There has been this theory of Pakistan winning the skirmish in May 25 and entire “world recognising this win” theory is being sold.
It is also being claimed that Pakistan has made massive diplomatic gains due to this “so called win”.
This has been raised on some other threads too hence, I would put my points here to debunk these theories and also that Pakistan has made any game changing diplomatic gains after May 25 that can be attributed to the skirmish.
The claim that Trump is wooing Pakistan since it sees a strong nation is exaggerated. Improved diplomatic activity or selective engagement with Pakistan reflects regional stabilisation imperatives especially due to Iran and Gaza peace plans. US sees Munir’s utility in handling both these flash points. Pakistan’s geographic relevance, not battlefield dominance is the reason for this. Rest be assured that, the day this utility ceases, Munir would be sent packing home.
States engage with weak and strong actors alike when interests demand it. Diplomacy is transactional, not a scoreboard of wins and losses.
If diplomatic outreach were proof of victory, then every sanctioned or diplomatically courted state would be a “winner”, which is plainly absurd.
Any Indo-Pak war is unwinnable in absolute terms. Pakistan faces severe economic fragility, energy constraints, and dependence on external financing. India faces massive population exposure, economic disruption, and global market consequences.
This is precisely why neither side crosses certain thresholds. It is evidence that both understand the cost of miscalculation and decided to stand down on 10th May.
Narratives of “total victory” are domestic morale tools. They have been propagated by the same establishment that is trying to market JF-17 to half the third world Air Forces to create a narrative for domestic consumption. A narrative that JF-17 was so great that the whole world is dying to induct it. This is being sold as a proof. Both supporting each other. Nothing but bordering on a lie.
I do acknowledge that Pakistan punched way above its weight class for its performance on 07th May. There are many facts that show severe shortcomings on later dates and by no way a sign of a victory that is being claimed.
A genuine assessment must acknowledge that neither India nor Pakistan has won, and both would lose catastrophically if escalation ever crossed the point of control.
