India on Saturday banned all direct and indirect imports from Pakistan. It also banned entry of all Pakistan-flagged ships to its ports. Even mail and posts from Pakistan have been stopped. A day earlier, Indian Air Force jets conducted a flypast and landing drill on Ganga Expressway near Shahjahanpur, UP, while the Indian Navy conducted exercises in the Arabian sea. Army troop movements continue on the border of Rajasthan and J&K. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Kerala and Amravati (Andhra Pradesh), but he did not mention Pakistan. It was Nara Lokesh, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu’s son, who told the rally that India has “a huge NaMo missile” and Pakistan will be taught a lesson. Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership is presently on tenterhooks, and keeping a careful watch on Indian activity. People living on the Pakistan side of LoC and the international border have been asked to stock food and water for a month. On Saturday, Pakistan tested its Abdali ballistic missile with a range of 450 km. Pakistan’s ministers are a confused lot. They do not know what to say and what to do to prevent an Indian attack. While some ministers are threatening nuclear attacks, others are sending messages of peace. The ground reality is: both the Pakistani leaders and army know the might and capability of the Indian army and they are scared. They are also foxed by Modi’s studied silence. For them, Modi’s silence signals a lull before the storm.
