Every now and then an embarrassed Indian politico-military leadership hurls threats against Pakistan. From continuation of Operation Sindoor, to erasing Pakistan from the map, to Sindoor being a trailer of what is to come, to comments on Sindh – the diatribes are so endless that nobody takes them seriously anymore. The familiar pattern is to whip up anti-Pakistan xenophobia to gain political mileage before any crucial elections in India.

The 'strongman' Modi, in an attempt to salvage his losing standing and to burnish his tough credentials in leading his 'rising India', every now and then resorts to limited conventional war with Pakistan under the presumed pretext of terrorism. And this all too familiar pattern is likely to continue whenever the international and regional environment is conducive to such political junkets and military gimmicks.

Frustrated by acts of terrorism on its soil due to security failures, Modi would blame Pakistan without any rhyme or reason, and the war hysteria would be trumped up by an irresponsible, fake and jingoistic Bharati media, which would escalate the situation to an extent where Indian leadership would rapidly climb the mainly 'psychological' escalation ladder. From such high perch on the escalation ladder, it would then be embarrassing to climb down without losing face.

Hence 'teaching Islamabad' a lesson would result into military gambits with dubious aims, to deescalate and justify the rhetorical and rapid escalation. And the ensuing military action would break down the 'conventional deterrence' between both militaries. And that is where the real danger lies.

I have extensively written about the jingoistic........

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