Restraint is not enough: Lessons from Pahalgam terror attack

Let it be known clearly that Bharat will respond, and we will do so in a fair, legitimate, and honourable way, not just for ourselves but for the cause of enduring civilisation

- SANTISHREE DHULIPUDI PANDIT

2 April 2025 once again reminded that Democratic and open societies are threatened more on their core values. On our Western border is a rogue sinister state that uses terror and religious exclusivism as instruments of foreign policy. They are cowards who hit soft targets, tourists. How is it that such terrorists are unable to operate through the other two Indian States with whom Pakistan has borders, namely Rajasthan and Gujarat. With our vast cultural and civilizational history, Indians and Indians can boast of a prideful legacy and inclusive credentials. We are the descendants of one of the world's first great civilizations, with a legacy that stretches back to millennials. We were among the first to build political institutions and achieve scientific advancements that took other parts of the world centuries, even millennia, to realize. Yet, for some reason, somewhere along this journey, we find ourselves grappling with a disturbing question: do our inclusive ideals make us more vulnerable to attacks, be it from invaders historically or terrorists in contemporary times? This gives rise to a troubling inquiry: are we a soft state?