India Prepares Multi-Level Response to Pahalgam Massacre

Ordinary Pakistani citizens, already grappling with economic hardship, have also reacted negatively to this terror strike.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

India's response to the Pakistani establishment responsible for the Pahalgam massacre is likely to occur simultaneously at multiple levels, moving beyond the one-off military actions seen in 2016 (surgical strike) and 2019 (Balakot airstrike), according to sources.

This response is expected to focus on imposing significant economic losses on the Pakistani military and its economy, ensuring a heavy financial cost to deter future state-backed terror attacks. One key step in this strategy is the decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, which could severely restrict water flow in Pakistan's rivers, particularly during the upcoming summer.