The facts uncovered so far, along with the context and pattern of events, make it abundantly clear that the barbaric attack on innocent lives at Pahalgam, in Kashmir, was a deliberate act engineered by Pakistan.
It wasn’t just a terror strike – it was a calculated move aimed at hurting the soul of India’s rising global presence and its fast-growing economy. The terrorists were mere pawns; the real hand behind the curtain was Pakistan, which is desperate to derail India’s forward march.
The international reaction was swift and decisive. From US President Donald Trump to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, from the leadership in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, world leaders condemned the attack unequivocally. They stood firmly with India.
CCS decisions
Across the country also, there is an overwhelming sentiment: this time, the response must be forceful, unambiguous, and unforgettable. People want a message sent – not just to the perpetrators, but to anyone who thinks India’s patience is weakness.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia to preside over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, in New Delhi. The meeting – attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval and the chiefs of the armed forces – decided to suspend the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, close down Attari-Wagah border and cancel visas of all Pakistani nationals in India. Sources indicated that the CCS kept all options – military, diplomatic and economic measures – open, but were reluctant to reveal the future course of action.
However, downgrading and downsizing of diplomatic relations has already started. All military advisors in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi have been declared Persona Non Grata and asked to leave India within a week. The overall strength of the high commissions will be halved by May 1.
A strategic shift
Counterterrorism experts feel that India’s current battle against terrorism requires a strategic shift. Pakistan, undoubtedly, should get the punishment that it deserves, but there is also a clear sense of abandonment in Pakistan, as its voice is not being given any credence in international forums.
Its two biggest benefactors, the US and Saudi Arabia, have grown closer to India and have more than once denounced the terror emanating from Pakistan. With its economy in doldrums and national debts mounting, Pakistan stands in stark contrast to India, which is fast becoming a preferred partner to the two nations. Existing threats from terrorism and insurgency in India underscore a larger game- plan by anti-Indian forces. The only antidote to this is national unity and stepping up inclusive development around the slogan of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabhka Vikas’.
The Modi Government has done well to build a political consensus on its roadmap to fight terrorism by organising an all-party meeting. It must now it complement by organising public awareness campaigns to make its vision of Viksit Bharat as the most effective element of its future course of action. India is taking every diplomatic step expected by the international community. It is making sure that any action taken is rooted in law, supported by global norms, and carried out responsibly. What follows next is likely to be a defining moment.
