Beheading of two Indian soldiers, by Pakistan soldiers with impunity is horrific. Between 1999 and 2017, there are seven instances of Indian soldiers being killed, mutilated and beheaded. Shamefully and unfortunately this has not provoked deterrent measures by leaders. India is also to be blamed, as it is not undertaking any stern and rapid retaliations. Politicians utter useless and futile statements, instead of immediate surgical strikes. Pakistan grows bolder by this delay.
India has neither will to wage outright war as revenge, nor it has strong will to undertake nonviolent yet effective measures. It is also unfortunate that army is not given fullest powers to tackle enemy forcefully. It is only the discipline that Indian army is not taking over the reins a la Pakistan army in the past.
It is general consensus among intellectuals that India must punish Pakistan by following nonviolent measures: Sever diplomatic, trade, commercial, tourist, pilgrim and cultural activities. This will starve money going to separatists/dissidents.
Patriotic Indians must stop all pilgrimages to holy pace in Kashmir and Pakistan for at least ten years. Starve Pakistan and stone pelting riff raff of revenue that flows from Indian tourists and pilgrims. But are Indians and Hindus united?
Ramesh Jhalla
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