The Indo-Pak war, managing international relations and the IPL

Sadly, the danger to human lives and suffering are secondary to mega profits and possible dangers ahead.

Our country sits astride major sea lanes. Connecting  Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Particular leaders of our country have been able to navigate the ship of our state - through turbulent waters - avoiding stepping on the toes of warring nations like India and Pakistan

The name of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Mrs. B.) pops into our collective minds at times such as these. One cannot but remember how she managed the crisis when India stepped in to facilitate the bifurcation of Pakistan and the creation of the state of Bangladesh. 

At that time without damaging our relations with India, she permitted the refueling of Pakistani aircraft in our country. At that time too, India had closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft. Ms. B. used the country’s non-aligned status thereby permitting Pakistani aircraft to refuel in this country. We did not see her rushing to criticise ‘terrorism’.

 Politicians of the era suggested Mrs. B. was best suited to a role in the kitchen. Even the leadership of then JVP which was also politically active during those days did not disassociate themselves from this chauvinist view of a female PM. Even in this gender sensitive era, we are yet to hear the progeny of that party apologise for their erstwhile insulting analyses.

According to reports emerging from the two belligerents’ media, Indian attacks have damaged Pakistani civilian housing adjacent to alleged militant bases in Pakistan. Pakistan and a number of reliable outside sources claim Pakistan has downed four to five of India’s latest fighter planes.

We also remember, not too long ago, that  Indian magazines highlighted the existence of Sri Lankan militant bases in Tamil Nadu. They were set up with the support of the Indian central and Tamil Nadu governments. Would India have remained silent if the Lankan government carried out surreptitious or glaring daylight attacks on those camps? Lest we forget, militants regularly crossed the Palk Straits to attack Lankan military and civilian targets. 

Despite this, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar insists India maintains a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Fortunately,  US President Donald Trump - despite all his other shortcomings - was able to coerce both the Indian prime minister and Pakistani military leaders to agree to a ceasefire. Unfortunately, particular sabre-rattling media outfits in the country continue attempting to portray attacks on civilian targets as being an inevitable fallout of military operations. 

Trump has temporarily at least helped save civilian casualties in both countries. He has also saved the blushes of the Indian defence establishment which saw the loss of four to five of their most modern fighter aircraft to the Pakistani air force. In addition,  he may have also saved  Indian money-spinning sporting business owners -the Indian Premier League (IPL) from suffering financial losses. 

The ‘Hindustan Times’, within hours of Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire, claimed  in a news report that the BCCI wanted to immediately restart the IPL even before the ink on the agreement had time to dry, with belligerents still claiming violations of the agreement. 

Sadly, the danger to human lives and suffering are secondary to mega profits and possible dangers ahead. Lets restart the IPL.  

We were reminded of the colloquial saying “navagilunath ban choon” (never mind the sinking ship, let the band play on). The IPL management also used the sporting event to promote digital advertisements supporting Indian armed services during the tournament. 

The series comprises large numbers of international cricketers, coaches, and journalists who want nothing to do with India and Pakistan’s misguided war. The lives of innocent by-standers are being put in danger. But that does not appear to matter to the IPL co-franchise partners.

We Lankan’s can scarcely forget how IPL administrators caved into late Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister Jayalalitha’s ban on Lankan players involved in the IPL from playing at venues in TN. Our players were dumped from matches in series conducted in that state.

As the character ‘Alice’ in Lewis Carol’s Alice in Wonderland would have said, ‘things are getting curiouser and curiouser...’