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Tariff Wars: EFFECTS ON INDO-US TRADE, By Dhurjati Mukherjee, 9 April 2025 Print E-mail

Open Forum

New Delhi, 9 April 2025

Tariff Wars

EFFECTS ON INDO-US TRADE

By Dhurjati Mukherjee 

The US has announced 26 per cent across-the-board reciprocal tariffs on India but these are substantially lower than most countries. It was 34 percent levied on China (effectively about 54 percent), 46 percent on Vietnam, 49 percent on Cambodia, and 37 percent on Bangladesh. This gives India some comparative advantage though estimates suggest around two-thirds of India’s exports to the United States will bear the impact of the tariffs. 

One may point out here that the Trump administration does not club India with countries like China, Mexico and Canada. “The US has serious issues with China, Mexico, and Canada related to currency manipulations, illegal migration and other security concerns. But with India it has only tariff issue and there are high expectations that negotiations would start towards arriving at a broad tariff structure.” 

Experts feel that US tariffs have created a somewhat chaotic environment and there isn’t a consistent strategy visible. Countries at the receiving end of tariff firing have already responded differently. There have been counter retaliatory measures with say the European Union and Canada targeting US political constituencies and daily consumption items to put back pressure through higher domestic prices. 

Retaliation has also come from China, which has imposed a 34 percent tariff on all imports from the US, which will match the so-called reciprocal tariffs on Chinese products, besides rolling out a slew of export control measures. The US and China, the two biggest economies in the world, have a lot of interdependence though the balance is tilted in favour of China. Experts think that Trump’s sweeping tariffs will have a significant effect – around 2 percentage points -- of the GDP of the Chinese economy. 

Regarding the farm sector, agriculture will be hit with a decline projected in dairy products and marine products like shrimp while rice exports remain largely unaffected. There are reports of India reforming its MSP system for rice and wheat though this may take sufficient time and lower tariffs on farm products. In this sector, India’s average tariff on US imports is 41.8 percent compared to the US tariff of 3.8 percent on Indian imports, with India exporting $7.1 billion versus US exports of $1.6 billion. 

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) stated that in the short run “we foresee a reshaping of global supply chains and anticipate challenges in sustaining India’s current export volume of $10 billion for the US market”. After the steep tariff hike, the jewellery market does not look bright as there may be a sharp decline in demand in the US market. It could also lead to job cuts in the industry that depend largely on manual labour for diamond cutting, polishing and making expensive jewellery. Out of the total $33 billion worth of gems and jewellery exports from India, a third was to the US. However, metal exporters heaved a sigh of relief as the US exempted steel and aluminum from additional 27 percent duty. Last month, it had imposed 25 percent tariff on these metals. 

However, the textile sector holds out promise as India is at a relative advantage compared with countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam. “India competes globally for textile exports with countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and China. Compared with around 26 percent tariff for Indian imports, these countries have been hit harder by US tariffs”, according to EY India sources. The US imports around $10 billion of textiles and clothing from India and there is a possibility of securing further strategic advantage by including textiles in potential “zero for zero” trade deal. Regarding auto components, it will be subject to a 25 percent import tariff in the US and the list of items is expected to be finalized shortly. 

Exemption of pharmaceuticals and semiconductor industries from the ambit of tariffs, at least for the time being, has been of great help to Indian exporters. Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance stated that this decision underscores the critical role of cost-effective, life-saving generic medicines in public health. India exported $8 billion of pharma products to the US in 2024, which accounted for 40 percent of the generic drugs consumed in the US and this is expected to increase this year. This shows the popularity and acceptability of Indian generic medicines, more so due to the present drug shortages in the US. Though some believe that the pharma sector is not out of the woods and that a tariff is expected to be imposed later, it will not be big enough and the manufacturers and consumers will be in a position to share the burden and India’s export to the US market will not be affected. 

Similar patterns exist in transport equipment (Indian tariff: 14.9 percent, US tariff: 0.9 percent). However, though not automobiles but auto components are a serious matter as India exports are around $2.2 billion to the US. Tariffs may affect exports of auto components, but the bigger worry is whether US manufacturers may produce more locally and outprice imports. With labour costs quite low in India – even after 25 percent tariffs – it remains to be seen whether labour-intensive auto components would be cheaper than those produced locally. 

A section of experts is of the opinion that reducing the trade surplus with the US may be by curbing exports with high import content such as smartphones, solar panels, gold jewellery and diamonds. These goods make up over $15 billion in exports but out of this money, the country has to pay a lot of foreign exchange. It is expected that in the coming years, indigenous electronic manufacturing would be boosted up to become competitive in the global market. 

