Will India launch a limited air attack on Pakistan’s terror hiding place? Why does Islamabad need to deploy aircraft?
Given Amit Shah’s reaction to the 2016 URI surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot air strike, no one would be surprised if India chose to carry out limited air strikes on Pakistan’s terror hiding place.
IAF Fighter Tejas (File Image)
Will India conduct retaliatory surgical attacks in Pakistan after the Pahargam terrorist attack? The TRF terrorists suspected of Pakistan raised the question after Jamu and Kashmir killed 26 innocent civilians. Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to the chaos in Pahalgam, vowing: “The culprit of this terrorist attack will not be spared.” No one would be surprised if India chose to carry out limited air strikes on Pakistan’s terrorist hiding place.
Amit Shah vows “the toughest consequences”
The coalition government’s response was quick and real. The Home Secretary held a high-level security meeting in Srinagar on Tuesday night, and soon arrived. The heads of some central security and intelligence agencies participated in the review meeting. The meeting discussed intelligence input, regional vulnerabilities and coordinated responses. The government vowed to act quickly and Amit Shah announced that the attackers “will face the toughest consequences”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh responded to this view, saying: “We are not only going to contact those who carry out the attack. We will also contact those who plan from behind our land.” Although he did not identify those who he believes are responsible for the killings, he said: “The Indian government will take steps that may be necessary and appropriate.”
Political pressure
The Pahalgam massacre was the largest terrorist attack since the Pulwama attack in 2019, and since then, India has sent its fighters out of internal Pakistan fighters to target terrorist hiding places. The government undertaking by the BJP-led supernationalists was under pressure to establish ties with Pakistan after an anti-hybrid protest in Srinagar, and Congress leader Shama Mohamed demanded a “flattening of Rawalpindi”.
Symbol Message Passing
Limited surgical strikes are best suited for narratives of strong states created by the SuperNational People’s Party. This will also strengthen India’s position that cross-border terrorism will not be tolerated at all and will give the perpetrators the response. Due to allegations of “deep state terrorism”, the Pakistani terrorist attack was attributed to Pakistan’s terrorist Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let), and the surgical attack would strengthen the ruling party and send a strong signal to neighboring countries.
Military preparation
Despite Pakistan’s concerns about the Pahalgam killing, media reports said Pakistan has deployed its Saab Erieye airborne warning and control system. Apparently, Islamabad is taking India’s military posture seriously and is expected to strike.
Nuclear risk
On the other hand, experts warn that the Narendra Modi government must not take additional miles and only takes symbolic and non-military actions, remembering that both are nuclear forces. Military operations are inherently risky because it can cause retaliation. Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir may see it as a direct and personal challenge. After the train hijacking incident in the static province of Bal Lu Chin, he acted smartly and he might not have taken any military action easily. Islamabad, which took place in 2019 after an air strike in Pakistan, sent fighters to India. An IAF pilot was arrested in Pakistan after a Pakistani attack on Pakistani fire and he quit. Tensions escalate and the two countries are on the brink of a mature war.
Non-military action
Experts believe that New Delhi should choose a non-military option. It could take diplomatic and economic measures to suspend the Indian Waters Treaty, end the 2021 LoC truce, or close the Attari-Wagah border. These steps may have a purpose to send a strong signal to Pakistan to appease the country’s supernationalist halls and strengthen its narrative.
