THE strong measures India has taken to teach Pakistan a tough lesson after the Pahalgam terrorist attack on tourists may appear to many as appropriate. However, having known what Pakistan is and how it has been behaving for the past 75-plus years, it must be emphasised that all the diplomatic and other measures -- including the unilateral suspension of the Indus Water treaty -- are just not enough if weighed against the sins Pakistan has been indulging in all along. India needs to take some sterner measures -- which may mean a calibrated, no-nonsense military action that would make Pakistan realise the terrible limitations of its own strengths. Realising what Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi must be thinking about, we have reasons to apprehend that some other major moves may be forthcoming from India in the next few days. If this reading of the Prime Minister’s personality has some merit, then some tougher action from New Delhi may be expected in the next few days. And, to be sure, this possible action may cover the military option in whatever measure -- to suit a welldefined purpose.

 

There is no doubt that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has considered multiple and parallel option before arriving at the five precipitate decisions involving suspension of Indus Water Treaty, closure of Attari-Wagah Border, expulsion of Pakistani diplomats and Military Attache`s, blocking of SAARC Visas to Pakistani citizens, declaring Pakistani Military Advisors as Personae Non-Grata, and immediate withdrawal of India’s Military Advisors from Pakistan. All these decisions point to a a no-nonsense approach, all right. Yet, given the dirty ways of Pakistan -- unchanged over time -- these measures could mean pardoning Pakistan from its sins of commission over decades. It is, of course, not possible for a civilian to suggest what more could be done to punish Pakistan more intensely. But the overall mood of the nation is that a strong military action would be in tune with the sins of Pakistan. The common people of India also think with much emphasis that it is the right time for India to take back the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir through a wellpremeditated military strategy and action .

 

 As we make this strong suggestion -- in line with popular thinking -- we insist that we are not indulging in war-mongering of any type. Much to the contrary, we believe strongly that a no-nonsense armed action would serve India better and best in the future. There certainly are people who expect the Government to decide in favour of attacking terrorist hide-outs in Pakistan or Occupied Kashmir -- in the same vein as the Uri strike and the Balakot airstrikes.We, however, belong to a different school. For, we believe that the terror outfits in Pakistan do not operate on their own but are guided and goaded by Pakistan’s military masterminds who use terror as a tool of State policy not for now but for decades on end. So, hitting the terror hideouts would mean only targeting a smaller portion of the actual problem.

 

In other words, if India is to teach Pakistan a tough lesson or two, then its must mount an armed attack on Pakistan military’s upfront positions -- which may include Corps and Army Command Head-Quarters. It is obvious that Pakistani military preparedness is of a high level. So, it would be wrong to take the Pakistani Armed Forces lightly or casually. Pakistan can lay claims to having one of the good armies in the world, and therefore deserves to be taken seriously at least by a country such as India. But a well-premeditated and focused armed action into Pakistan would do India a great good -- so that at least Occupied-Kashmir can be snatched back . That would be the best and most appropriate action from India and a terrible lesson to Pakistan.