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| "Celebrating Together: How Pakistan Responded to the Success of Chandrayaan-3 Without a Hint of Jealousy" |
ISLAMABAD -
Acknowledging the triumph of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, Pakistan has
extended a belated but genuine recognition, terming it a "remarkable
scientific milestone." Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch,
speaking during a press briefing on Friday, applauded the Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) scientists for their impressive feat.
In a turn of
events that highlighted a thaw in cross-border sentiments, Pakistan's media
prominently featured India's space accomplishment. The renowned Dawn
newspaper's editorial, under the title 'India's space quest,' reverberated with
praise for the historic success of Chandrayaan-3. The paper attributed India's
remarkable achievement to its ability to accomplish more with less, managing to
land on the Moon's surface while working on a relatively modest budget compared
to wealthier nations.
"India's
space journey is a testament to the dedication and competence of its engineers
and scientists, a resource that sets the nation apart," the editorial
commented, hinting that the success rested not just on financial resources but
the passion and determination of India's scientific community.
While
maintaining that comparisons might not always be fair, the paper subtly
suggested that Pakistan could draw lessons from India's space journey. Having
launched its space program earlier, Pakistan's successes in the field have been
more limited in scale, the editorial admitted.
The Express
Tribune, another respected Pakistani daily, echoed these sentiments in its
editorial titled 'India's lunar laurel.' The editorial recognized India's feat
of achieving what the space programs of the US, Soviet-Russia, and China had
all previously failed to accomplish - a soft landing on the moon's southern
pole. Chandrayaan-3's distinction as the most cost-effective moon mission to
date was also underscored, with estimated costs of USD 75-90 million,
significantly lower than comparable cinematic blockbusters.
Former
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry's voice resonated in the chorus of
commendations for India's achievement. Meanwhile, on social media platforms,
many Pakistanis joined in congratulating India on its space triumph. Alongside
the accolades, however, came observations about Pakistan's relatively
restrained progress in space exploration. Some light-hearted jokes even
surfaced about Pakistan's space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research
Commission (SUPARCO), with one satirical post playfully highlighting SUPARCO's
housing society as an unexpected accomplishment.
This shift
in tone from Pakistan's side stands as a testament to the growing recognition
of scientific achievements beyond political borders. The Chandrayaan-3 success
has managed to bridge a gap, prompting sincere praise and highlighting the
potential for collaboration and shared growth in the realm of space exploration
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