The horrific massacre of 26 Indians in Pahalgam last week was deeply personal. It hit every single Indian all over the country, not just because the victims were mostly tourists (25 of them and one local, the pony rides operator who was matryd saving others lives) who came from all over, but also that the nature of the targets. Unlike Phulwana or Uri or Pathankot these were not military targets but soft targets. And during the attack a very chilling and personal nature was delivered – Modi ji se kehna (Go Tell Modi) is what they told one of the survivors after brutally killing her husband in front of her. The Prime Minister did not hesitate to pick up the gauntlet. Cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia he has been monitoring India’s response from the front – whether it is dialling global leaders, meeting with the CCS or the defence forces to plan out a strategy. As he thundered at an election rally in Bihar – “we will chase them to the ends of the earth…not just the terrorists but also their backers will not be spared.” Although the rally was in Bihar the PM spoke both in Hindi and in English. He was also addressing a global audience.
The terror attack has happened at a time when there is a short tolerance for terrorism of any kind but particularly Islamic terror – unfortunately terror has a religion. The Pahalgam attack singled out Hindus, the religion of the victims was asked before shooting them. The outpourings have been strong, the condemnations global. Whatever response India takes, will get a strong backing. That message is clear.
The options before India are both short term and long term and range from military to the political to the diplomatic. The downsizing of the diplomatic missions, the sealing of that Wagah-Attari border and putting the Indus Water Treaty and the Shimla agreement in abeyance are the immediate responses. Speaking to NEwsX Cover Story, Lt General DS Hooda was what the Northern Army Commander in Chief during the 2016 surgical strike was categorical when he said that a military response should not be ruled out. However unlike 2016 (Uri attack) and 2019 (Phulwana) when India took Pakistan by surprise with its response, this time Pakistan will be prepared. Lt Gen Hooda (retd) says that India has the capability to engage in a long term Ukraine style response.
But, my question is, will this be playing into the Pak Army Chief Asim Munir’s hands? For this is the relevance he is seeking when he made the provocative comment that Kashmir is Islamabad’s jugular vein. India’s security and military sources have evidence that the attack was state sponsored. The timing is also suspect, at a time when tourism was returning to the Valley, when the US Vice President JD Vance was visiting and at at time when Prime Minister Modi was out of the country, that too visiting Saudi Arabia.
There are also other options on the table which include taking back PoK or supporting Balochistan quest for freedom. No Pakistan is best for India said Lt Gen P Ravi Shankar (retd) when asked whether a strong or weak Pakistan works better for India. His suggestion is for India to start taking ownership of PoK by first filling the seats reserved for PoK (by proxy) in the J&K assembly, raising issues that concern PoK and so on.
Certainly India is going to be measured yet grandiose in its response. A strong, firm and consistent message needs to be sent and in Prime Minister Modi we have the right man to deliver it. The Opposition too is being supportive, from Rahul Gandhi to Omar Abdullah to Asaddudin Owaisi.
