On May 10, India struck at 11 Pakistani airbases and military targets across Pakistan. Pakistan’s much-vaunted Chinese supplied ground based air defence systems watched helplessly as India’s Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles wreaked havoc across the country. The May 10 strikes were phase 3 of Operation Sindoor which began on the night of May 6. Pakistan dialled the US for mediation and rang the Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) for a ceasefire. It is a familiar playbook dating back to Kargil in 1999. The Pakistan Army throws the first punch and then dials the US and China for help when India responds with a flurry of punches.

India has put Operation Sindoor on pause as the government led by Prime Minister Modi has enunciated its three new red lines with Pakistan—  any act of terror will be seen as act of war, no distinction would be made between the state and non-state actors and finally, India would not be deterred by Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail. Over a week later- Pakistan did what has always done after catastrophic defeats in wars with India— its military proclaimed victory. Pakistan elevated its army chief General Asim Munir to a Field Marshal just a week later, this despite the fact that the Pakistan Army has little or no role to play in the high-tempo air power centric operations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has embarked on a four-nation tour with his Field Marshal. In this episode of the Chakra News podcast series, SANDEEP UNNITHAN joins COLONEL ANURAG AWASTHI to discuss Field Marshal Munir’s machinations, Pakistan’s bizarre polity, and what lies ahead.

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