Y I Patel wrote:My theory is that this attack is the handiwork of some entity within Pakistan that does not want Pak Army diverted from the Indian border. Given the local knowledge displayed in planning out the routes for infiltration through identified and fleeting weak points, this has to be an entity with access to information available to the Pak Army, but at the same time with an agenda that is at cross purposes with that of the Pak Army. In other words, a darker green faction of the terrorist complex.
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So what should India do? My opinion, India has a clear enemy, and that is PA. India does not need to support, recognize, arm or train those fighting Pak. Pakis obligingly took care of that already. But India can and should make life miserable for PA by merely making sure that the eastern front of Pak does not remain peaceful. So far as India is concerned, the motivation behind the attack does not matter. What matters is India's response, and the bravery of Punjab Police gives India a range of options in choosing how to respond.
Good post, but here is a problem that I see that does not find specific mention in your post. I am merely using your post to reiterate what I have been saying.
the fact that the Paki Army needs to be checked and punished is true - but that does not mean that we can maintain "normal relations" with Pakistan and treat it like just another normal country. I am not sure what it is in our foreign policy apparatus - it may be fossilization of thought in our diplomatic corps - but attempting to deal with Pakistan like just another normal state will get us nowhere. It has not got us anywhere till now.
Our diplomats and politicians seem to be blind to the fact that China, the US and KSA "use" Pakistan while putting up a pretence of normality. they are able to leverage Pakistan's hatred of India. I cannot understand how India, the object of Pakistan's hate can be so stupid as to try and pretend that we can have normal relations with Pakistan.
Note that we have had many excuses for this - which I will list and perhaps all are wrong
1. We have said that older Punjabi and Delhiites feel a kinship with Pakistan and do not wish for it to be treated as anything but a normal, if wayward state. I am gradually veering around to the view that this is bullshit. That generation is dying and it is now their grandchildren
2. We have reasoned that it the the traitorous Congress that is Pakistan friendly and that non Congress governments, especially BJP will be much better. I am not seeing that enlightenment among the rank and file of BJP. I can see that they don't like Pakistan, but they are unable to get themselves out of the fossilized mindset that seeks to include Pakistan and one more normal country with which we can have normal relations
Perhaps our politicians and diplomatic corps are less well informed about Pakistan than we think?
Arun Gupta asked me a rhetorical question on the lines of "Do I think Ajit Doval does not understand Pakistan?" If you go back 30 years you find that Mani Shankar Aiyar has actually written a book (Pakistan Papers) where he completely understands that Pakistanis see their identity as "Not India". Does Mani Shankar Aiyar understand Pakistan less than Doval?
The issue may be deeper. The depth of the problem of Pakistan goes unappreciated by the vast majority of our politicians and diplomatic corps and for most it seems best to simply keep on treating Pakistan as we have always done - as a normal state and accept the punishment that Indians get as a result of this blinkered policy.