Punish Pakistan for Pahalgam with exacting finesse

India must be careful not to get drawn into a response that would be of Pakistan's choosing. Instead of war, it must press for crippling the country economically, by getting the global community to impose sanctions

- Tara Kartha

Anger against Pakistan is building in India following the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 civilians were killed; the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) issued a strong statement.

That anger is unsurprising given the brutality of the attack. In Pakistan, major commentators accuse India of "false flag" operations, by which they make the outrageous allegation that India orchestrated the attack to implicate Islamabad. This is an indication of a Pakistan army general running around in circles. Clearly, they are expecting the worst.

The statement of the CCS ticked the expected boxes. Pakistan's military advisors as well as other support staff have been ordered to leave India even as 14-odd officials of the Pakistan High Commission itself remain, including the charge d'affaires. That puts the blame squarely on Pakistan's military establishment.

The closing down of the Attari checkpost and suspension of any remaining visa protocols were also expected. The high-impact lever pulled was also not entirely surprising. Late last year, New Delhi refused to have any more meetings of the Indus Water Commission till the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was renegotiated.