Ordinary Pakistani citizens, already grappling with economic hardship, have also reacted negatively to this terror strike.
NEW DELHI: India’s response to the Pakistani establishment responsible for the Pahalgam massacre is likely to occur simultaneously at multiple levels, moving beyond the one-off military actions seen in 2016 (surgical strike) and 2019 (Balakot airstrike), according to sources.
This response is expected to focus on imposing significant economic losses on the Pakistani military and its economy, ensuring a heavy financial cost to deter future state-backed terror attacks. One key step in this strategy is the decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, which could severely restrict water flow in Pakistan’s rivers, particularly during the upcoming summer.
Sources told The Sunday Guardian that Delhi is not rushing or “working on a deadline” to respond to the Pakistan establishment following the attack. Instead, actions are being coordinated simultaneously at multiple levels, including the formulation of tactical and strategic policies and outreach to allies to secure their cooperation in a series of measures aimed at dismantling Pakistan’s policy of using terrorist groups as a tool to achieve its objectives.
It is clear that actions leading to conventional war, such as the use of air power and artillery to target identified sites across the border, are not the first option, though they remain under serious consideration.
Mutual allies, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, are expected to support India shortly, as no country wishes to be seen as endorsing the act of terrorism perpetrated by the Pakistan military in Pahalgam. Sources indicated that a country’s decision to align with India against this terror attack, executed by Pakistan’s military, will have a long-term impact on India’s future diplomatic and trade relations with that nation.
Reports suggest that ordinary Pakistani citizens, already grappling with economic hardship, have also reacted negatively to this terror strike, which was ordered by military officers leading opulent lifestyles.
In 1971, the Indian Navy, then less advanced, successfully executed an undeclared blockade of Karachi port, Pakistan’s primary trade hub, which handles 60% of the nation’s cargo (25 million tons annually). A similar blockade could disrupt critical imports, such as oil and goods, severely impacting Pakistan’s economy and crippling its terror industry. This would involve positioning Indian Navy ships to intercept maritime traffic, such as merchant ships and tankers, in international waters or near Pakistan’s territorial sea, depending on the level of escalation.
Given India’s global goodwill, it is anticipated that many countries would voluntarily halt trade movements to Karachi port if India implements such a blockade.
Sources emphasised that the response to the terror attack is not designed for “shock and awe” but to deliver lasting results, compelling Islamabad, particularly the military strategists at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, to cease supporting terrorism and take visible steps in this regard.
India’s trade and commerce prowess, bolstered by its position as the world’s fastest-growing economy and a vast market that attracts global interest, will play a pivotal role in strengthening this response.
Sources indicate that key allies have extended their support to India’s objectives and support New Delhi’s efforts to counter the GHQ-backed terror syndicate. These countries are likely to independently implement financial measures against entities, including those linked to the Pakistan military, operating within their jurisdictions.