Is war an option with Pakistan at this stage? Well, 74 percent viewers who were watching NDTV India last evening, anchored by famous Vinod Dua voted for in favour of it, while 23 per cent did not want war with Pakistan. We can presume that number of voters may be very low, but it shows the general sentiments in the country. While the general mood in the country is of anger, the government is treading a well-calculated path in order to ensure that things go in favour of the country. In the wake of Pakistan not complying with India’s demand to act more against the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks, tension is mounting between the two countries. Both sides are seemingly up against each other, preparing to speed up the army deployment on the borders.
On the other side of the border, air force has made aerial sorties yesterday over Islamabad and adjacent areas just to showcase that the army is ready for battle against India. In India, since Pranab Mukherjee reiterated that all options are open, military strike is very on the card. And as the Army Chief is dispatched to Siachen to monitor force deployment in the border areas of J&K, things are heading towards a headlong collision, if concrete measures are not taken to ease the tension from the Pakistan side. In fact, the onus is on Pakistan to satisfy India that it is serious about terror attacks from its soil.
India has reason as well as advantage: since as a terror victim India’s ask for a fair deal is very much genuine and legal; however, so far, Pakistan’s response has been defiant and antagonistic, which presses for a greater pressure – both diplomatic and military. In the first conclave of India envoys from around the world, the External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee pointed out that terror infrastructure in Pakistan is a danger for world peace and it must be eliminated. So, a diplomatic mission is the first step in putting Pakistan in the wrong. The US also wants Pakistan to do more to satisfy India. But, in response, Pakistan Government rejected Kasab’s letter the Indian High Commission submitted to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry as not ‘evidence’ though Pakistan newspapers, news channels, and his father recognised Kasab to be a Pakistani national.
For India, war is the last option though an inevitable one. With three defeats, Pakistan faces tough time in case of a full scale war with India though it is calling to strike back with equal power. We are much sure about a clean victory in case of conventional war with Pakistan, as we did in 1965, 1971 and 1999 because India has the capability, and India has the motive to win it. And since world community is going extend tacit support to India, its morale is bound to be high. Pakistan needs, though it will not, take lesson from history, especially from Kargil as to how India defeated it. It should consider India’s generosity as well since India could have gone on to attack Pakistan at the time of Kargil. It did not.
No doubt, Pakistan faces all round pressure from the world community to act on terror, and if its defiant posture continues like this, it will be isolated, sooner or later. However, what India needs is a belligerent posture for a decisive action this time. Anything less than end of terror network can not and should not be accepted to India. If India does not corner Pakistan, then there will be no stopping to more terror attacks in future. However, war can be a last option in case Pakistan continues to present antagonistic posture; moreover, a limited war to finish the places where terror organisations have their bases could be a better option, like the US has done so far. But, unlike the US, India needs to ensure that terror factory is done with as quickly as possible, else it may have to go on prolonging the hostilities, which is not viable for the country growing fast as a world power.
Seeking consensus from the major powers in this regard would help India place its points before the world in a legitimate manner. And surely India stands to gain in the face of growing threat that terrorism puts before the humanity, if it takes the world opinion along with it. Well, India needs to evaluate the consequences as well as the gains before going in for the war.
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