India's Shifting Normal in the Fight Against Pakistan-Backed Terrorism

The trajectory of India's national security doctrine has undergone a radical transformation in the last decade.

- SYED JAHANZEEB

For years, Pakistan-backed terrorism challenged the sovereignty and patience of the Indian state, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. But from the corridors of power in New Delhi to the bunkers of the armed forces, a new "normal" has emerged - one that does not just defend but retaliates, not just responds but deters, and not just condemns but eliminates. What once passed as routine cross-border provocation has now begun to invite high-stakes consequences. The post-2014 era marks a dramatic departure from passive diplomacy toward aggressive precision and accountability.

Before 2014, India's response to terrorism originating from Pakistani soil was largely defensive and diplomatic. Despite numerous high-profile attacks—such as the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai carnage, and the daily attrition faced by soldiers and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir—India adhered to a strategy rooted in restraint. The state's actions were often limited to condemning attacks, supplying dossiers of evidence to Pakistan, and appealing to the international community. Behind this cautious approach lay the fear of escalation, the reality of nuclear parity, and an international system reluctant to endorse military responses. For the ordinary Indian, terrorism was a recurring tragedy met with symbolic outrage and minimal strategic consequence.