India must prepare to plough a lone furrow

Every time India reacted to Pakistan-backed terrorist strikes, it raised the benchmark. What began as 'Kadi Ninda' pre-2014, became a cross-border strike after Uri in 2016 and Balakote in 2019, finally ending up with damaging and destroying Pakistan's strategic assets in Operation Sindoor.

- HARSHA KAKAR

Every time India reacted to Pakistan-backed terrorist strikes, it raised the benchmark. What began as 'Kadi Ninda' pre-2014, became a cross-border strike after Uri in 2016 and Balakote in 2019, finally ending up with damaging and destroying Pakistan's strategic assets in Operation Sindoor. Each time Pakistan prepared for a repeat of the last attack with modifications, the result was far more powerful and damaging.

Despite achieving success, India left Pakistan with a window to avoid admitting defeat, and saving face domestically on the basis of its narrative. The aim was never to humiliate Pakistan but to convey a strong message to its leadership, hoping it would be taken. Operation Sindoor was no different.

An added concern for India this time was open military support from China which apart from its equipment also provided inputs including electronic, satellite and from its AWACS. Alongside China was Turkey, which provided drones, its operators and positioned an anti-submarine warfare ship in Karachi. Islamabad's traditional support base from West Asia remained neutral.

Global reactions followed predictable lines. Western nations, while sympathizing with India on the terrorist strike, accepted the Pakistani version of Kashmir being disputed. No one blamed Pakistan for the terrorist strike. Each nation considers its relations based on national interests.

India had refused to condemn Russia for its Ukraine attack despite pleading by Europe and the US, as ties with Russia are to its advantage. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had even commented that "Europe thinks its problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not its problem." We had then followed a neutral line mentioning 'we are on the side of peace.' Similarly, India's terrorism problems are not the world's problems. We should have no reason to complain.