THE acme of statesmanship and generalship is how to avoid an unnecessary war. `I do not like war, it is costly and the outcome is uncertain,` said Queen Elizabeth I.

The Indian government tried to win for the country the role of a global influencer like China, but ended up losing face as a regional bully. It overlooked the extent of Pakistan-China defence arrangement.Also, the Indian strategic community, including those on the Pakistan-India Track II, failed to see the whole while focussing on the part. The result was a global embarrassment. To quote Ghalib: Maj-Gen (retd) Athar Abbas Islamabad