In lieu of war

The Indian armed forces carried out precision attacks via their missile systems at nine positions within Pakistani territories which have been labelled terrorist outposts by the Indian government. Various accounts that I have come across claim that these were mosques and madrasas holding civilian families.

I don't know which side to believe.

Here are the only facts I am aware of at this stage:

1. A Pakistani minister recently claimed on a global media stage that their country has always funded extremist militants, sometimes even at the behest of the United States.

2. Both nations have a long history of manipulating facts, media, and public narrative.

3. Warmongers on both sides have not only infiltrated leading political parties but also media outlets.

I am afraid.

The Pahalgam Attack was a tragic loss of life, one that does warrant justice. Retaliation, on the other hand…

It is a good sign that the attacks have not targeted any military units, since the fight is not against the nation or their soldiers. However, so far there has been evidence of nothing. Investigation on nothing. Was the Pahalgam attack funded by the Pakistani state? Were the places targeted by Operation Sindoor truly terrorist outposts? Are the reports of civilian deaths truthful?

There are only statements and sentiments expressed by various sources, state and non-state. But then you begin to question whether the non-state actors are truly non-state. As for facts, I find none. Even the most trustworthy source of information, Reuters, is only reporting the statements from each side.

It feels in poor taste that a whole potential war is being waged in the name of “He said, she said.” Lives are at stake; soldiers and civilians will lose lives, and will be sent into an immense state of fear, because of underlying sentiments that are motivating assumptions among people of power.

In lieu of war, I write this tired old opinion down, as a concerned citizen. I hope this ends before it’s too late. I hope there can be peace. I hope the people of both nations can understand that hypernationalism is not the ultimate purpose. It is a distraction. It is what the ones who hold the strings will use against us to profit from us. They will play god, and we will lose everything.

This is not a piece written for the sake of outrage. This is a piece written for the sake of compassion. Written in a state of heartbreak.