ldev wrote:
People talk about deterrence in the nuclear thread all the time. What nobody realizes is that the credibility of a country's nuclear deterrence begins in actions like this. Any response by India must be disproportionate, on an equivalent target and seen to happen in the media for it to have any deterrence value for the future. Otherwise adversaries assume that with all the hardware in the world, if the political will to use it is lacking, the country can be kicked around.
No offense meant to you Sir, but I am sick and tired of such maacho rhetoric "Any response by India must be disproportionate". Sure, if wishes were horses, beggars would fly. But as the ease with which 4-6 Pakis almost destroyed an airforce bases and took so many valuable lives at Patankot indicates, does it give any confidence to you whatsoever that India has any capability to inflict "disproportionate response"? I applaud the bravery of our forces who thwarted an even bigger disaster, and I am greatful to them, but this attack has thrown open gaping deficiencies in India's fighting capability, and hence, 56 in chested ModiJi or "South Asian" MMS, action on the ground is simply impossible beyond reacting to what TSP throws at us. At least from my vantage point, thats what it appears. (And in this particular attack, I am pretty sure, although I have no evidence that insiders, most likely Khalistani traitors were involved).
So I think what is is required is a measured response, and try and corner TSPA/ISI on the issue of terror. Use Uncle to extent possible. Throw some jhappads across the LoC. Put up a united political front. Be ready to isolate TSP economically/diplomatically. None of this pee pee contact BS. These are all the tools at India's disposal in absence of a credible offensive military capability, and thats what ModiJi is trying to invoke IMO.
Again before this irrelevant MMS Vs ModiJi bean counting begins, yes, I as a ModiJi supporter, I agree that in terms of action, there is no difference, ModiJi himself realizes that I am sure, but its the approach and use of all tools at India's disposal thats the need of the hour.
Some Bollywood Indian nationalist, if there exists one, can make a movie about "disproportionate response" to TSP so we can fantasize, but its not on the cards in real terms.