Why PM Modi chose to directly address the people of Pakistan – Firstpost

In a striking departure from convention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened a new front by directly addressing the people of Pakistan. Bypassing the Pakistani army—a perennial powerbroker in the nation’s politics—the PM has deployed a potent mix of psychological warfare and deterrence. India’s economic ascent and war-fighting capabilities are brought starkly together in the roti or goli metaphor as both an example and warning. This is not soft power; it’s an or else.

Framing the Pakistani military in the guise of attacking terrorists who “can’t win wars, only bring ruin”, the Indian prime minister has cast them as the architects of Pakistan’s stagnation, holding back an entire nation. This bold strategy marks a significant shift, one that seeks to reshape public sentiment across the border.

Bypassing the Army: A Strategic Imperative

The Pakistani army has long dominated the country’s political and foreign-policy landscape, acting as both gatekeeper and narrator of the national story. Its influence has rested on a carefully cultivated image of India as an existential threat, justifying its outsized role in governance. By speaking directly to the Pakistani people, Modi sidesteps this military filter, delivering an unvarnished message that challenges the Pakistan army’s authority. This direct engagement is a superb flourish. It allows India to present its narrative of progress and stability without the distortions of a military establishment that thrives on conflict. That it comes in the shadow of harsh IMF conditions for a billion something (small beers for Indian startups) is a bonus.

The importance of this approach lies in its potential to sow disillusionment among ordinary Pakistanis in the long run. By appealing to their aspirations for prosperity, Modi invites them to question whether their army’s belligerence serves their interests or merely entrenches its own power. In a nation where the military’s grip has often stifled dissent, this direct line to the populace stirs placid waters.

Economic Development: A Deterrent

India’s economic rise—now the world’s fourth-largest economy—stands in stark contrast to Pakistan’s travails, mired as it is in debt, inflation, and reliance on foreign handouts. Modi has seized on this disparity, holding up India’s progress as a mirror to Pakistan’s missed opportunities. This is not just chest-thumping; it is a calculated deterrent.

By showcasing what a focus on development can achieve, he underscores the ruinous cost of the Pakistani army’s fixation on terrorism and proxy wars. The message is unequivocal: while India builds, Pakistan sinks—and the military bears the blame.

The Army’s Fading Prestige and Pakistan’s Sinking Economy

It helps that the Pakistan military’s aura has taken a beating. Operation Sindoor exposed its inability to protect national sovereignty, while Imran Khan’s critiques—retaining vast influence despite his ouster—have laid bare its political vulnerabilities. Far from safeguarding the nation, the army’s actions have brought ruin in reputation and reality.

For ordinary Pakistanis, the evidence is inescapable. Their economy sinks deeper into crisis—debt mounting, inflation soaring—while the military clings to its narrative of necessity.

In the end, it is a reminder that in the arena of nations, the most enduring victories are often won not with force but with truth, delivered straight to those who need it most. For Pakistan’s people, Modi’s voice offers a glimpse of what might be—if only they dare to demand it.

The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.