The death toll of soldiers killed in militant attack on army base in Uri has risen to 18 after a critically injured soldier succumbed to injuries at military hospital in New Delhi on Monday.
PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting and decided to expose Pakistan before the world community starting with UNGA. However, he ruled out any knee-jerk reactions and according to reports he may call for an all-party meet. Express takes a look at five possible ways to deal with the situation.
1. Surgical Strikes
Use special forces to launch swift surgical strikes on terror camps across the border. Headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir could be targeted. In Twitter polls conducted by many media agencies, most voters demanded surgical strikes on enemy territories.
Implications
Precision attacks will not be easy. A botched attempt could have bigger ramifications, including the possibility of a full-blown war with another nuclear State.
2. Covert Ops
India could launch covert operations in Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan by sending teams to mobilise local political forces against Islamabad. They could engage with the civil society to influence opinion about the Pakistan government. This would make the region further hostile to Pakistan’s policies.
Implications
Covert operations are long-term plans with nothing to show immediately. But, it is one of the safest choices to supplement any short-term measure.
3. Water War
India can threaten to review the Indus water treaty. Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty signed in 1960s reserves just 19.48 per cent of the total waters of the six-river Indus system for India. The rest, obviously, goes to Pakistan. Experts say the IWT is one of the most generous water pacts in the whole world.
Implications
An effective technique to arm-twist Islamabad as a majority of its areas are dependent on water from the Indus. But, the move could upset the World Bank.
4. Economic Attack
Impose economic sanctions on the neighbour. Lobby with global powers for an economic sanctions, similar to US-imposed sanctions on Iran, until Islamabad takes substantial measures to curtail terror emanating from its soil and stops infringing in India’s internal affairs including Kashmir.
Implications
Pakistan’s total import from South Asia itself is less than 4 per cent. Hence, India alone imposing economic sanctions will hardly make any difference.
5. Global Isolation
Global Isolation A high-level meeting, chaired by the PM has already given its nod to make every possible effort to isolate Pakistan globally. India is planning to present evidence of Pakistan based Jaish-e- Mohammad’s involvment in the Uri attack at all upcoming international forums, including the UNGA.
Implications
Again, this is a longterm strategy and is not likely to have any effect in the near future. It is well-known that Pakistan is a safe haven for many terror groups.