There are expectations that there could be a high-level trip to the US by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sometime this month. The finance minister’s US visit may build upon the on-going talks but may not be limited to trade and tariff alone. India and the US are, no doubt, committed to strengthen their overall economic relationship, both bilateral and multilateral, as strategic partners. 

The tariff has put an extra burden on most Indian products to the US with marine products, dairy, medical equipment, machinery and carpets being the hardest hit. Given that these are all labour-intensive sectors, the government may evolve a strategy to push them aggressively however, much depends on the proposed Indo-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and, according to Niti Aayog’s experts, the final such treaty will aim to enhance the potential gains during the next five years or so. Some expect that the agreement may facilitate the possibility of increasing Indo-US trade in the coming years and may strengthen the Indian economy. 

Meanwhile, the tariff war will drag down global investments and growth. The OECD has cut down its growth projections, noting that trade disruption will take a significant toll on the global economy, which is expected to slow down this year. Even the WTO has forecast that world trade will shrink as a result of these tariffs while the IMF has termed it sluggish. Obviously, the question before most analysts the world over is whether Trump wants to destroy the global economic order. ---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

Executing Operation Sindoor: A VERITABLE PAUSE, By Prof. D.K. Giri, 16 May 2025 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 16 May 2025

Executing Operation Sindoor

A Veritable Pause

By Prof (Dr) DK Giri

(Professor of Practice, NIIS Group of Institutions) 

In a powerful speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered some hard messages to Pakistan, and by extension, to the world. He said, "If ever there is a dialogue with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism and PoK". That is a formidable strategic step. So far, India's Pakistan policy has been defensive, asserting the integration of the Indian part of Kashmir, not the whole of Kashmir, meaning reclaiming PoK.

The second message is that "blood and water cannot flow together". Unless Pakistan explicitly delinks from terrorism networks existing in its soil, India should keep the Indus Water Treaty suspended. This is a bold step, especially as it was signed in 1960 by the World Bank etc. The treaty has not been disturbed ever since. For India to take that step is a big departure from history. It is commendable.

The third signal to the world is that Operation Sindoor is not called off; it is just halted, a calculated pause. Pakistan should not assume that it is all over.In the past, India was to absorb the shocks, public anger, and the bloodshed caused by terrorists, in Mumbai, Uri, Pulwama, but no more. The Prime Minister has made it amply clear that terrorists and their handlers will be chased, hunted down and punished. India would retaliate. Remember the foreign policy formulation, any act of terrorism will be construed as an act of war. The messages could not be stronger. The taste of the pudding is in eating. So what matters is the execution of the intent. The action part also is demonstrated through Operation Sindoor.

Let us talk a bit about the issues being debated before and after the 7th May, the date Operation Sindoor was launched hitting 9 terrorist targets inside Pakistan.One strategic issue is whether Operation Sindoor was inevitable, if there was no other option. I have written in detail about this point in my previous pieces in this column that it could not be avoided. It was necessary to dismantle the terror network. Although they have not been done completely, a beginning has been made and Islamabad is expected to finish it. In case, it does not, New Delhi will have to clean it up by appropriate means.

The second issue is if India should have gone for the ceasefire. That is debatable. Nehru made a mistake by stopping the advancing army that was beating back the tribal intruders in Kashmir in 1947. Strategists argue that Modi repeated the mistake by accepting the ceasefire without liberating PoK etc. Well, the nature of military confrontation has drastically changed since 1947. Like former General Navarene said the war is not like a Bollywood movie, there are deaths and destruction on both sides. So ceasefire if it was asked for by Pakistan should have been accepted. Pakistan is crumbling under the weight of its own internal contradictions. It can perish as a viable state even without a war with India. India should ensure that Pakistan is no longer sponsoring terrorism into India.

 New Delhi is fully conscious of ramping up pressure on Pakistan. The   Prime Minister has assured the country on this. This is the beginning of the end terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The third issue is the lack of international support for India whereas Pakistan got it from China, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. This is not new. Their collusion has been on the card for a long time.

But there is a point in this argument. Except Israel, no country in the world has openly and actively come out in support of India. That perhaps is because India prefers to remain neutral, non-aligned or multi- aligned. India therefore has no friends on board. This again has been argued in my articles where I suggest that you should reach out to partners and recognise friends. The Foreign Minister had said, India needs partners, not preachers. The same can be said about India. Many countries want India as a partner, not a moral preacher.

