Rawalpindi- 15 October 2025(Kamran Raja): It has been noted with grave concern that, five months after Maarka-e-Haq, and in the run-up to elections in Bihar and West Bengal, elements of the Indian military leadership have begun repeating the same delusional, fabricated and provocative propaganda that is typically circulated before state elections. It is deeply troubling to see the military leadership of a nuclear-armed state issuing irresponsible statements under obvious political pressure. The falsehoods being fed to the Indian public and the international community have degraded the credibility of India’s military messaging and reduced a once-respected institution to a source of ridicule. Any professional soldier understands that unnecessary chest-thumping and unwarranted public statements risk fuelling jingoism and can set in motion dangerous dynamics with serious consequences for peace and stability in South Asia.
The contradictions in the recent Indian Army press briefing are so stark that they scarcely merit a detailed response. Clearly, certain elements within India’s political and military leadership are attempting to rewrite events and fashion a Bollywood-style narrative to suit domestic political needs. These attempts to distort history follow the reality that India has been decisively exposed in the matter of Maarka-e-Haq. The world is now more aware of the role India continues to play in cross-border destabilising activities, and of the risks posed by adventurism and hegemonic behaviour to the region and to the wellbeing of the Indian people themselves. The Indian Armed Forces and their political masters must recognise that Pakistan’s people and its Armed Forces remain fully capable and fundamentally committed to defending every inch of national territory with resolve. Any act of aggression will be met with a swift, resolute and intense response that will be remembered by posterity.