The beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops Monday has incited the nation to avenge the dastardly act. However, this is neither the first incident of its kind, nor is it expected to be the last one, unless the NDA government led by Narendra Damodardas Modi stops basking in the glory of its “successful” surgical strike a few months back and initiates tough steps to teach the rogue neighbour a befitting lesson.
Pakistan has a defence budget of mere $17 million compared with India’s whopping $50 million. It is also proven that the capabilities of the Indian armed forces far exceed its Pakistani counterparts. So what makes a small, divided nation like Pakistan dare at the subcontinent’s ‘Uncle Sam’ — India? Obviously not its military might.
Lack of an effective foreign policy at the Centre, absence of a consistent defence minister and hesitancy to act decisively have made the country a “toothless” tiger. While the power of NAM has evaporated long back, even SAARC has virtually become defunct, reducing India’s influence in the region to naught.
We are neither friends of the USA, Russia, China or the UK, nor do Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka trust us, while our neighbour’s newfound ties with China and Russia are proving to be threatening. Mere globetrotting does not improve relations and strengthen ties. Hence, it is not surprising that India cannot do what Israel can achieve without effort.
There needs to be more effort and conviction on the part of the Prime Minister than involving in petty vote bank politics. We need more than a 56-inch chest, Mr Prime Minister. —CHANDAN DAS
Demonstrate it
The beheading and mutilation of bodies of two BSF jawans by the Border Action Team (BAT), which comprises terrorists and Pakistan army regulars, has caused nationwide shock and opprobrium, and rightly so.
There is near unanimity in the country on the nature of response that India should take, that is, nothing but strong retaliation. The hideous act by Rawalpindi is nothing but a measure of its unremitting obsession to keep the ties between the two countries frazzled.
Mauling of dead soldiers and disfigurement of bodies is against the grain of basic human rights guaranteed under UN conventions. That this has come in the wake of a meeting of industrialist Sajjan Jindal with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad to pave the way for a resumption of stalled talks between the two countries and the pro-Pakistan remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan goes to show that the unsoldierly act was a ploy to put paid to future efforts for resumption of talks.
It is a given that Rawalpindi calls the shots on Pakistan’s India policy. We would do well to not get carried away by emotions and jingoism. Military options must be part of a multi-pronged strategy to defeat the rogue country.
Our Army should be given a free hand to deal with the problems emanating from across the border. Its actions or reactions must drive home a message across the border that it possesses far more superior firepower and can inflict punitive action. India must demonstrate its superior firepower.
Secondly, there is no point abandoning dialogues inasmuch as Kashmir is destined for a long summer of discontent. —SISIR MISHRA
Give diplomacy a chance
The dastardly act of mutilation of two Indian soldiers on the LoC demands immediate retribution at the highest military level amounting to war. Worse, amid repetitive denial by Islamabad, and its demand for submission of adequate proof by India of the neighbour’s heinous misconduct, the act is a shameless and flagrant violation of sovereign and humanitarian laws.
Mere anger and condemnation of the unsoldierly act by Pakistan will not assuage the hurt feelings of Indians and more so in case of the family and dear ones of martyrs. Constable Prem Sagar and Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh were professional soldiers who believed in a code of conduct and never deserved treatment like terrorists.
The neighbour, perhaps, does not anticipate a war immediately, as according to strategists, a strike amid oppressive heat and prior to the onset of monsoons is not to India’s advantage when movement of artillery and consignments are most difficult. However, India could consider employing an aggressive diplomatic stance or in the worst scenario another surgical strike of September 2016 kind. —RAMESH PATNAIK
Go kill or shut up
We have been hearing talk of revenge against those who have been continuously, at a steady pace, giving out a clear and loud message by killing and mutilating our armed forces personnel nearly daily.
This commenced from the day we boldly stated our so called ‘Surgical Strikes’ dealt, supposedly, a death knell on terror camps across the border. Apart from brave talk, what are we capable of delivering? It reminds me of a text message forwarded by a friend last night that went thus: “Dear Pakis, we as a nation have become immune to the martyrdom of our young soldiers because they are paid to die and there is no election coming up soon. You, however, just try and kill one of our cows then we will show you the real fun.”
However ridiculous these words may sound, reality is not far behind. We have an upcoming English news TV channel that has put up billboards across the nation saying ‘Pakistan’s Migraine’. Unbelievable, this nation that really is neither a republic nor does it want to know anything, least of all the truth. I am of the opinion that these constant attacks are not, repeat not, by the Pakistan Army.
These are non-state informal players that are playing havoc with our armed forces. They must have realised a blast in Daryaganj of Delhi or in the Andheri-bound suburban train in Bombay has little or no impact. Indians call up their relatives in those cities and check out if they are alive by chatting about weather and family. Then all forgotten. Our brave Surgical Strikes claim has given them this brand new and successful idea.
It is clicking! Our forces are demoralised and lethargic. We heap praises on a youth from Sambalpur for getting kicked around in Kashmir and talking in Hindi. We were told to shut up and say nothing because a soldier was dying at the border! No one bothers to ask: Why is an Indian soldier getting killed so often?
With overriding inefficiency, lack of discipline, outdated infantry weaponry, no security gear, low morale and bereft of leadership, a trained armed force personnel dying should not be pointlessly misread as martyrdom. Instead, all those screaming gau rakshaks, pro Aadhaar, anti Paki virulent Bhakts should be forced to join a group that could be given quick training in arms and explosives and air dropped inside Pakistan. They be compelled to stop this nonsense or keep quiet. —TATHAGATA SATPATHY
