The surgical military strike early Thursday morning against militants’ camps across the border in Pakistan-held Kashmir was well timed and executed by our country’s armed forces.
It not only caught the would-be terrorists napping but also was executed with such precision that there was minimum collateral damage to civilian life and property, though a few Pak soldiers at the camps were killed. Kudos to our armed forces for demonstrating their capability to launch a successful strike against precise military targets. That the special forces returned home after carrying out their objective of preemptive strikes successfully, demonstrates the discipline and professionalism of the Indian army.
The attack on the army camp at Uri in Kashmir was the last straw for India, which has exercised remarkable restraint all these years. Hopefully, Pakistan will wake up and stop being delusional about Kashmir. The people of Kashmir may have some grievances, but that gives Pakistan no right to interfere in India’s internal affairs. Instead, it should resolve issues in its own backyard; the simmering discontent in Baluchistan and its iron handed response against that its own people show its hypocrisy and doublespeak!
As our Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj rightly said in her address at the UN last week, ‘Those who live in glasshouses should not throw stones at others.’ Nevertheless, it is still not too late for Pakistan to abandon its policy of training, arming and sheltering militants to use its territory to conduct terror attacks on this country. If Nawaz Sharif is sincere about fighting poverty, the greatest enemy of both Indians and Pakistanis, he should change course right now and join with India in this noble endeavour to eradicate poverty, hunger and disease from the sub-continent.
India is still willing to extend the hand of peace and friendship to Pakistan and its people provided the leadership of Pakistan removes all terror camps on its territory and renounces all violence against its neighbours. If it does, it could be the dawn of a new era of peace, friendship and development in the Indian subcontinent. It’s not impossible. In Europe, France and Germany which were enemies for over a 100 years, buried the hatchet after World War 2 and are now close allies and friends.
Hopefully, Pakistan would have learnt its lesson. And change its direction before it commits harakiri and self destructs. Still it’s not too late for wiser and saner counsel to prevail on its part, in its own interest!
