The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, nestled amidst the serene and sacred landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir, has once again shaken the conscience of the Bharatiya nation. It was not merely an assault on innocent pilgrims or an act of cowardice cloaked in fanaticism—it was an unambiguous declaration of war by hostile entities operating across the border. It is a grim reminder that the wounds of Partition, the betrayals of diplomacy, and the machinations of terror syndicates continue to challenge Bharat’s sovereignty, stability and patience.
Reclaim Geopolitical Space
At this critical juncture, symbolic condemnation is no longer enough. Candle marches, verbose statements and diplomatic notes have exhausted their utility. What Bharat now needs is strategic, calibrated and irreversible action—an approach that combines the moral force of democracy with the clinical precision of statecraft. It is in this context that we must revisit and redefine Bharat’s Panchamrit doctrine—traditionally a five-pronged diplomatic principle—to evolve it into a five-point action doctrine that not only reaffirms Bharat’s national resolve but also reclaims its rightful geopolitical space.
Internationalise Baloch Cause
Bharat has long maintained a morally consistent position on the right to self-determination, especially in conflict zones where human rights are systematically violated. The case of Balochistan—a province brutally oppressed by the Pakistani military-intelligence complex—is no exception. For decades, the Balochi people have suffered forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, economic marginalisation, and cultural erasure. Their voices—scattered in exile, stifled within, and ignored globally—cry for international recognition.
Objectives of Panchamrit
The five nectar elements presented by the Indian government included:
- Increasing non-fossil fuel capacity by 500GW by 2030
- 50 per cent of its energy requirements to come from renewable energy by 2030
- Reduction of total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now to 2030
- Reduction of the carbon intensity of the economy by 45 per cent by 2030, over 2005 levels
- Achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070
Bharat must now internationalise the Baloch cause in the strongest terms possible. Platforms such as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), G20 forums, and global think-tanks must become stages where Balochistan’s plight is highlighted. Bharat should lead the effort in presenting documented human rights abuses, satellite evidence, testimonies of exiled leaders, and data on enforced disappearances to build a global case.
But moral high ground alone is insufficient. Words must be matched by covert support. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other groups fighting for autonomy need more than empathy—they need training, intelligence, communication logistics, and safe havens. Balochistan’s strategic geography, which includes the Gwadar Port, Sui gas fields and proximity to Afghanistan and Iran, makes it a potential game-changer in undermining China-Pakistan nexus and disrupting the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Balochistan is not just a humanitarian concern. It is Bharat’s geopolitical lever, waiting to be pulled decisively.
The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 marked a constitutional transformation of Jammu and Kashmir, opening avenues for integration, development, and demilitarisation of narratives. However, the ecosystem of internal sympathisers, over ground workers (OGWs), and ideological enablers of terrorism still poses a serious threat. The legal delays in convicting and sentencing these actors embolden them and allow radical networks to regenerate.
Set up Fast-Track Courts
Bharat must now accelerate judicial processes by establishing fast-track courts for terrorism-related cases, enhancing coordination between the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and local law enforcement, and ensuring time-bound verdicts. The NIA has secured over 600 convictions, but thousands of accused individuals remain behind bars without final judgements. This legal inertia undermines deterrence and gives radicals a chance to manipulate the system.
Where applicable, capital punishment should be pursued with a clear message. Bharat will not hesitate to act ruthlessly against enemies within. Additionally, financial surveillance, radical content filtering, prison de-radicalisation, and a robust rehabilitation policy for misguided youth must be implemented in tandem. Justice delayed is not merely justice denied—it is security compromised. Bharat cannot afford such lapses any longer.
Revive Forgotten Ties with KPK
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)—once the land of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as the Frontier Gandhi—is today a powder keg of discontent. Despite its rich cultural ties to pre-Partition Bharat, KPK is now a militarised zone, with Pashtun voices crushed under the boot of the Pakistani establishment. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has emerged as a civil rights coalition exposing atrocities such as forced disappearances, military checkpoints, and extrajudicial killings.
