Suryavanshi IAS Insight | A Strategic Blog for UPSC Aspirants
The Context: Pahalgam Attack – More Than Just
Terror
On April 22,
2025, the picturesque town of Pahalgam
in Kashmir, known for its thriving tourism and spiritual significance,
witnessed a brutal terrorist assault that claimed 26 innocent lives. The attack was later claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF) — a known proxy
of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in a landmark address at the
One World Trade Center in New
York, aptly described the attack as "economic
warfare", aimed not just at civilians but at crippling Kashmir’s tourism economy and inciting communal tensions.
"People were asked to identify their faith
before being killed. That is not just terror — that is psychological and
economic assault on the soul of India."
— Suryavanshi’s Insight
Operation Sindoor: India's Strategic Response
India's retaliation was swift and decisive. Operation Sindoor, launched days after
the attack, targeted terror
infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). For
the first time, India publicly acknowledged that the strikes had destroyed the "headquarters" of known terrorist
organisations.
Key
Features of Operation Sindoor:
· Precision strikes on LeT, TRF, and JeM
operational hubs
· Intelligence-backed targeting of urban
"command centers" in Pakistan
· Cross-border surgical retaliation without
escalation into full-scale war
This is a clear continuation of the Balakot Doctrine — India will not allow geographical boundaries to protect terrorists.
Terrorism as Economic and Psychological Warfare
Terrorism in Kashmir is no longer just a security issue. It’s an economic weapon.
Intended Outcomes by Terror Sponsors:
· Disrupt Kashmir’s
booming tourism economy post-Article 370 abrogation
· Induce fear
among pilgrims and tourists
· Spark communal
unrest by targeting victims based on religion
· Project a false narrative of instability in J&K
India’s Strategic Narrative Shift:
· From
strategic restraint to proactive deterrence
· From proxy
war tolerance to direct accountability
· From victimhood to assertive diplomacy
Jaishankar Doctrine: Core Strategic Principles
1. Zero
Tolerance for Terror
“No justification, no proxy, no sanctuary —
terrorism will be met with retribution.”
2. No
More Nuclear Blackmail
“We will not let Pakistan's nuclear posture
deter our right to defend our people.”
3. Direct
Targeting of Terrorist Infrastructure
“If you shelter them in cities, we’ll strike
there. No space is off-limits.”
4. No
Free Pass to Proxy States
“States sponsoring terrorism will be held accountable — not just their non-state actors.”
Diplomatic Messaging to the World
During his U.S. visit, Mr. Jaishankar:
· Inaugurated ‘The Human Cost of Terrorism’ exhibition at the UN Headquarters
· Reiterated India’s demand for universal zero-tolerance to terrorism
· Warned that “terrorism eventually bites back”, even those who once
sponsored it
“India’s strategic communication today is not
apologetic — it is bold, fact-based, and morally uncompromising.”
— Suryavanshi’s Insight
Geo-Political Implications
|
Dimension |
Impact |
|
India-Pakistan Relations |
Further deterioration, marked by military and diplomatic
isolation of Pakistan |
|
India-U.S. Relations |
Reinforced strategic convergence on counter-terrorism |
|
Global Narrative on Kashmir |
Shift from "dispute" to "development vs
destruction" |
|
Quad and Indo-Pacific |
India seen as a security provider, not just a balancing
power |
Mr. Jaishankar rightly pointed out:
· Terrorism in Kashmir did not begin in the 1990s, but in 1947, when Pakistan sent tribal invaders and irregulars to seize
the region
· India has fought four decades of cross-border terrorism, with major
incidents like:
o 2001 Indian Parliament attack
o 2008 Mumbai attacks
o 2016 Uri attack
o 2019 Pulwama attack
o 2025 Pahalgam attack
Suryavanshi’s Strategic Recommendations
1. Codify
a National Doctrine on Retaliation
· Like the Doval
Doctrine, India must formalise its counter-terrorism doctrine as state policy
2. Institutionalise
Global Terrorist Naming
· Push for UN
sanctions and FATF designations of LeT, JeM, TRF as state-backed
terror groups
3. Develop
Tourism Shield Zones
· Enhance security protocols and surveillance in
tourism-centric corridors of Kashmir
4. Use
Soft Power to Fight Propaganda
· Leverage Bollywood, documentaries, and digital
platforms to expose the human cost of
terrorism
5. Create
a Global Terror Database from India
· India can lead by launching a global database of terror groups, state sponsors, and safe havens
UPSC Mains Relevance
GS Paper II:
· India’s
foreign policy in global terrorism
· Bilateral
relations: India-Pakistan
· Role of
international institutions in combating terrorism
GS Paper III:
· Internal
security: cross-border terrorism
· Security
challenges in border areas
· Role of
technology and intelligence
✍ Essay
Paper:
· "Terrorism has no religion, but it always has a sponsor."
Mains Practice Questions
1. GS II: Discuss India’s shift in counter-terrorism policy
post-2016 and its implications on Indo-Pak relations.
2. GS III: Examine the role of economic warfare in contemporary terrorism, with reference to recent attacks in Kashmir.
Conclusion: From Victimhood to Vigilance
The Pahalgam
terror attack was more than a tragedy — it was a trigger. A trigger
for India to reshape its counter-terror doctrine. Today, India’s message is
unambiguous: there will be no impunity,
no sanctuaries, and no restraint when national security is violated.
🇮🇳 "A state that houses terror will face the heat of
sovereignty. India's patience is strategic, but not infinite."
— Suryavanshi IAS
No comments:
Post a Comment