Was Trump-brokered Iran-Israel ceasefire planned in advance?
After 12 days of intense bombing and missile attacks, life is now returning to normal both in Tel Aviv and Tehran as the US-brokered ceasefire now appears to be holding. People in both countries have been asked to come out of the bunkers. Airspace in Middle East has now reopened with international flights resuming.
At the Nato summit in Europe, US President Donald Trump, claiming credit for the ceasefire, said, “The US hit on Iran ended the war…Iran’s nuclear programme has been put back by decades..” Asked if US would strike Iran again if it rebuilds its nuclear enrichment program, Trump replied: “Sure”.
Trump lashed out at the US media, naming CNN and New York Times, after an intelligence report prepared by the Defence Intelligence Agency got leaked, which stated the American B-2 bomber strikes did not damage the core components of Iran’s nuclear program. Trump called the CNN and NYT reports as “fake news” and claimed that the US strikes “were one of the most successful military strikes in history…The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed.”
Meanwhile, Iran has claimed that it has secretly moved most of its enriched uranium to an undisclosed location before the US B-2 bomber strikes.
Questions are being raised on whether US had advance information when Iran fired 13 missiles at the US air base in Qatar, because no major damage was reported. US air force had removed all its fighter planes from the base. Was it mere posturing? Why did Trump give six hours’ time to Iran and Israel to enforce ceasefire? Did he want to give time to both to square up?
Trump has also said that he is not interested in a “regime change in Iran” because it could create more anarchy. He said, Iranians were good businessmen, they know how to bargain and Iran has huge stocks of oil.
In the last 12 days, Trump took U-turn several times. Sometimes it appears as if US attack on Iran nuclear sites was pre-scripted. Iran’s missile attack on US air base in Qatar also appears to be somewhat scripted. Israel is happy because the US has destroyed Iran’s enriched uranium stocks. Iran is happy because it has taken revenge by attacking US air bases in Qatar and Iraq. Trump is happy because both Iran and Israel accepted his ceasefire deal.
But some scenes in this ‘happy ending’ film raise several questions. Iran knew beforehand that American would use its most powerful GBU bombs on its nuclear sites. Iran claims it shifted its enriched bomb-grade uranium elsewhere.
When Iran fired missiles at the US air base in Qatar, all except one missile were easily intercepted and neutralized. The lone remaining missile fell at a deserted spot. Neither the US, nor Qatar faced any damage. It is clear, the US knew where Iranian missiles will be fired and when. All aircraft and ammunition were removed from the US air base beforehand.
It now seems that even the ceasefire plan was prepared in advance. Were these countries engaged in a drama, for public consumption? It is difficult to say. The manner in which the 12-day missile war began and ended naturally raises questions.
Rahul Gandhi’s charges against EC are baseless
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while sharing a news report, alleged on social media that the number of voters in Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis’ Nagpur South West constituency grew by eight per cent in five months. He said, “some booths saw a 20-50 per cent surge. Booth level officers reported unknown individuals casting votes. Media uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address. And the EC? Silent- or complicit.”
Fadnavis immediately rebutted the charges with a jibe, “jhoot bole kauva kaate, kale kauve se dariyo”.
The chief minister gave statistics from other constituencies like Nagpur West, Nagpur North, Malad West and Mumbra, where voters turnout increased by over 8 per cent between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates won.
Fadnavis said, there are more than 25 constituencies where voters increased by more than 8 per cent between LS and Assembly polls, and in several of them, opposition parties’ candidates won.
Rahul Gandhi had been levelling allegations about malpractices in Maharashtra elections since his alliance lost the assembly polls nearly 18 months ago. The Election Commission has replied to his party’s allegations in detail thrice. Rahul Gandhi has now levelled fresh charges.
The fact is, there has not been a rise in number of voters in Fadnavis’ constituency alone. It rose in those constituencies too, where Congress and its allies won. Denigrating the Election Commission deliberately has become a fad for Rahul Gandhi and this is not good for our democracy.