Bharat must revive the forgotten emotional and cultural linkages with KPK. Our history books, documentaries, and diplomacy must reflect the shared heritage between Pashtuns and Bharat, countering the false binaries constructed post-Partition. At the same time, diplomatic support and discreet strategic encouragement to pro-democracy movements like the PTM can ignite a popular movement for autonomy or Independence.
KPK’s proximity to Afghanistan, rising ethnic nationalism and alienation from Islamabad’s Punjabi-dominated ruling class make it ripe for geopolitical recalibration. Dissecting KPK from Pakistan is not aggression—it is self-determination fulfilled.
Reclaim PoK
Bharat’s stance on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is not driven by electoral politics or rhetorical populism—it is anchored in a constitutional mandate. The 1994 unanimous resolution passed by the Bharatiya Parliament unequivocally states that PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan are integral parts of Bharat and must be vacated by Pakistan.
Unmask Pakistan
With Pakistan’s global credibility rapidly declining, thanks to its economic collapse, terror affiliations, and internal instability, the international climate is now more conducive for Bharat to reignite the PoK issue. Engaging with diaspora communities from PoK, organising international PoK Solidarity Conferences, and initiating a legal offensive challenging Pakistan’s illegal occupation can put the spotlight on Islamabad’s violations.
Bharat’s Expertise in Surgical Strikes
Moreover, strategic covert operations, as demonstrated in the surgical strikes of 2016 and the Balakot airstrikes of 2019, have proven Bharat’s capability to strike with precision. Such operations must now be part of a sustained doctrine to eliminate terror camps in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and Gilgit, targeting infrastructure and personnel that threaten Bharatiya security. PoK is not a debate. It is a deliverable, long delayed but constitutionally mandated.
Nuclear Blackmail
Pakistan’s final refuge in every diplomatic and military crisis has been its nuclear arsenal—used not in deployment, but in rhetoric, to constrain Bharat’s action. However, in today’s multipolar world, the global community is increasingly immune to Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail. With India’s rising influence in QUAD, BRICS, G20, and strategic ties with the US, France, Israel, and Russia, the psychological grip of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrence has weakened.
PM Narendra Modi chairs a meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, in New Delhi
Bharat must now strengthen its second-strike capabilities, build resilient missile defence shields, and communicate—publicly and through backchannels—that any nuclear misadventure will invite overwhelming retaliation. Bharat’s no-first-use doctrine should remain intact, but the deterrence narrative must be sharpened with operational readiness and precision-strike preparedness. From Agni-V intercontinental missiles to anti-satellite weaponry, Bharat has the tools—it must now display the doctrine to wield them when provoked.
Bharat’s Panchamrit was conceived as a diplomatic nectar, emphasising development, dignity, dialogue, diaspora, and global leadership. But today, in the face of recurring provocations and bloodshed, this nectar must transform into prahar (strike)—a blend of diplomacy, defence and decisive action.
From supporting oppressed ethnic groups like the Baluch and Pashtuns, to dismantling terror infrastructures in PoK, and reasserting its nuclear deterrence, Bharat must now move from reactive diplomacy to proactive enforcement
The Pahalgam terror attack is a red line. It is a call not just for revenge but for strategic recalibration. Bharat cannot afford to be seen as a toothless tiger, nor as a nation eternally tolerant in the face of trauma. From supporting oppressed ethnic groups like the Baluch and
Pashtuns, to dismantling terror infrastructures in PoK, and reasserting its nuclear deterrence, Bharat must now move from reactive diplomacy to proactive enforcement.
To honour the blood spilled in Pahalgam and countless such attacks before, Bharat must rise. It must redefine Panchamrit not as a poetic principle but as a pragmatic doctrine—anchored in realpolitik, justice, and regional leadership. Only then can we cauterise the wounds of terrorism and restore lasting peace, not just in Bharat but in the subcontinent at large.
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