Last night, some Iranian social media accounts claimed that "the world will witness a surprise it will never forget." Shortly after, new footage appeared showing missile interceptions over Tel Aviv's skies, and then a hypersonic missile piercing through the Iron Dome, hitting the ground at lightning speed. In the next few moments, a ball of fire illuminates, accompanied by explosive sounds. Some find solace in the sight, while others are filled with fear.
I remember during the India-Pakistan conflict, drones hovered over Jammu, and a friend of mine, whose parents lived in a military colony, tried to call them but couldn’t get through. She was frantic with worry.
Consider the people of Tel Aviv whose apartments were hit by the hypersonic missile that pierced through the Iron Dome. Even though Israel retaliated by bombing Iran, the fear of falling missiles might never leave these people's hearts.
Also Read: Supporting the Nobel in Exchange for Lunch! The Reason Behind Trump's Invitation to Asim Munir
War Extends Beyond Social Media
In the age of social media, it's clear that wars are no longer confined to borders. People joke and strategize from their living rooms. As long as you’re out of the range of a warring nation’s longest missile, you can mock the situation and even order your favorite meal.
Six months ago, common citizens weren't discussing technical analyses, but war has taught everyone. When war reaches your doorstep, learning becomes essential. In essence, every war acts as a showcase for defense technology companies, offering everything from drones to the Iron Dome for sale. It’s akin to a wealthy Delhiite maintaining a lavish farmhouse in Chattarpur complete with ostriches.
Trump's Luncheon with Munir
In the midst of this Iran-Israel conflict, there's sudden news that Donald Trump has invited Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir for lunch. Modi was also invited but reportedly declined, sparing Trump from worrying about vegetarian cuisine. Sharing a dining table with Munir suggests negotiated airspace concessions from Pakistan.
The story is old, yet the script hasn’t changed. America bypasses civil governments again to strike deals directly with the military. Pakistan manages to extract its price again; a previously monetized boundary is set to yield more, while India might be looking to increase its arsenal, perhaps with more Sukhoys and S-400 systems.
Also Read: Trump Calls Pakistan a Key Player in Regional Peace, Discusses Israel-Iran Issues with Munir?
Meanwhile, India's main opposition is yet to recover from the electoral advantage the ruling party gained post the 2019 Balakot surgical strike. They're striving to ensure "Operation Sindoor" doesn't benefit the government, giving power to Trump's lunch invite, even at the cost of national consensus on foreign policy.
In Pakistan, such events become fodder for political propaganda, demonstrating the 'benefits' of imprisoning opposition leaders.
Trump's Nobel Aspirations
This is the time of Trump. Every nation, in some way, has become an indirect pawn in satisfying Trump's hunger for a Nobel. Wars are opportunities, and global nations vie to help him secure the next Nobel Peace Prize. To him, it's all about achieving the Nobel.