Another point that is heavily debated is who won the limited battle that lasted some 3 days unlike those in Ukraine and Gaza which have been in since 3 years. Again, the comparison may not be as authentic as India and Pakistan are both nuclear powers.At any rate, both countries know deep inside the extent of their loss and vulnerability.

A word about the role of the media, especially the electronic media, the TV. Less said the better about the media. They have shamed themselves by spreading lies and damn lies to sensationalise India' reaction and Pakistan's counter action etc. The action-reaction continuum was lost on the media. In future, none expects the media to report with responsibility and accountability.

Can Pakistan take advantage the ceasefire and regroup to attack again. But New Delhi should remain ever vigilant and willing to retaliate. Eternal vigilance against Pakistan is the price of the security of Indian citizens.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

Democracy &Disruption: SITUATING ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, By Prof (Dr) DK Giri, 9 May 2025 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 9 May 2025

Democracy &Disruption

SITUATING ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’

By Prof (Dr) DK Giri

(Professor of Practice, NIIS Group of Institutions) 

The last week has been eventful in global geopolitics in terms of both democracy and disruption playing out as simultaneous processes. Democracy is vindicated in two peaceful elections held in Canada and Australia. And the political culture of disruption demonstrated in the war between India and Pakistan, in addition to bloody wars raging in Gaza and Ukraine for the last three years. In this piece, my attempt is to decipher the dynamics between democracy and disruption while admitting that some disruption is creative and necessary. But here, disruption is meant to be a destabilizing and devastating political process. 

Take the case of democracy which is the preferred political system for many countries except the authoritarian autocracies like Russia, China, North Korea and religious monarchies like those in the Middle East and military dictatorships like Myanmar. Even in those countries, if people were allowed to exercise their free will, they would go for democracy. 

With all the deficits in democracy, it is the best form as people have freedom of expression, belief and association etc. Economic growth and per capita income could be a greater incentive for people as in China. But the China story is unique, impractical and unworthy of emulation. Democracy and development do go together as evidenced in the countries of the West. 

The elections in Canada and Australia are testimony to strengths of democracy that help the smooth transition of power and accommodation of multiple diversities. Canadian politics could be competitive and potentially violent in view of the presence of an ethnic party that supports violent methods in carving out a religious state in India. This element of Canadian politics perils its bilateral relations with India. 

But the good news is that democratic politics embraced closely by Canada conduces the change of leadership in a party and parties in government. The new leader in Canada Mark Carney will be different from Justin Trudeau who targeted India for his own political survival.  Thus, the advent of new political leaders and parties leads to changes in bilateralism and the geopolitical strategies of a particular country. 

Again, talking about the impact of democracy and disruption in the Ukraine war is stark.  The long reign of Putin in Russia has followed a pattern of Russian engagement with its neighbours. That is to reclaim the Russian sphere of influence by cowing down the neighbours and even by militarily invading as is the current case in Ukraine. There has been no respite from this aggressive approach in the absence of a genuine democracy in Russian politics that would have allowed a ‘change of guard’ in the Kremlin. 

On the other hand, observe the impact of change of leadership in the USA on the war in Ukraine. Joe Biden would have continued to stoke the war. But Donald Trump’s ‘second coming’ to the presidency seems to have a dramatic effect. Although Trump could not end the war in a day or a month as he claimed during his election campaign, he would not actively aid its continuation. 

A solid mechanism of democracy is dialogue. In international interaction, it is called diplomacy. India as the largest democracy has been the leading proponent of dialogue and diplomacy. Remember Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Russian President Vladmir Putin, “Your Excellency, it is not the time of war”. The whole world acknowledged Modi’sabjurement of war and advocacy of peace. On the other hand, his remark attributed the ongoing war in Ukraine to failure of diplomacy and dialogue embedded in a democracy. 

Today, at the time of writing, the Modi government ordered air strikes at nine targets in Pakistan, both in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and in the mainland. Although New Delhi claimed it has focused the bombing on terrorist infrastructures, forcibly entering into Pakistan territory amounts to a declaration of war. Pakistan has vowed to retaliate and has intensified the shelling at the Line of Control (LoC). India’s military operation is called ‘Operation Sindoor’. 

The nomenclature of the strikes has emotional and cultural connotations. Sindoor (vermillion) on the forehead of Hindu Indian women signifies their protection by their husbands or brothers although the latter aretied rakhis (a piece of string) by their sisters for a similar purpose. The terrorists at Pahalgam singled out the men and shot them in front of their wives. This is to avenge their murders.Good choice for the code name of the special military operation. 

