Strategic Bargain

The April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam region, which claimed the lives of 26 Hindu tourists, marks a chilling escalation in the pattern of violence plaguing the Valley.

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The calculated nature of the assault — where militants segregated victims by religion before opening fire — has shaken the nation's conscience. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was right to convey to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the perpetrators, backers, and planners must be held accountable. Justice, not vengeance, must guide India's course — but it must be firm and unflinching. India has identified the attackers, including two Pakistani nationals, confirming the cross-border nature of this terror operation. Pakistan, however, has dismissed any link and called for a "neutral investigation." That call rings hollow when seen in the context of Pakistan's long history of harbouring and enabling extremist elements. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's attempt to shift blame and its Army Chief General Asim Munir's aggressive warning of a "swift, resolute, and notch-up response" to any Indian action reflects the old playbook — denial, deflection, and deterrence by escalation. India cannot be browbeaten by such rhetoric. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to the service chiefs — granting them the freedom to decide on a suitable response — signals resolve. At the same time, the government is wisely applying calibrated pressure. By putting the Indus Waters Treaty under review and closing airspace to Pakistani carriers, India is using the levers of international law and bilateral agreements to send a strategic message without immediate military escalation. This attack also underscores the urgent need for intelligence modernization and inter-agency coordination within India. A proactive approach to tracking cross-border infiltration, digital propaganda, and sleeper cells can help prevent such tragedies. While diplomacy and deterrence unfold externally, internal preparedness must evolve into a formidable shield against future ass