As a military man, I fully share the anger, anguish, outrage and exasperation of all the patriotic Indians on the cowardly terror attack on the tourists in Pahalgam, J&K, on April 22. This heinous and dastardly attack left 28 people dead and several injured. The severity and the seriousness of the government can be assessed from the fact that Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Srinagar after instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi himself cut short his visit to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and returned to New Delhi. The meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) held on April 23 evening took some important decisions to punish Pakistan for the terror attack. CCS, headed by the Prime Minister is the highest decision-making body to adopt the future course of action on matters of national security.
The terror attack in Pahalgam is Pakistan-sponsored, and it has been executed through The Resistance Front (TRF). TRF is a Pakistan-based militant terrorist organisation and is actually a proxy of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). This terror attack comes in the wake of General Asif Munir, Pakistan Army Chief’s statement on Islam and Kashmir on April 16. Thus, it can be concluded that Pakistan was planning this terror attack well in advance, and it was a direct attack on India to assert the ‘superior Islamic ideology and culture over India’. Therefore, the time has come to address the root cause of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, that is, Pakistan. Here, Pakistan means Pakistan Army leadership, terror groups based in Pakistan, Pakistan’s ISI and some radical, motivated elements in Pakistan. Any average Pakistani is struggling to make ends meet and has no interest in Pak-sponsored terrorism.
India has acted with great restraint while dealing with Pakistan on the Line of Control (LC). It has religiously followed the Ceasefire Agreement on the LC with Pakistan, last renewed by the Director Generals of Military Operations of India and Pakistan in February 2021. With the type of regular violation of the LC by Pakistan, the time has come to abrogate this agreement with immediate effect. With the Indian government under Prime Minister Modi fully committed to Parliament’s stance on Pak Occupied Kashmir (PoK), there is no meaning in adhering to a futile restraint by India on the LC. In fact, the Indian Army has to actively pursue the terror network through the LC.
With the world at large expressing support to India in the fight against terror, we now have the right opportunity to declare a formal ‘War against Terrorism’. After 9/11, the USA launched a ‘Global War against Terror’. The US was supported by a large number of nations in this global endeavour, and thus, India can expect similar formal and informal support from like-minded nations. Terrorism has no boundaries or religion and thus India’s war against terror has to acquire local, national and international reach, with global influence. While there would be a temptation to launch immediate reprisals/retaliation against Pakistan in the instant case, the CCS would have carefully discussed all the military options as per the escalation matrix. Such a war may need an overhaul of the existing security architecture in India and the uniformed leadership at the higher echelons.
Lastly, a war against terror requires a ‘Whole of Nation Approach’, which means that all Indians have to be prepared to face hardships and challenges. Such a war requires sacrifice, not only of the soldiers but of the common public, particularly those residing in the border states. The nation has to be prepared for such a long duration of discomfort and anguish. It cannot be business as usual when you go to war. The first step could be to exhibit national solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. It was heartening to see some candle marches on April 22 evening in J&K. But I failed to see black bands as a display of protest during the IPL Cricket match at Lucknow on April 22 evening. Such apathy and attitude on the of public at large is not acceptable. I am glad that the course correction in the IPL match on April 23 has happened.
I would urge the leadership at the national and state level, including the political parties, to declare a day of mourning for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and organise a nationwide candle march. All patriotic Indians, including the minority community, should join hands to condemn terror unitedly. It is all the more important to exhibit the collective national will because the terrorists made the biggest mistake while killing by singling out the ‘Hindus’. Pakistan and other inimical forces must know that India, that is Bharat, is far superior to all the nations in ideology, culture, conduct and aggressive action. Jai Bharat!