No Surrender, No Pressure: Ceasefire on Pak demand
US President Donald Trump, after hosting a luncheon in honour of Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, again claimed that it was he who stopped the India-Pakistan conflict, but also gave credit to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asim Munir, describing them as “two smart leaders”.
Asked what he wanted to achieve from meeting Munir, Trump told reporters: “Well, I stopped a war … I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India.. But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man (Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side, Modi from the India side and others.” Trump said, “They were going at it – and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.”
Trump said: “The reason I had him (Asim Munir) here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war. And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago, and we’re working on a trade deal with India. We’re working on a trade deal with Pakistan……They were both here, but I was with Modi a few weeks ago. He was here actually, but now we speak to him. And I’m so happy that two smart people, plus you know, people on their staff too, but two smart people, two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump hosted Munir after he called for the president to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.
Hours earlier, Modi told Trump in their 35-minute phone call that the cessation of military action took place only after talks between Indian and Pakistani militaries and not through U.S. mediation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, said. This was the first direct exchange between Modi and Trump since the Indian-Pakistan conflict between May 7 and 10.
“PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-U.S. trade deal or U.S. mediation between India and Pakistan,” Misri said. “Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do.”
Trump asked Modi if he could stop by the U.S. on his return from Canada, but, according to Misri, Modi expressed his inability to do so because of his scheduled visit to Croatia.
Trump is, after all, Trump. Nobody can predict when he will change his tune, but Prime Minister Modi has, in his phone call to Trump, clearly raised the curtain of secrecy on what transpired before the cessation of firing and military action. Trump had been consistently claiming that he brought about ceasefire after putting pressure on both countries on trade deal issues.
Modi told Trump clearly there was no talk at any stage on India-U.S. trade deal or U.S. mediation between India and Pakistan. Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Modi also told Trump, India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do so in future.
Why is Congress upset over what Modi told Trump? By speaking directly to Trump over phone on how the ceasefire took place, Prime Minister Modi has taken the wind out of the Congress’s sails.
Congress had been spreading the narrative that Modi “surrendered” to pressures from the US. Congress leaders had been targeting Modi without any rhyme or reason. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh showed a six-month-old readout from the White House to prove our Foreign Secretary wrong. The readout was dated January 27 this year and it had nothing to do with latest phone call between Modi and Trump. In fact, the White House did not issue any readout of the phone conversation. This is a clear case of misleading people by spreading fake news.
It would have been better if the Congress had stayed silent after Modi-Trump phone call. Congress had in the beginning questioned Modi’s silence over the Pahalgam attack, and when Modi spoke, called it “an election gimmick”. Congress first said, why Modi was not teaching Pakistan a lesson, and when our armed forces carried out attacks, Congress said, war is not the solution.
Rahul Gandhi went to the extent of spreading the narrative that Pakistan downed some of our jet fighter planes. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Operation Sindoor as a minor skirmish. Our armed forces showed digital evidence of how controlled, precise attacks were carried out deep inside Pakistan to destroy terror headquarters and air bases. It was because of this that Pakistan started nudging the US to help in bringing about a ceasefire.
Rahul Gandhi and his team are unwilling to accept this. They are only pointing towards Trump’s claims, whereas Prime Minister Modi’s reply to Trump over phone was precise and controlled.
It was made amply clear that India did not bow to pressures from the US. Our armed forces stopped military action when it realized that our objective was achieved. This was the reason why the Pakistan army DGMO’s request for cessation of firing and military action was accepted.
India’s focus during Operation Sindoor was to destroy the terror infrastructure and their masterminds inside Pakistan. Pakistan’s history of abetting terrorism is well known and America knows it very well. The US knew where Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was hiding and which country was secretly providing him shelter.
