NEW satellite images now bring to fore fresh evidence of the extensive damage Indian precision strikes at Pakistan’s Murid Air Base as first phase of Operation Sindoor. These images show clearly the terrible impact of Indian missiles or drones on the infrastructure at Murid Air Base deep inside the Pakistani territory. Even as the world was taking a good look at the picture of the damage, Pakistan woke up to the reality that the Government in India has ordered civil defence mock drills in States bordering the Pakistani territory. Pakistani intellectuals and media started suspecting that India may be preparing for fresh action as part of Operation Sindoor - II. For, they readily associated similar mock drills across India hours before the Operation Sindoor’s first phase began. Is India preparing for a fresh wave of precision strikes? -- is the question now raging in Pakistan.

 

The sense of frustration and panic in Pakistan can well be understood. Many in Pakistan even suspect that India is playing up a multi-layered offensive. On one hand, it is threatening the use of Indian Gola against Pakistani Golee.To make matters look worse, it is also releasing fresh satellite images of the extensive damage caused by its precision strikes deep into the Pakistani territory -- thus confirming and endorsing the terrible damage the Indian precision-strikes have caused in the first phase. And, as if to complete the effect, the Government in India is promising to conduct civil defence mock drills in the States bordering Pakistan.

 

This is happening when Pakistani Prime Minister and Army chief are out of the country. Pakistan’s discomfiture, thus, is complete. True, in the past some days, China is assuring Pakistan that it would extend a helping hand in case of armed conflict. Yet, Pakistan is quite aware of how effective Indian response was to Pakistan’s armed overtures -- that also saw destruction of Chinese and American equipment that was seemingly good. In other words, India is on an upward swing, while Pakistan is somehow trying to manage to keep its morale up in trying circumstances. But then, as we said earlier, India is fighting a multi-layered war. One of the layers is the all-party diplomatic drive to different countries. There, on the world stage, India showed that it is One Person against terror, and not a conglomerate of political parties holding diverse views on issues.

 

There, out in the global gaze, the Indian delegations are doing a fine job, which the world is appreciating. But, there is one more positive development in Indian defence industry. The Government has approved a massive joint-sector manufacturing programme for making of the indigenous fifth generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. This news has created much stir the world over as India will be the only fourth country in the world to develop the capability of manufacturing such an advanced aircraft - - after the United States, Russia, and China.Each of these developments sends a fresh panic wave through Pakistan, as reports have us believe. The Pakistanis - the people and their rulers -- have understood very well that they are dealing with a no-nonsense India whose leadership is not willing to concede any concession to Pakistan on issues of national security, strategic defence and war against terrorism. All these developments act as a pile up of fresh evidence of India’s growing strength -- military, moral, and economic. While Pakistan is weighed down by internal strife, India is forging ahead with all guns blazing and all engines on full throttle. This new India could not be imagined by anybody in the world until ten years ago. Today, it has become a reality by way of a global power whose word is listened to by the world on all matters and issues.