Decisive Action vs Strong Words

The ongoing skirmishes between Indian and Pakistan, pregnant with the possibility of turning into a full-scale war, mark a paradigm shift in India's posture in dealing with the terror menace and a difficult neighbour.

- BALBIR PUNJ

On the night of May 6-7, the Indian Army launched a bold military operation deep inside Pakistan, annihilating nine terrorist bases. Among the 100 or so slain were multiple jihadists, including 10 relatives of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. Contrast it with the reticent India of 2008, when it remained largely mute after Pakistani terrorists killed 166 innocents in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

The retribution by India, albeit anticipated, was unprecedented in its sheer scale, precision, detailed planning and meticulous execution. This path-breaking initiative was a healthy departure from the past, when any foreign-sponsored terror act usually evoked only 'strong protests' or 'kadi ninda' (strong condemnation).

Meanwhile, the terrorists happily retreated to their state-maintained safe havens in Pakistan, busying themselves with their next target and preparing for a new strike. The vicious cycle continued unabated.

The grim tally of jihadist attacks—including the ones on the Indian parliament (2001), Akshardham temple (2002), Mumbai (2006, 2008, 2011), Delhi (2005, 2008), Jaipur (2008), Ahmedabad (2008), Pune (2010), Varanasi (2010), Hyderabad (2013), and Bodh Gaya (2013)—testifies to this strategic inertia. Around 500 innocent lives were lost in these terrorist attacks. If one were to include other acts of terrorism alongside those in Jammu & Kashmir, the death toll would be significantly higher.