By Qamar Bashir
In a fiery address from Bhuj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stark yet hollow warning to Pakistan, declaring, “Live a life of peace and eat your roti in calm, or else, my bullet is always ready.” Delivered in the humiliating aftermath of Operation Sindoor, where India suffered a crushing and comprehensive defeat on all fronts, Modi’s bluster masked the reality of India’s exposed vulnerabilities, broken illusions of regional
dominance, and the utter failure of its military might against Pakistan’s far smaller yet far
more agile and resolute forces. His speech, laced with threats, revealed a dangerous
refusal to reflect on India’s strategic miscalculations and a desperate attempt to spin
humiliation into hollow bravado. As Pakistan’s air force, missile command, cyber units,
and the sheer resilience of its people stood tall, Modi’s empty threats only deepened the
cracks in India’s facade of strength, revealing a nation unprepared for the consequences
of its reckless aggression.
This aggressive rhetoric, however, is neither new nor constructive. It follows a well-worn
script that Modi has often played before elections, invoking Pakistan as a perpetual
threat, demonizing an entire nation for internal incidents, and overlooking the possibility
of homegrown actors or third-party provocateurs. Modi’s framing, once again, reduces
Pakistan to a target and portrays India as the victim, demanding retribution without
introspection. Yet, what he ignores—either willfully or due to political expediency—is
the ground reality that Pakistan is not Gaza, and India is not Israel. Any bullet fired from
one side will inevitably trigger a response—two bullets, five, or even more—escalating
into a cycle of retaliation with catastrophic consequences for both.
This is not conjecture; it is history. Since 1947, Pakistan and India have fought five
wars—1947, 1965, 1971, 1999, and most recently from May 5 to May 10, 2025. Each
war, regardless of its military outcome, has been a loss for the people: lives lost, families
torn apart, economies devastated, and generations scarred. Estimates suggest that the
cumulative economic loss from these conflicts runs into hundreds of billions of
dollars—conservative estimates place the direct and indirect costs at over $250 billion for
India and $100 billion for Pakistan, excluding the immeasurable human toll. The 2025
war alone, lasting merely five days, is believed to have cost both nations approximately
$100 billion in combined economic damage, infrastructure losses, disrupted trade, and
lost productivity.
The pattern is predictable: every war begins with heightened rhetoric, spirals into military
confrontation, and ultimately ends at the negotiating table—often right where it all
started. So, why not choose the table first and save countless lives and resources? Why
not learn from the lessons of history, where every war has brought more pain than gain,
more wounds than wins, and more bitterness than breakthroughs?
Central to this perpetual conflict is the Kashmir issue—a festering wound that has fueled
tensions for decades. Until this core dispute is resolved in line with United Nations
Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, lasting peace
will remain elusive. Kashmir is not just a piece of land; it is a symbol of unresolved
grievances, a humanitarian crisis, and the spark that has ignited many of the wars
between the two countries.
While international actors, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, have offered
their good offices to mediate a solution, India continues to resist external facilitation,
insisting on bilateral dialogue while simultaneously rejecting meaningful negotiations.
This stalemate serves no one—least of all the people of Kashmir, who continue to suffer
the most.
If India, as the larger country with greater resources and population—five times that of
Pakistan—claims the mantle of a rising global power, it must show magnanimity, not
arrogance; statesmanship, not saber-rattling. True greatness lies not in coercing weaker
neighbors but in resolving disputes honorably, fostering peace, and lifting entire regions
into prosperity. Yet, time and again, India’s belligerence has reduced its stature, tarnished
its global image, and isolated it diplomatically.
It is high time both nations learn that war is not a solution—it is a multiplier of problems.
War kills not just soldiers but children, women, and elderly civilians. It destroys
infrastructure, maims economies, deepens hatred, and creates cycles of vengeance. The
real cost of war is not measured in missiles fired or jets downed but in homes reduced to
rubble, schools turned into graves, and futures robbed of hope.
The alternative path is clear. Dialogue, negotiation, and diplomacy must replace
confrontation. Bilateral negotiations, supplemented by third-party mediation where
necessary, can address thorny issues like Kashmir, water disputes, and border tensions.
These talks should be held in good faith, with a commitment to incremental progress and
confidence-building measures. People-to-people exchanges—academic collaborations,
cultural programs, tourism, and sports—must continue uninterrupted, creating human
bridges that make war unthinkable.
Imagine the dividends of peace: billions of dollars saved annually in defense spending,
redirected to uplift millions out of poverty. India’s defense budget alone, at $86 billion,
and Pakistan’s, at $10 billion, could fund universal healthcare, world-class universities,
and cutting-edge infrastructure. The region’s collective population—over 1.7 billion
people—could become a formidable global bloc, comparable in influence to NATO or
the European Union, not through militarism but through trade, innovation, and shared
prosperity.
This is not wishful thinking. It is the proven trajectory of other regions—Europe, once
ravaged by war, now stands united in trade and development. China, Japan, and Korea,
despite historical animosities, have built robust economic ties. Even the U.S. and China,
amidst fierce competition, maintain over $560 billion in bilateral trade because economic
logic outweighs political posturing.
South Asia must learn from these examples. Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh share
history, culture, language, and people. Their futures are intertwined. It is time they act
accordingly—before another war steals more lives, robs more futures, and deepens the
wounds that already run too deep.
Prime Minister Modi must realize that one cannot bomb a path to peace. The Kashmir
issue must be resolved, not ignored. Both nations must lower the rhetoric, end the cycle
of blame, and focus on building a shared future. The cost of continued conflict is too
high, and the dividends of peace are too rich to ignore.
The choice is clear: dialogue or destruction, cooperation or confrontation, a shared
destiny or mutual ruin. The time to choose wisely is now.
About writer:Press Secretary to the President (Rtd)
Former Press Minister at the Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC
Macomb, Michigan, USA
