After Prime Minister Modi returned from his visit to Saudi Arabia, the Cabinet Committee on Security held a meeting and announced a series of measures against Pakistan. These actions reflect the deep anguish felt by the Indian people as they mourn their losses. It was noted that Pakistan seemed to have learned from the surgical strikes and the Balakot airstrike; however, General Asif Munir’s diminishing status, along with the army’s declining respect within Pakistani society, has led the Pakistani generals to act recklessly and engage in this reprehensible behaviour.
Diplomatic and Strategic Fallout
In their detailed analysis on StratNews Global, Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale and Amitabh P. Ravi unpacked the consequences and possible trajectories emerging from the Pahalgam carnage. Their insights help frame the path ahead for India.
While any kinetic military response will require time to plan and execute, India has already taken immediate steps to exert pressure on Pakistan:
Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT): Perhaps the most significant move, this puts on hold a historic agreement brokered with World Bank involvement and in place for nearly seven decades.
Expulsion of Pakistani Military Attachés: The Indian government has declared the Pakistani Army, Air Force, and Navy attachés persona non grata, ordering their immediate departure.
Reduction of Diplomatic Staff: Pakistan’s diplomatic presence in India is being cut down to just 30 officials.
Closure of the Attari Border Crossing and revocation of select visa provisions: These further isolate Pakistan diplomatically and economically.
Military Deliberations Underway
At the same time, India is currently exploring various hard options, as indicated by the meeting between the Chief of Defence Staff, the three Service Chiefs, and the Defence Minister. The military leadership likely presented several military options during this discussion. However, the specifics of these options will not be disclosed until a decision is made to implement them.
Pakistan Army’s Provocations
General Asim Munir, the Pakistani Army Chief, recently made public statements drawing religious distinctions between India and Pakistan. The General is losing credibility among the public and is increasingly seen as someone unable to control the state. Analysts suggest that facing mounting public distrust and a credibility crisis at home, the General may have opted for escalation as a diversionary tactic.
Audience Insights
During the StratNewsGlobal discussion, audience questions shed light on broader concerns:
- On continued infiltration despite the ceasefire and a heavily guarded LoC, Nitin Gokhale acknowledged that the terrain allows for some breaches. He emphasized the need for more robust intelligence gathering and threat assessments.
- Regarding Chinese activity on the Brahmaputra, he noted that while China is the upper riparian state, a significant portion of the river’s flow into India is generated through rainfall and condensation downstream of Chinese dams—mitigating the impact of upstream diversions.
Pressing Questions After the Pahalgam Massacre
Nitin Gokhale’s take on the lapses in security and intelligence
Now that 48 hours have passed since the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, and the initial wave of grief and anger has somewhat settled, it’s time to raise a few uncomfortable but necessary questions—questions that reflect the collective concern and anguish of many of my readers, viewers, and fellow citizens.
- Was there a sense of complacency in the security establishment?
Did the Jammu & Kashmir Police, the Army, and intelligence agencies assume that tourists would not be targeted simply because they hadn’t been in recent years—given that local livelihoods depend heavily on tourism?
- Was the high-profile presence of US Vice President JD Vance overlooked?
Institutional memory—or even common sense—should have prompted heightened security at tourist hotspots in the Valley. History tells us that high-profile visits have coincided with terror strikes before—Chittisinghpura in 2000 being a case in point.
- Why the resurgence of attacks in the Valley?
For the past couple of years, militant activity had seemingly shifted to the Jammu division, attributed to increased counter-terror pressure in the Valley. Has that pressure waned recently? If so, why?
- Was the provocative speech by Pakistan’s Army Chief ignored?
Could his remarks have acted as a dog whistle for cross-border terror groups? Was it noticed but not fully assessed for its operational implications?
To be fair, countless attacks are pre-empted, and many terror modules are neutralized without fanfare or recognition. The invisible, daily grind of our security forces often goes unnoticed. Yet, the ordinary citizen remains vulnerable and uninformed about the complexities of this ongoing war.
This post reflects both my personal concern and the outpouring of questions I’ve received over the past 24 hours. I have full faith in the Indian state’s capability to respond forcefully and strategically. But it is also vital to provide clear, rational answers to these questions and take swift corrective action.
Team BharartShakti