American records show how Pakistani terrorists were involved in the 1993 World Trade Tower attack, in 9/11 terror attacks and in Times Square bombing. In all these attacks, Pakistani terrorists were involved and were indicted. America is itself the victim of Pakistani terrorism, but today, America needs Pakistan’s cooperation, in view of the ongoing escalation of war against Iran.
Will Trump use Munir for plan to attack Iran ?
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir may be basking in the glow of a luncheon meeting with President Donald Trump, but he is facing some harsh realities in the US too. At a hotel where he was addressing Overseas Pakistanis, there was slogan-shouting by protesters who described him as a mass murderer. On Wednesday, when Munir strolled at a mall in Washington, he had seven security personnel escorting him, but there were more than 700 Pakistanis present, who had come from different cities of the US. These protesters described him as a killer, renegade and the man who robbed Pakistan of its democracy.
Never before had a Pakistani army chief faced such protests on foreign soil. One Pakistani journalist alleged that Munir’s family members and close associates have invested millions in a cryptocurrency company in which Trump family has holdings, and this could be the reason why he was invited to lunch by the US President. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Barrister Shehzad Akbar said, Asim Munir first kowtowed leaders in Pakistan to reach the army chief’s chair, and he was now doing the same to Trump to perpetuate his control on power. Shehzad Akbar said, Asim Munir will now do everything that Trump would tell him to do.
There is not an iota of doubt that Asim Munir was the mastermind behind the barbaric Pahalgam attack in which innocent tourists were brutally killed because of their religion. He does not deserve any honour.
But one should realize, how India can decide which leader should be invited to the White House for lunch or dinner? Will Jairam Ramesh tell Donald Trump why he did not issue a statement? Will Sanjay Raut persuade Donald Trump to withdraw his words. These are all ridiculous matters. Neither can anybody put a leash on Donald Trump’s claims, nor can any outsider decide the guest list at the White House.
One question that will be asked is, why Trump invited Munir to lunch? Trump is presently spending much of his time on how to target Iran, which has a nearly 1,000 kilometre long border with Pakistan. For launching any major military operation against Iran, the US army may need airbases and air space in Pakistan. There are reports that spy planes are ready for action inside Pakistani air space, and are gathering intelligence from across the Iran border.
Trump hosted luncheon for Asim Munir to get Pakistan’s assistance. Now can anybody stop him from inviting Munir? America has to get its work done and if it cajoles Pakistan by inviting its military chief, who can stop the US President? In the past, the US had used Pakistan to drive out the Soviet army from Afghanistan.
Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaza Asif had admitted two months ago in a TV interview, “we have been doing this dirty work for the US for the past three decades, including the West and the United Kingdom.” However, he called it a “mistake” and said Pakistan “suffered because of that.” Former Pakistan dictator Pervez Musharraf provided all logistics help to the US army when it deposed Taliban in Afghanistan after 9/11 attack. The country is still facing the consequences.
What can one do if Pakistan again agrees to help the US in its war against Iran?
Onus of extending ceasefire rests on Pakistan, not India
The question that is being asked almost everywhere is: Will the ceasefire hold or will there be another conflagration?
Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Upper House of his Parliament that the ceasefire with India would continue till May 18. He sounded optimistic that the deadline for ceasefire would extend, step by step. Dar said, “During the DGMOs’ conversation, the ceasefire was extended until May 12. When the DGMOs spoke again on May 12, the ceasefire was extended until May 14. Further talks on May 14 led to the ceasefire being extended until May 18.”
On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh poured cold water on Pakistan’s hopes. At Bhuj air base in Gujarat, Singh said, “Operation Sindoor is not yet over..this was just a trailer..We will show the full movie to the world when the right time comes”.
Leaders in Pakistan are, however, praying for India-Pak talks to begin. Dar said, it is possible that India may agree for talks in the next few days, while PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto, who had threatened ‘river of blood will flow’ on Indus water issue, said, Pakistan wants to have composite talks with India and all issues can be sorted out through negotiations. Pakistani leaders are contacting heads of government in world capitals urging them to persuade India to start talks. But India has taken a strong stand.
