortest war, ever witnessed in the history of warfare.In only three hours or so, the Indian myth of indomitability, invincibility and tremendous war stamina has all been shattered. What is also evident is the fact that numbers don’t matter, what matters is national will and resolve.Pakistan’s leadership, both political and military emerged well on top. Pakistan’s armed forces weathered the storm, be it at the LoC or international borders. India has been taught a lesson, which many an Indian generation shall remember. Pakistan’s resounding triumph leaves no doubts about its capability and intent. Truth always prevails.
The author is a retired army officer. He holds an MPhil degree in Strategic & Nuclear Studies. He can be reached at : edgarfelixpk@yahoo.com
