Sunday, April 27, 2025
War Is Never A Prudent And Permanent Solution
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
26 April 2025
Following the brutal massacre on April 22 at Pahalgam in Kashmir, the ominous clouds of a full-fledged war between India and Pakistan are looming large. But is war a prudent and permanent solution? It's a Pyrrhic victory even for the side that wins in a war. I may sound preachy and even a traitor for my condescending sermonising at this juncture when the heightened sense of nationalism in both the countries is at its boiling and belligerent best.
The truth is, war has never been a solution to any issue, just like capital punishment failed as a deterrent to heinous crimes. War is the manifestation of humans' atavistic fondness for bloodshed and that's the reason, it (war) is called, death's danse macabre. Just pause and think as to who're those people clamouring for war? They're the politicians and pseudo-nationalists who're oblivious to the predicament of war and its ramifications.
Ensconced in the safety of four walls and sitting on the fence, it's very easy and comfortable to pass 'expert' opinions and judgments because most of us are suffering from voyeuristic Gladiator Syndrome. War not only annihilates innocent lives, it leaves one traumatised and scarred forever.
Remember the Holocaust. Those who witnessed its enormity, could never live a normal life. In the event of a war, there would be only body counts on both sides of the border. Humans are impulsive reactionaries. We tend to react violently and regret at leisure. Just imagine, if war breaks out and India wins, won't it also suffer from collateral damages. Will not India also lose its soldiers and citizens? Will it not affect the conscience of those who're conscientious? It's time to tone down and restrain our war rhetoric.
Remember, war is a double-edged sword, it also harms those who brandish it. We all must read Ernest Hemingway's 'A Farewell to Arms'. The great novel cogently speaks of the futility of war/s. Wars are always violent and full of gore. The most effective way to triumph is to outsmart and outmanoeuvre your opponent without engaging in conflict. By avoiding unnecessary battles and conflict, one can achieve victory with minimal loss and destruction.
The true mastery of warfare involves not just winning battles, but also being able to achieve one's goals through strategic planning and negotiation. Ultimately, the greatest victory is not in defeating your enemy on the battlefield, but in being able to achieve your objectives without resorting to violence and bloodshed. The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities. By utilizing tactics that instil fear, confusion, or doubt in the enemy, a skilled strategist can achieve victory without ever having to engage in battle.
This kind of victory not only saves lives and resources but also demonstrates the superior strategic planning and leadership of the victor. It serves as a reminder that true mastery of the art of war lies in one's ability to outwit and outmanoeuvre their opponent, rather than relying solely on brute force. War begets war(s). Blood draws blood. American writer and Nobel laureate in Literature Pearl S Buck rightly stated in her book, My Several Worlds that, " In any war, a victory means another war, and yet another, until someday inevitably the tides turn, and the victor is the vanquished, and the circle reverses itself, but nevertheless remains a circle.”
In all battles and wars, poor soldiers are used as puppets and pawns. It stands to reason, as to why will men fight and suffer to advance the interests of their masters, who fling them aside when they have no further use for them? Neither Pakistan nor India can afford a war at the moment. The highest form of victory is achieved not through brute force and direct confrontation, but through skilful manipulation and subversion of the enemy's will to fight. By outsmarting and outmanoeuvring the opponent, one can effectively neutralize their resolve and achieve success without the need for physical conflict. This concept highlights the importance of psychological warfare and the power of strategy over sheer force in achieving victory.
History has shown time and time again that extended wars drain a country's resources, both financial and human, leading to economic hardship and social unrest. The toll on the citizens, the destruction of infrastructure, and the erosion of trust and unity within society are just some of the negative impacts that prolonged warfare brings. War disillusions both the victor and the vanquished.
Pandavas understood this after the Battle of Kurukshetra when they realised that the decimation of Kauravas didn't actually make them (Pandavas) happy from within. In fact, war doesn't make anyone happy. A victory in a war is a euphoria and a euphoria doesn't last long; ecstasy fizzles out before one can say Jack Robinson. Think over it.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/war-prudent-permanent-solution/d/135325
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