Change Mindset to Deal With Terror

Pahalgam attack is an inflexion point in our history that calls out for deep introspection; a moment in time to call a spade a spade; a time to make honest judgements about ourselves, call out the deficiencies in our society.

- VIVEK GUMASTE

Operation Sindoor in which India levelled at least nine terror camps and inflicted discernible damage on prominent Pakistani air bases including its flagship air base of Nur Khan barely 10 km from Islamabad (confirmed by satellite imagery), was a courageous and befitting military response to the cowardly attack on predominantly Hindu tourists at Pahalgam on April 22; this decisive action demonstrated the superiority of our armed forces and their ability to strike deep into Pakistan at will.

However, it would be shortsighted to believe that a single, purely military response like Operation Sindoor, despite its significant impact, will deter Pakistan from its shenanigans or eradicate terrorism. Accordingly, PM Modi has unequivocally stated that this is just a pause.

The genesis of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is far more complex and deeper; it is a multifaceted, dynamic theatre with a host of actors contributing advertently or inadvertently to the barbaric game plan. Therefore, we need to understand the construct of this unholy nexus. Pakistan is undoubtedly the evil mastermind of this state-sponsored terrorism; a criminal enterprise conceived and managed by the Pakistani Army, egged on by religious zealots and for which the civilian government provides diplomatic cover.

But we cannot overlook the role of local actors, especially Kashmiri separatist Muslims who have actively colluded with Pakistan to plan and execute these killings over the last 30 years. Finally, we need to address the intransigent attitude of some of India's Muslims, the timidity of the Hindu majority, and the ideological fixation of our woke liberals—all of which inadvertently play into this ugly narrative choreographed by Pakistan.