India is making sure Pakistan pays for the Pahalgam terror attack, and not just by using military might this time. Sources say that the government plans to ensure that the isolation of Pakistan is complete.
First, the diplomatic strike. Even as the cabinet meeting was on, government sources released some statistics to show that most countries in the world are as affected by Pakistan-stoked terror as India is. “Pakistan stokes terror" is the big word. As per the date released, it tells the world that none of them have been spared by Pakistan. The UK, the 2005 London bombings, Iran, Moscow Concert Hall attack in 2024 are some instances. As part of this diplomatic strategy, India is dialling world leaders to seek their support for any action plan. It’s important that India isolates Pakistan and shows it as a rogue nation, sending out a message that no one should be ready to do business with it. But more importantly, in case of military action, India would expect the world to be with it.
These are trade secrets but India has made it very clear that it has the prowess to take on Pakistan. That’s why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been meeting the Chief Of Defence Staff, Armed Forces chiefs and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The aim is to make it clear to Pakistan that India means business and action would come soon.
Behind the scenes, India has been negotiating with countries like Israel, US, France for equipment to embolden its military resources. Interestingly, when the PM sent the word that armed forces would decide the time and scale of operations, it was also a message to the world that India is not like Pakistan where the Army calls the shots and that we are a democracy.
This is one of the most potent strikes on Pakistan. The Indus Water Treaty being suspended has already hurt Pakistan in terms of its agriculture and water supply. Pakistan is facing food inflation and a shortage. In the past year, India-Pakistan trade has increased four times, but it has been tilted in favour of India, with India having an export surplus. India exports life-saving drugs, pharma, fertilisers and sugar. This, being scrapped as well as e-commerce will hit Pakistan hard. Not just third-party routes like Dubai, too, are being monitored to ensure that Pakistan doesn’t export or trade through these routes.
Several actions have been taken against Pakistan-supporting YouTubers and social media handles. India’s advisory is clear: the rules of restraint and credibility which apply to India’s channels, apply to them Apart from this, videos of past and present terror attacks stoked by Pakistan are also being curated to spread the word that Pakistan is peddling a false narrative and that this is the information dossier which exposes Pakistan as a rogue nation.
