Indian and Pakistan have both followed a consistent policy of talk-talk, fight-fight since the Kashmir insurgency began in 1989. By invoking Balochistan and northern areas, Modi has changed it to 'you mess with our soft underbelly, we will mess with your most vulnerable region.
The graduation is meant to bolster the legacy and legitimacy of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, even as the real-world preparedness lagged behind the glossy narrative.
Once acquired by IAF, the medium transport aircraft (MTA) will replace both AN-32s and IL-76s, it is learnt. The idea behind the revamp is to meet modern operational needs.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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