In the tumultuous aftermath of India’s Balakot strikes in 2019, the diplomatic landscape between India and Pakistan. Witnessed a complex dance of offers, refusals, and midnight calls. Former diplomat Ajay Bisaria, in his insightful book. ‘Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship Between India and Pakistan,’ unveils a gripping. Narrative of the events that unfolded during a critical period of heightened tensions between the two nations. PM Modi Declined Imran Khan’s Call Bisaria. Who served as the Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad during this period, sheds light. On a pivotal moment when several countries, including China, offered to send special envoys to mediate between India and Pakistan. One significant revelation from his book is the account of how Prime Minister. Narendra Modi declined a call from his Pakistani counterpart, Imran Khan.
The Balakot strikes, carried out by the Indian Air Force in response to the Pulwama terror attack. Had set off a chain of events that pushed. The region to the brink of a military crisis. Ajay Bisaria reveals that in the wake of these strikes, numerous countries expressed. Their willingness to send special envoys to mediate and ease tensions. Even China suggested sending its deputy minister to both India and Pakistan for de-escalation talks.
However, New Delhi, in a diplomatic move, declined these offers, signaling a firm stance amid the escalating crisis. The refusal, as detailed by Bisaria, was not limited to external mediation. India also extended a gesture of goodwill by offering to send an Indian Air Force. Aircraft to Pakistan for the repatriation. Of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who had been captur by the Pakistani Army during the skirmishes.
“We were willing to send an Indian Air Force aircraft to pick him up, but Pakistan refused permission,” writes Bisaria. The nuanced diplomatic maneuvering during this episode is further highlighted as he explains. That the optics of an Indian Air Force plane landing in Islamabad were deemed unacceptable by Pakistan.
Amidst these intricate diplomatic moves, the book narrates a midnight call from Imran Khan to Prime Minister Modi. Sohail Mahmood, the then Pakistani High Commissioner, conveyed Imran Khan’s keenness to engage. In a dialogue to defuse the escalating tension. However, Modi, as confirmed by Bisaria, was not available at that hour, leading to a missed opportunity for direct communication between the two leaders.
The book portrays a diplomatic chessboard where the US, UK, and France were informed by Pakistan about intelligence suggesting that nine missiles from India were aimed at Pakistani territory. The then Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, in a briefing to the ambassadors, urged them to convey the message to their respective capitals, appealing for restraint from India.
Interestingly, one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States, recommended that Pakistan should directly convey its concerns to India. This diplomatic twist reflects the intricate web of relationships and allegiances on the global stage.
Bisaria’s account also touches upon the regional geopolitics involving China. PM Modi Declined Imran Khan’s Call reportedly sought Chinese support against India, citing the backing that the United States had provided to India. In the face of China’s growing influence. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s response, as detailed in the book, was a stark reminder of the complex dynamics at play. Xi asserted that China would not prop up Pakistan against India and advised Khan to improve relations with both the US and Afghanistan.
The narrative builds up to the crucial moment when Imran Khan, in a midnight call, expressed his desire to talk to Prime Minister Modi directly. However, due to the late hour, Modi was unavailable, prompting Bisaria to convey that if Khan had any urgent message, it could be convey through him. Despite the potential for a breakthrough, no call was received that night.
As events unfolded, the US and UK envoys in Delhi conveyed that Pakistan was ready to de-escalate the situation, act on. India’s dossier, and address the issue of terrorism seriously. The subsequent release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan was termed a “peace gesture”. But Bisaria attributes it to India’s effective coercive diplomacy.
Prime Minister Modi, acknowledging the success of India’s approach, later mentioned in a campaign speech. That Pakistan’s announcement of Varthaman’s release prevented a night of bloodshed.
In retrospect, Bisaria’s account provides a vivid picture of the delicate diplomatic maneuvers. Missed opportunities, and geopolitical intricacies that defined the period following the Balakot strikes. The refusal of Imran Khan’s call by Prime Minister Modi becomes a crucial chapter in the narrative, underscoring the complexities of India-Pakistan relations during times of crisis.
In conclusion, ‘Anger Management’ not only serves as a historical record of events. But also offers valuable insights into the strategic decisions and diplomatic intricacies that shape the course of nations in the face of adversity. The Balakot episode, as recounted. By Ajay Bisaria, remains a crucial juncture in the ongoing saga of India and Pakistan’s diplomatic dance.
