Just how 'innocent' are civilians during times of war?

Most people do not wish other people harmed but there is enough insanity around to jinx peace prospects

- MANU JOSEPH

People in Gurgaon were wondering what they must do if a Pakistani missile reached them. We would have run, surely. To what end, I don't know. That moment when I ran, I would have been somewhat embarrassed. That Pakistan made me run. Normally, Pakistanis cannot make me do anything—not even emotionally prepare for a cricket match anymore. But maybe we didn't have to worry after all. On Saturday, India and Pakistan announced that they had agreed to a ceasefire. It was chiefly because of us—we the 'innocent' civilians of the world.

A principle of modern war is that I should not be killed. As a civilian, I am 'innocent'. Only a war would call me that, though. It is somehow odd that the official position of Pakistan is that I am innocent. You, too, are probably innocent, and also everyone else in my residential colony. Including the old men who have always walked briskly, calling for a "strong hand." We are the innocents. We have put some people in uniform, as though to clearly mark them out as 'not innocent'—who can be targeted, for which we pay them rich compliments.

But how innocent are we?