THIS day (May 28) back in 1998, Pakistan officially became a state with nuclear capability. A series of nuclear tests was done torespond toIndiathathad carried out its tests a few days earlier. Pakistan`s hand was forced, and it responded the way it should have, proudly joining the ranks of the world`s nuclear states.

In February 2019, the Pulwama attack appeared to be a staged drama orchestrated by the Indian government itself.

This was done to generate a reason for India to claim the right to respond.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) plane was shot down, and Wg-Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman was captured and treated as a prisoner of war.

Pakistan denied any involvement and offered full cooperation in any independent Pulwama inquiry, portraying confidence and restraint, but that has generally not worked in our dealings with the kind of neighbour we have.

The more recent Pahalgam incident was pretty much a replica of Pulwama.

Yet again, Pakistan sincerely offered a transparent inquiry into the whole account.

However, this offer was rejected.

Instead, pre-planned actions were taken to malign Pakistan internationally. In addition to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, India carried out air and missile strikes, resulting in collateral damage; an act that constitutes a serious violation of international norms.

All that India was able to do was to provide Pakistani armed forces another chance to demonstrate their readiness and capability, and they responded with precision and restraint. The world has witnessed and acknowledged Pakistan`s measured and professional response.

As a nation, we stand united under the green flag. The professionalism of our armed forces continues to be recognised internationally. The China-Pakistan friendship has reached new diplomatic and military heights, and Pakistan hasreaffirmed its status as a peace-loving nation,and not an aggressorthatIndia has been trying hard to establish.

Pakistan, therefore, owes a big thank you to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and, more specifically, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing yet another occasion, albeit inadvertently, to strengthen Pakistan`s international image and internal unity. The BJP stands out as the lone political party in India that has time and again provided Pakistan with historic and epic opportunities to underline and reinforce its principled, responsible and prudentbehaviour as a nuclear state.

Col (retd) Afzal Mahmood Karachi