India's approach towards Pakistan and counterterrorism after Pathankot

The terror attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force base comes a mere week after PM Modi much discussed visit to Pakistan. Pakistan is our neighbor and improving ties can only help both nations. The air was inundated with optimism and everybody hoped that change was on its way. But just before we could leap with joy and cheer this new accomplishment, the foul and incredibly loud noises of gunfire and bomb explosions once have hijacked the proceedings.

Members of the Indian National Congress party who were quite ineffective in fighting the war on terror themselves, spared no time as jumped straight to playing politics and hurling attacks at the PM and the government. Many in the media joined them with the “we told you so” routine, all this as our soldiers were bravely battling terrorists at the base.

So what should our approach be toward Pakistan? Do we suspend all talks and ties? Do we issue tough statements through the media declaring Pak responsible for the attacks? Do we declare this as an act of war? Do we continue talks? But do we have pre-conditions? Do we send a dossier replete with proof of Pakistan’s support of terror? 

So let’s consider the hawkish approach. We suspend talks, we talk tough and hold the Pak government responsible then shut the door on them. We brace ourselves for war knowing that both countries are nuclear enabled. But let’s look at Pakistan first. It is no secret that Pakistan itself has been a victim of terrorism. According to Wikipedia over a 979 Pakistani citizens comprising of soldiers, policemen and civilians perished in terror attacks. It is also true that terrorist organization want hostility between India and Pak as the enmity serves as an easy way for them to pursue their vile agenda. Suspending all ties will be playing into the hands of terrorists. It may be the most politically safe thing to do but a huge loss in the long term.

Now let’s consider the softer approach where we send dossiers of proof to the Pakistani government, hoping that they will act on it. We continue talks and hope things improve. We commence sports and cultural exchanges, hope it will enable the two nations to display defiance towards the terrorists. Hope may be a good thing but we must prevent our hope from turning into blind optimism. It is also demeaning to the lives of victims and martyred soldiers to carry on with talks and cultural exchanges as nothing changes on the ground. We have tried that several times and alas nothing good has come out of it. As Einstein wisely noted, the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing with the expectation that it will yield a different result.

Now let’s consider the third approach that is a mix of both, we keep talks going on with Pakistan, but we closely monitor the outcome. There has to be clear expectation and goals set after ever talks and if these goals are not met there needs to be tough talk, if that does not work there may be the need for suspension and the last option on the table will have to be the use of force. If however the goals are met they can be celebrated with sports, cultural exchanges and even economic ties. Economic ties will mean that the well-being India will be in the interest of many in Pakistan and hopefully they will apply pressure on the powerful in Pakistan to help in the war on terror. Some of the goals that can be set is the trying and conviction of terrorist masterminds and the dismantling of terror group in Pakistan. Another important goal is that Pakistan share intelligence with India as frequently as possible, because counter-terrorism is quite often first about intelligence and less then about force. It is no secret that there are some elements in the ISI and the Pak army are sympathetic towards terror elements, a viable goal to set is for the Pakistani government to try and marginalize and irradiate these elements.

But more along with our attitude towards Pakistan, we also ought to have to look inwards and change our approach. The Pathankot attack is second in Punjab in just months after the attack in Gurdaspur, clearly shows that the Punjab border is now being used by terrorists at a front for attack. It is therefore essential that the every border be heavily guarded. We must provide all in the armed forces including the police that are in harms with all the modern protective armor and the latest weaponry. We must try and get the opposition to suspend all petty politics until the terror attack is over. We must pass rules that prevents the media from going overboard in their coverage such that they help the enemy. The media, the politicians and other commentators must cease the urge to turn jingoistic and point fingers without knowing all the facts. We must also insure that there is better intelligence sharing and communication with our armed forces. It may also be a time where every citizen is given basic training in self-defense and how to handle oneself during a terror attack, this is not to say that every citizen becomes Rambo takes on terrorists but some training can teach us to deal better with the enemy and perhaps minimize casualty. Many of our armed personnel lose their life or are rendered handicapped during counter terror missions. No words can compensate the loss, however we can insure that a fund is setup such that the families of all the dependents of the soldiers are taken care of, each time there is a cultural even between the two nations a portion of the proceeds go to that fund that supports the families of martyrs and wounded veterans.

The solutions prescribed are not easy and will take a great deal of time, patience and sadly the lives of many will continue to be lost. But there is no other way. It will also take great political maturity and restrain as the hawkish elements continue to urge confrontation. So far the Indian Government has shown great restrain and maturity as the Pathankot attack still unfolds. The future of the two nations can be brighter only if there is cooperation, collaboration and communication. We have to build a relationship that is strong enough to withhold terror attacks that are sadly inevitable and will take a long time to minimize and eventually eliminate. It is calm minded pragmatism and not hot blooded jingoism that will get us to a better place. But for the relationship to succeed there needs to be total honesty and complete reciprocity by Pakistan for every act of gracious act by India. Will that happen? Only time will tell.