Rajnath Singh said, “our indigenous BrahMos missiles rained horror and damaged 11 Pakistanis air bases. “If Pakistan does not learn from this, it should be ready for action”, he added.
India does not want war. India did not attack Pakistan first. Its air force only attacked and destroyed terror hideouts after innocent tourists were massacred in Pahalgam. In reply, Pakistan tried to attack our military installations. Pakistan was taught a lesson under Operation Sindoor. Its civilian leadership is now lamenting. Rajnath Singh’s response has been blunt. He has said, this is only a trailer and Pakistan should wait for the full movie.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Adampur air base, told armed forces to remain on alert and if Pakistan makes any mischief, they are free to take action. Operation Sindoor will continue.
There is only one way out: Pakistan must abandon the path of terrorism, wind up all terrorist bases on its soil, and hand over all wanted terrorists to India. It is now for the Pakistani government and its army to decide. If they do not, they should be ready to watch the whole movie.
India has carefully explained this to Paistan, and to the US too. So, the onus on whether to continue the ceasefire or not, is not on India, but on Pakistan. If Pakistan carries out any fresh mischief, our BrahMos missiles will finish off the remaining air bases in Pakistan. Rajnath put it bluntly on Friday,”the trailer lasted only 23 minutes, the time taken by people to finish breakfast. Our air force finished off their air bases within that time.”
Already, Pakistan government has issued tender notices for repair of its damaged air bases in Rawalpindi, Risalpur and Kallar Kahar. People in Pakistan are now asking if these air bases require repairs, why did PAF tell a lie that none of its air bases was damaged in Indian attack.
Pakistan’s policy : Get IMF money, Pay terrorists
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced compensation of Rs 1 crore to the legal heir of each of the terrorists killed in India’s air strike on terror hideouts on May 6-7 night. It can end up paying Rs 14 crore in compensation of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, because he lost 14 of his family members in the air strike on his headquarter in Bahawalpur. Shehbaz Sharif has also promised to give Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia to kin of each terrorist killed in Lashkar-e-Taiba headquarter at Muridke. He has also promised to rebuild these terror headquarters and other terror camps.
On Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, Pakistan will be giving to terrorists crores of money collected from taxpayers and from a billion dollar loan received from IMF. Singh said, India will not tolerate this brazen support to terrorism by Pakistan. This is clearly “indirect terror funding”, he said.
Pakistan is groaning under a total debt of 225 billion dollars, which accounts for 70 per cent of its GDP. Pakistan now stands exposed to the world on the issue of terrorism.
On one hand, Pakistan says it does not support terrorists, then one would like to know: Will Rs 14 crore be given to Masood Azhar for farming? Pakistan says, it has no terror camps. The question is: Did Masood Azhar’s 14 associates die while playing cricket? Is Rs 14 crore a reward to Masood Azhar for spilling blood of innocent people?
The whole world has now seen the damaged headquarters of Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed, where terrorists were being recruited and given training. When IAF destroyed both these headquarters, Pakistan described these places as mosques and madrasas. Now Pakistan government is going to rebuild them.
When the bodies of terrorists were blown to pieces in Indian attack, Pakistan described them as civilians and ‘family man’. Why were the coffins of these terrorists draped in Pakistan’s national flag? Why were senior army generals standing in mourning at their funerals?
Pakistan cannot lie anymore. For the last four decades, it has allowed terrorists to kill innocent people, struck at our revered Bharat Mata several times, and when our armed forces destroyed these hideouts, Pakistan started cribbing.
Pakistan knows it quite well that Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed are still living in safe houses and they get full cover from Pakistani army and air force. That is why India has made this amply clear.
So long as Pakistan does not hand over wanted terrorists to India, the war on terrorism shall continue. Pakistan is also now crying out for Indus river water. Prime Minister Modi has said clearly, “Blood and water cannot flow together.”