Crossing the line

With its soldiers crossing the Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday night, India has paid back Pakistan with the same strategy of sub-conventional warfare it has followed with impunity for over two decades. India has conducted cross-LoC operations in the past to subdue a pesky Pakistan army post or haul in militants about to enter the Kashmir Valley. This operation stood out for the panache with which it was handled. Two officers, one a General and the other a seasoned diplomat, came up with a carefully measured account of India’s first public admission of a cross-border operation into Pakistan. There was none of the disorderliness associated with last year’s strike across the eastern border when blustering politicians nearly messed up India’s bilateral ties with Myanmar.

India’s upfront admission of the strike-back was in stark contrast to the sneak attack in Uri on sleeping soldiers. An Indian Army officer called up the Pakistan army to own up the operation unlike the perpetual denials from the other side even when the signatures are visible to all.  Worse, the much-vaunted Pakistan army stood exposed. Despite having been put on notice by Modi and Rajnath Singh, it allowed an eight-hour operation that inflicted heavy casualties. The Pakistan army then closed its options to respond or try to influence international public opinion by denying that there was a cross-border operation at all.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has definitely retrieved the political capital he lost after not responding to several terrorist outrages. America’s advice to Pakistan to mothball UN-indicted militant outfits indirectly rationalises the operation. Having played the game adroitly, the ruling party must resist the temptation of turning a professional military strike into political theatre. Social media is already ablaze and the politician could be seduced into riding the feel-good wave by deriding Pakistan. Such an attitude can trigger an escalation and economies don’t take kindly to upheavals. The stock markets have already tanked. As India is isolating Pakistan by other means, a prudent politician should put the war drums in storage and wait for this strategy to bring the desired results.