There is no comparison between India and Pakistan. While cultural and historical commonalities persist but fundamental differences in governance, economic development and international relations have led to vastly different national trajectories. Despite both the countries gaining independence at the same time, Pakistan today stands nowhere close to India in terms of development, economy, democratic institutions, global standing or overall national strength.

But unfortunately every time one switches to an Indian news channel, it is hard to miss the presence of at least two panelists busy comparing India with Pakistan. This repetitive comparison has almost become a staple of televised debates, regardless of the subject at hand. Instead of focusing on India’s own challenges, achievements, and future roadmap, discussions are often dragged into a predictable India–Pakistan binary. Such comparisons neither add depth to the debate nor serve the larger public interest rather they trivialize serious issues and reduce informed discourse to noise.
Every time India achieves a milestone — whether in development, economy, science and technology, sports, cinema, healthcare or for that matter in any field — most of the news channel anchors and television panelists rush to drag Pakistan into the discussion. This reflexive comparison is not only unnecessary but also absurd. India today is a rising global power with ambitions and capabilities that place it alongside nations like the United States, UK, China, and Russia. Its trajectory, scale, and aspirations are fundamentally different. Comparing India with a struggling, unstable state like Pakistan only lowers the quality of public discourse and distracts from meaningful evaluation of India’s real progress and global standing. India deserves to be measured against the world’s leading powers, not used as a constant counterpoint to a failed state. By this comparison we are degrading ourselves to the level of Pakistan.
At times, these debates descend into outright absurdity, especially when Kashmir is discussed, where reckless comparisons are deliberately used to lure, entice, and manipulate Kashmiris. Attempts are often made to influence Kashmiris by dangling comparisons of development, economy, and material prosperity — most frequently by contrasting India with Pakistan and warning that choosing a failed, bankrupt state facing political turmoil would lead only to deprivation and loss of rights. This argument fundamentally misses the point. Love for one’s country is not a transaction based on GDP figures or economic indices or military power. Nationalism is not a marketplace choice. I am a Muslim and a Kashmiri, and Allah could have chosen any Muslim country for me to be born in, yet He chose India for me. That choice itself affirms India as my MOTHERLAND. My love for my country and for my nation is unconditional — just like the love for my parents is unconditional irrespective of wealth, status, looks or circumstances. If development alone defined patriotism, then by that logic I should shift nationalism towards America simply because it is more developed. That is totally absurd. Nationalism and patriotism are not driven by convenience or comparison. They are rooted in birth, identity, belonging, and unwavering loyalty. My patriotism is not conditional — it is pure, innate, and non-negotiable. I am Indian by birth and I will die as an Indian.
What makes this comparison most irritating is when Indian news channels drag military power into it. Comparing India’s armed forces with Pakistan’s is not only absurd but intellectually dishonest. India’s military doctrine, scale, resources, global responsibilities, and strategic outlook place it among major world powers, not regional failures. Such comparisons unnecessarily elevate Pakistan to a level it neither matches nor deserves, while trivializing India’s real strategic challenges and aspirations. Instead of measuring India against global military benchmarks, these debates reduce serious national security discourse to noisy, shallow theatrics.
It is ok to scream in air conditioned newsrooms that Pakistan is a failed, a bankrupt and a politically unstable state. Indian army is the world’s 4th largest. India has more war weapons, nukes, Rafale etc (which is true). This kind of reckless bravado may help television channels chase ratings or excite and bhaktis at political rallies, but it does nothing to alter the hard reality on the ground. And the biting truth is that a major portion of Jammu and Kashmir is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan and it continues to be so from last 78 years and this absurd comparison between India and Pakistan constantly paraded on news channels and political platforms has achieved nothing tangible on the ground.
Therefore, such comparisons are not only absurd but also meaningless. A confident and rising nation like India does not need constant validation through comparison especially with a country like Pakistan. India’s progress, achievements, and challenges should be measured against global standards, not against a failing neighbor. It is time to stop this nonsense and absurd comparison once and for all.

 

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