Will Chavan be able to declare defeat on Operation Sindoor which woke up Munir?

Prithviraj Chavan Operation Sindoor: The brutal murder of innocent tourists in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam had shaken the soul of the entire world including India. To avenge this barbaric massacre and to teach an unforgettable lesson to the terrorists as well as their hideouts, India launched Operation Sindoor. Under this, the Indian Armed Forces destroyed many hideouts of terrorists present in Pakistan and PoK. When the neighboring country tried to be audacious, it attacked its military bases and caused huge damage. BrahMos cruise missile was used for this. The enemy was so shaken by India’s fierce attack that he started begging for peace. Pakistan started appealing to the international community for a ceasefire. Ultimately India had agreed to the ceasefire on its own terms. Operation Sindoor spread the fame of Indian security forces all over the world. At the global level, friends and enemies are praising India’s strength, while veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan has raised questions on his own warriors. He had said in a program that India was completely defeated on the very first day of Operation Sindoor. There has been an uproar over his statement. The Congress leader has also raised questions on the Indian Air Force and Army.

Whenever political statements are made on India’s military actions and issues related to national security, its impact is not limited to domestic politics only, but its message is also sent at the international level. Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan’s comments regarding Operation Sindoor have created one such controversy. The question is, what will be achieved by declaring the operation which has unsettled Pakistan’s military leadership, especially Army Chief Asim Munir, a defeat? Operation Sindoor was a demonstration of India’s strategic capability in which a precise and limited response was given to cross-border provocation. Its objective was neither to promote war nor to occupy any area, but to send a clear message that India will not compromise on its security. This is the reason why after this operation there was a stir in the military and political circles of Pakistan and even a top military officer like Asim Munir had to give a public clarification on the situation.

The Congress leader has raised questions on the Operation Sindoor which shocked Asim Munir. (File photo/AP)

serious question after question

Prithviraj Chavan calling it a defeat raises many questions. Is this statement limited only to criticism of the government or is it raising questions on India’s military success? Political analysts believe that the job of the opposition is to ask questions and hold the government accountable, but on sensitive issues like national security, words should be chosen very carefully. The success of any military operation is not measured only by territorial gain or number of casualties. Sometimes the real goal is to convey strategic messages, the psychological state of the enemy and prevent future threats. The same was seen in the case of Operation Sindoor, where India made it clear through limited action that it will not tolerate terrorism and instigation.

question on credibility

At the political level, such statements may provide short-term headlines to the opposition, but in the long run, there is a danger of it affecting its credibility. When on one hand there is concern and uneasiness about Indian action in Pakistan and on the other hand it is called a defeat within the country, then this contradiction raises questions in the minds of the general public. Former military officers also say that such statements can give an opportunity to India’s opponents to argue on international forums. They can say that the leaders of India themselves are considering their military action as a failure. In such a situation, it is not just a matter of domestic politics, but can also become a diplomatic challenge.

…Still adamant on statement Prithviraj Chavan

An experienced leader like Prithviraj Chavan is expected to keep the larger national interest in mind while criticizing. Questions can be raised on the government’s strategy, timing and decision process, but calling the entire operation a failure seems to be an exaggeration to many people. Ultimately the question is whether such statements will give political benefits to the opposition, or will it harm the consensus on national security? By denying the operation that gave sleepless nights to Pakistan’s military leadership, perhaps an attempt is being made to corner the government, but from the national interest point of view this debate is much more serious. However, it has hardly affected Prithviraj Chavan. Responding to his statement, he said, ‘I have every right to ask questions. Why should I apologize? What have I said wrong?’