Uri Attack: How To Foil Pak Terror Plots For Good?

Avoiding reactionary retaliation, Modi government plans for a cold, calculated response to the Uri attack.

- Bhavna Vij-Aurora

Revenge is a dish best served cold. The government seems to be acting on this adage as it works out an effective strategy to deal with terror attacks and “put Pakistan in its place” following the attack on the army brigade headquarters along the LoC in Uri.

By all accounts it appears that India may not go for the “jaw for a tooth” approach as senior BJP leader Ram Madhav had advocated. Top sources in the country’s security establishment told Outlook that a rush­of­blood response was ruled out. “That is not going to work with Pakistan. Time has come for a cold­blooded, calibrated response,” a senior government official said.

In fact, Pakistan seemed to be provoking India as it opened fire in the same region along the LoC in Uri, less than two days after the attack. More infiltration bids were foiled by the Indian forces as they took on the terrorists, killing 10 of them, in at least two more encounters, losing one soldier in the process. “It is almost as if they want us to escalate the level of tensions. They want to project Kashmir as the flash point between the two countries. We are not taking the bait. We will retaliate at a time and place, and in a method of our choosing,” says an intelligence operative.

Government sources claimed that ratcheting up the tensions was a tempting proposition, especially with the general mood veering towards a swift retribution. “The government is facing jibes for its seeming inaction, with unfavourable comparisons to the previous UPA government. Crucial ass embly elections are around the­corner. Other political parties are bound to rake it up against us but we have to tread with extreme caution,” a Union cabinet minister said.