Category : National

Editorial.

Exactly 12 days after the Pulwama terror attack, the Indian Air Force (IAF) struck the biggest terror camp of the Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) in Pakistan’s Balakot, reportedly eliminating a large number of terrorists. This was the first airstrike by IAF across the line of control since 1971 and was guided by intelligence that JeM was planning further Pulwama-like terror bombings across the country. That the strike comes after the UN Security Council issued a strong statement against the Pulwama attack and JeM, as well as US and EU warnings to Pakistan against nurturing terrorists on its soil, exemplifies excellent coordination between military initiatives and ancillary diplomatic moves to isolate Pakistan.
Through this action, the IAF has raised the cost to Pakistan for carrying out asymmetrical warfare against India through terror proxies. Moreover, diplomats have been careful to frame the attack as a counter-terror strike rather than one on Pakistan’s military assets. If the latter is unwilling to dismantle terror safe havens despite being provided ample evidence, then India has the right to defend itself through such measures.
That said, the Indian political class must now respond with a measure of sobriety. The credit for the execution of the successful cross-LoC operation goes mostly to the IAF and military brass. The Indian people have seen and heard and will draw their own conclusions, Over and above that, loud chest thumping exercises, attempts to politically own the airstrikes or use them to attack other political parties will be counterproductive. This should be a moment of national unity and nothing should be allowed to sow national division, even if Lok Sabha elections are coming up. Second, triumphalism could provide further motivation to terror groups. And that’s not helpful if the ultimate aim is to end terrorism. What we need is a calibrated approach where Pakistan is made to realise that it too will lose if it continues to use terror as an instrument of state policy. On the other hand, if it chooses peace with India then it’s win-win for everybody, and both nations can reach great heights of development.
Hence, this is not about defeating Pakistan. In fact, the IAF operation was careful to avoid civilian Pakistani casualties. However, Pakistan has said that it will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. Indian security forces must be on high alert and prepare for all contingencies, both conventional and terrorist.

( The Times of India, Chennai, Wednesday, February 27, 2019 ) Courtesy : MPS