The question is, could this disruption of peace and normalcy be avoided. Did Narendra Modi have to eat the humble pie by going to war against Pakistan in the light of his suggestion to Putin? Observers and experts would argue on both sides. Some would say it was possible to corner and coerce Islamabad through subtle as well as aggressive diplomacy. Others would argue, diplomatic pressure does not move Pakistan to delink terrorism and foreign policy objectives. India had no alternative to military retaliation. 

I tend to hew to the second formulation that endorses the military option at present. The diplomatic route would have been viable if New Delhi embarked on it long ago and persisted with it while creating favourable conditions to support the journey. The democratic world including India has made that mistake. The dialogue ship has sailed. The world needs to rethink seriously and arrest the democratic backslide and refocus on its retrieval and expansion. 

Democracy will sustain when it is spread across the world. Because a democratic country can hardly negotiate or dialogue with a non-democratic leadership. Also, there are multiple points of contact in a democracy. The democracy fosters dialogue with another democracy. If it is an autocracy, the fate a country hinges on the whims of its leader. The West has made a big mistake by building the Chinese economy. Now Beijing poses a systemic threat to the West,sothey say. A big lesson to learn. 

It is time to prioritise democracy over even economic growth.Even a stable economy can be badly disrupted by wars. A lot of world resources are wasted on armaments and preventing violent extremism.

India should focus on consolidating its own democracy which inspires the neighbours to emulate it. Also, a democratic South Asia would be more conducive to peace and security than a richer region with authoritarian politics stalking it. Major world powers like the USA did take some initiative to deepen democracies. Biden had called a world democracy conference. But the initiative was not sustained. Americans seem to lurch back to trade nationalism and political isolationism. 

‘Operation Sindoor’ is now an unavoidable strategy. But this should be replaced sooner than later by a push for stable democracies in the region. This would open the doors to diplomacy and dialogue for peace, harmony and security in place of death, destruction and disruption.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

Pahalgam & Pakistan: CONNECTING THE DOTS, By Prof(Dr) D.K. Giri, 2 May 2025 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 2 May 2025

Pahalgam & Pakistan

CONNECTING THE DOTS

By Prof(Dr) D.K. Giri

(Professor of Practice, NIIS Group of Institutions) 

In a conference in Hyderabad on 24 and 25 April, I was asked by a fellow academic from Japan, if India was going to retaliate against Pakistan. I asked her a counter-question if some innocent tourists were killed anywhere in Japan by terrorists, what would have Tokyo done?  She was evasive. But she seemed to persuade me that New Delhi should not take military action against Pakistan. That apart, to attack or not attack is the question I wouldlike to evaluate here. 

The issue of military confrontation is engaging the thinking of the Indian strategists, observers, onlookers and world leaders. The last segment of stakeholders is concerned mainly because of the perilous prospect of use of nuclear weapons possessed by both countries. Let us evaluate this option or threat already issued by Pakistani media and leadership.  

Since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki episodes, nukes have not been used by any country for over seven decades. Use of nukes spells disasters for the entire world including those who unleash it. So, nukes were conceived as deterrents, not for actual use in years. Now, since the applicability of nukes is the remotest, even the deterrent effect is minimal. But one cannot rule it out by megalomaniacs, autocrats, rogue states and suicidal and self-destructive forces. One could rely on the collective wisdom of the world leadership, at least in their self-interest, to prevail upon the nuclear powers to desist from its use. If, in this case, the world leaders fail to prevent their client states, and allies, may God save this planet. 

That said, what should New Delhi do? Should it take on Pakistan! But let us refine this formulation and make it politically correct. That is, India is not declaring a war on Pakistan. India has never invaded any country. The Prime Minister had urged the Russian president that he should negotiate with Ukraine as it is not the age of war. What he meant was that there are other options and organisations that can help resolve conflicts without resorting to war. At the same time, he supported the right of Israelis to protect their citizens even if it meant going after Hamas wherever they are and destroying their terrorist infrastructure. This is the fate and option that have befallen India. 

Many may contest the parallel between the 22 April massacre at Pahalgam and 7 October mayhem by Hamas in Israel. It is just because of the history of the controversial conflict between Israel and Palestine. But if you look only at these two pathetic events, the action-reaction continuum in both cases is comparable. New Delhi has the right and legitimacy to hunt down the terrorist manufacturing agencies and infrastructure in Pakistan. Pahalgam is not one-off incident, there has been a history of Pakistan sponsoring terrorism in India. Not only that, Pakistan is also the terrorist hub of the world. Former President General Musharraf had openly admitted that numerous terrorists of all shades operate from Pakistan. Osama bin Laden was sheltered there. 

