Jeff Smith

And then both sides can claim victory to their respective publics and go home. That's essentially what happened in 2019. That's what most of us thought would hopefully happen in this case. But both sides seem to be choosing escalation. I think Pakistan has had an off-ramp since the first exchange, but it chose not to take it. And it chose to respond with drone strikes on Indian military targets.

And then both sides can claim victory to their respective publics and go home. That's essentially what happened in 2019. That's what most of us thought would hopefully happen in this case. But both sides seem to be choosing escalation. I think Pakistan has had an off-ramp since the first exchange, but it chose not to take it. And it chose to respond with drone strikes on Indian military targets.

That was one thing that the Indians in their first wave of attacks sie haben keine pakistanische Militär- oder zivilisierte Infrastruktur getarget, die sie beurteilen. Sie haben nur diese Camps getroffen.

That was one thing that the Indians in their first wave of attacks sie haben keine pakistanische Militär- oder zivilisierte Infrastruktur getarget, die sie beurteilen. Sie haben nur diese Camps getroffen.

That was one thing that the Indians in their first wave of attacks sie haben keine pakistanische Militär- oder zivilisierte Infrastruktur getarget, die sie beurteilen. Sie haben nur diese Camps getroffen.

Aber in Pakistans ersten Rückflug haben sie indische Militär-Fazilitäten getarget, die Indien ermutigt haben zu sagen, okay, jetzt steigst du den Anteil und wir kommen nach deinen Militär-Fazilitäten und wir werden in der Tat einige Drohnen in deine Städte schicken. And now Pakistan is responding with its own wave of drones, hundreds in the last volley across the line into multiple Indian targets.

Aber in Pakistans ersten Rückflug haben sie indische Militär-Fazilitäten getarget, die Indien ermutigt haben zu sagen, okay, jetzt steigst du den Anteil und wir kommen nach deinen Militär-Fazilitäten und wir werden in der Tat einige Drohnen in deine Städte schicken. And now Pakistan is responding with its own wave of drones, hundreds in the last volley across the line into multiple Indian targets.

Aber in Pakistans ersten Rückflug haben sie indische Militär-Fazilitäten getarget, die Indien ermutigt haben zu sagen, okay, jetzt steigst du den Anteil und wir kommen nach deinen Militär-Fazilitäten und wir werden in der Tat einige Drohnen in deine Städte schicken. And now Pakistan is responding with its own wave of drones, hundreds in the last volley across the line into multiple Indian targets.

And so unfortunately, the two sides are still climbing the escalation ladder. And, you know, I think both sides have an interest in climbing off, but you never know when that and who's going to take the first step off the ladder.

And so unfortunately, the two sides are still climbing the escalation ladder. And, you know, I think both sides have an interest in climbing off, but you never know when that and who's going to take the first step off the ladder.

And so unfortunately, the two sides are still climbing the escalation ladder. And, you know, I think both sides have an interest in climbing off, but you never know when that and who's going to take the first step off the ladder.

Yeah, it's very possible. They've got an army chief and you know in Pakistan the real power lies with the military. Pakistani army essentially controls the country. You know, if there's a prime minister that's getting out of line that they don't like, he's arrested and thrown in jail and it's happened. Frequently.

Yeah, it's very possible. They've got an army chief and you know in Pakistan the real power lies with the military. Pakistani army essentially controls the country. You know, if there's a prime minister that's getting out of line that they don't like, he's arrested and thrown in jail and it's happened. Frequently.

Yeah, it's very possible. They've got an army chief and you know in Pakistan the real power lies with the military. Pakistani army essentially controls the country. You know, if there's a prime minister that's getting out of line that they don't like, he's arrested and thrown in jail and it's happened. Frequently.

In fact, it's usually the Pakistani military picking who's going to be next prime minister. And then it's just a question of how long it takes before he pisses the military off and gets thrown in jail and they decide they want to go with someone else. So it's really the army chief now who's actually been somewhat vulnerable within Pakistan. There's been a lot of discontent with his leadership.

In fact, it's usually the Pakistani military picking who's going to be next prime minister. And then it's just a question of how long it takes before he pisses the military off and gets thrown in jail and they decide they want to go with someone else. So it's really the army chief now who's actually been somewhat vulnerable within Pakistan. There's been a lot of discontent with his leadership.

In fact, it's usually the Pakistani military picking who's going to be next prime minister. And then it's just a question of how long it takes before he pisses the military off and gets thrown in jail and they decide they want to go with someone else. So it's really the army chief now who's actually been somewhat vulnerable within Pakistan. There's been a lot of discontent with his leadership.

He also is seen as a particularly religious person who frames the conflict with India in religious and even messianic terms. So that's probably not helping the situation.

He also is seen as a particularly religious person who frames the conflict with India in religious and even messianic terms. So that's probably not helping the situation.

He also is seen as a particularly religious person who frames the conflict with India in religious and even messianic terms. So that's probably not helping the situation.