A very insightful interview. I obviously don’t agree with some of Ajai Sahni’s analysis of Pakistan. His fears about an Islamist takeover of Bangladesh also seem overblown.
However, he does make the important point that the Indian government is reluctant to blame Pakistan for the Red Fort attack because that would box them into resuming “Operation Sindoor”. “Operation Sindoor” obviously didn’t go well for them the first time (contrary to the bluster of right-wing Indians on BP). Sahni notes that the only countries that accepted India’s narrative without reservation were Israel and the Taliban. Pakistan, meanwhile, is currently friends with both the US and China.
Karan Thapar asked him about the suicide attack in Islamabad on Tuesday and his reaction to the Pakistani government blaming India. Sahni replied that the default in India is to blame Pakistan while the default in Pakistan is to blame India. Neither side’s domestic audience requires evidence. However, in this case, the Indian government doesn’t want to blame Pakistan because that would require them to declare war on Pakistan (as per their own “new normal” from May) and such a declaration would have consequences.
Operation Sindoor went very very well and post that TTP/BLA have been making life hell for Pakistanis.
Islambad was just the start. Lahore is next.
You better watch out, Kabir.
@XTM: I’m leaving this comment here to prove to you that bombay_badshah has been celebrating suicide attacks in Pakistan.
“You better watch out, Kabir”– This crosses so many red lines.
@Bombay Badshah: Do not comment on my threads. I am not going to waste my time or energy dealing with you. I will summarily delete anything you write. So don’t waste your time. Do not play these games with me.
Despicable – nothing more than a troll.
Let the comment be; BB seems to be on his way out of this blog. I won’t also be so forgiving of his newer avatars / handles
I have removed your authorship .. this is just absurd.
Thank you.
On a broader note, I think a lot of Indian commenters only come here to antagonize Pakistanis (mainly me). You don’t find any of them making substantive comments. There are of course exceptions.
Do not comment on my threads. I don’t have time or energy to deal with anti-Pakistan comments.
The policy is that I can moderate my threads the way I like. Do not bother commenting. I will delete anything you write.
I have no control over what happens on other threads. I am no longer an editor. But I do control my own threads. I will not allow you to utter a single anti Pakistan word. Are we clear?
yes
is this what kicked off the WhatsApp chatter
yes well it’s fine u r catnip to the Saffroniate haha
some points coming out of this:
1) ajay sahani has converted, from his anti modi gvt to a neutral plank.
2) he says india is far more prepared than in the past. this is of course disappointing to thapar. sahani will not be called to his show again!!
3) sahani is stopping short of saying as to how india will react. he knows!!!
4) if bangladesh gets involved, it will get the same treatment as others.
5) outside this, hasina has become active. her party has started to stirrup. interesting times indeed.
It’s pretty clear by now that India doesn’t want to directly blame Pakistan. If they do then the public will expect a military strike on Pakistan. India knows that that is not tenable right now. The US is pro-Pakistan as is China. So India will have to find some way to save face.
On Bangladesh, I think that India needs to introspect about how it lost that country. Sheikh Hasina was a dictator and propping her up at the expense of every one else didn’t gain India any friends. Neither did Amit Shah’s constantly calling Bangladeshis “termites”.
interesting analysis
india is waiting for putin’s trip to be over. then before the orange man comes, they will sort out pakistan.
Stop wasting your time. This is my thread and I am free to moderate it the way I like. I am not allowing anti-Pakistan trolls to comment.
You are free to start your own threads (which I no longer have the power to edit). Enjoy.
please reshare your original comment
Not on my thread. I will not tolerate anti-Pakistan comments. Is that clear to everyone?
that is Kabir’s right
post your Urdu poem?
yes touche