Thread by @tanvi_madan

Re "who is winning PR war" (really ppl??). A DC pov: folks know what caused this crisis: a terrorist attack from a grp based in Pak. Can argue abt GOI/pol approach. But re pilot release - not seen as grand gesture but obvious step Pak had to take to ensure crisis didn't escalate

Probably an unpopular opinion among the crowd here, but India's restraint since 2001 has not been seen as a sign of weakness, but a sign of maturity -- & that India has its eyes on the prize, while Pakistan seems to only hv eyes on India.

That restraint, which let India gain power/position, and Pak's contd links w/ terror groups (that don't just target India) is why almost no country has publicly criticized Indian airstrike (despite ?s abt wisdom of extent of incursion) & contd to call for Pak to take CT steps. 2/

Pls notice that lack of criticism of Indian airstrike - that Pak sought - came despite many countries' concern re impact on Afghan talks & ?s abroad abt GOI's approach in J&K. They hvnt said "ok, like Pak says, you/we shld talk abt Kashmir," but "Pak, do sthg abt terrorists" 3/

This "PR war" thing is very circular -- it wouldn't even be a thing if you weren't going on abt it. It's also a bunch of navel-gazing IMO -- the only ppl having this conversation are in India & Pakistan. 4/

You know what hurts India's PR? The idea that a "PR war" is what's at stake.
You know what hurts India's PR? Politicizing this.
You know what hurts India's PR? The yelling on Twitter & TV. 5/

The best thing India can do to shape perceptions of it? Acquire capabilities -- economic, tech, military, intel, etc -- and show wisdom in how it uses them.
6/6

ps. this was a thread abt "PR war" & not a thread about how govts' should/should not handle interaction w/ media or shape opinion. I think strategic communications shld be part - but not driver - of policy planning/making, esp these days 7/7

pps. I want to (really) end this thread w/ sthg @chidu77 pointed out: "Nearly ten times the size of Pakistan’s economy, India is adding one Pakistan to its GDP each year, and will have an economy roughly 40 times larger by 2050." That, ppl, is what helps you win int'l PR wars 8/8