Unless the Pakistani army dismantles the terrorist infrastructure and transparently delinks from terrorism, Pakistan is a target. India has been impressing upon the world that Pakistan should be pressed to stop breeding and harbouring terrorists. But the world leadership has not responded as they should have asked no country could be immune to this menace. On the contrary, vested interests like China have shielded Pakistan and its terrorists. 

So, what should New Delhi do? It has to do the cleaning up on its own. Israel did not wait for World support before it went after Hamas. Why should New Delhi wait? Yes, we have a big adversarial neighbour, China who is building up Islamabad to needle India. It is an open secret. But China dare not support Pakistan in a war situation. Beijing is too shrewd to that. Also,Beijing is capable of betraying anyone. Unlike the USA, China's strength is its world economy role not military. It did not support Russia, its for-ever-friend. 

New Delhi will have to take on Pakistan at all fronts including military to cut off its tentacles tainted with hatred, deviousness and terrorism. New Delhi need not work hard to prove that Pahalgam bloodshed was engineered by Pakistan. 

On the other hand, the nasty narrative propagated by Pakistan is that it is the handiwork of the BJP government to consolidate Hindu votes. It is a travesty. But if the BJP government does not take retaliatory action, the allegation may stick, especially when some Indians also have attributed it to a electoral strategy. 

Finally, India sits on a high moral ground, uses an ethical compass to navigate in global geopolitics. That will still be intact if it goes after terrorists who spill innocent blood. So, it is time the elephant shows its wild side to terrorism. 

Having said that, like Lord Krishna advised in Mahabharata, that the war should be the last resort. One should try all avenues prior to lifting the gun. India's immediate purpose is to get Pakistan to agree to stop sending terrorists to Indian soil and then consistently denying its hand. Why Islamabad is not clamping down on terrorist outfits. So, if New Delhi can force Pakistani hand to withdraw from terrorism, and violating the ceasefire, and to forgo adventurism like Kargil, then military action may not be necessary.  

The war cry in the country as "yudhamDehi (we want war) is emanating from exasperation and frustration with the Pakistani army and the government. The Indian public is more understanding and accommodative. This agitation will subside if Pakistan is brought around. Pakistan should be made to forget Kashmir and return POK. This is indeed a big ask. But this is the only way to peace and stability in the region. 

Admittedly, Pakistan will not give away POK. And Pakistan does not exist without lighting and stoking the fire in Kashmir. Pakistani leadership vows 5000 years of conflict with India on Kashmir. So, India is back to square one. Make diplomatic moves to counter and isolate Pakistan. Tried, tested and exhausted. There will always be leaders like Xi Jinping and Erdogan who will prop up a failed state like Pakistan. So, India has to carry its own cross. Cowing down Pakistan to stop its nefarious actions against India is New Delhi's call. It is the call of Atmanirbhar Bharat.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

Pahalgam Massacre: NEW DELHI MOBILISING WORLD!, By Dr DK Giri, 25 April 2025 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 25 April 2025

Pahalgam Massacre

NEW DELHI MOBILISING WORLD!

By Dr DK Giri

(Professor of Practice, NIIS Group of Institutions) 

The cold blooded murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam has shocked not only India but the whole world. World powers have swiftly reacted to the dastardly attack by the terrorist camouflaged as Indian army personnel. Apparently the spot chosen by the assailants was not patrolled by the army or the paramilitary. No doubt, irrespective of the absence of security personnel, the ambush of unsuspecting tourists indicates the failure of intelligence. There are complaints of other lapses that laid to this bloodshed. Those issues can be debated and investigated later. The important question to ask and watch is how Indian government is reacting to this incident. 

At the time of writing the death count is 28 and quite a few others injured and in critical condition among the dead were two defense persons and two foreigners: One from Nepal and another from UAE. It is not the number of casualties but the manner of the cruelty that has shaken the conscience of the humanity across the world. The terrorists called out the tourists from their tents ask them to identify their religion if they were to ascertain if they were Hindus, and then they shot the victims point blank. A lady begged to be killed as her husband was shot in her presence. She was spared her life and was advised to report the killing to Prime Minister Modi. A local pony man lunged at a terrorist to save a tourist and paid with his life. Such pathetic, humanistic as well as gory details of the massacre are gradually emerging in the public domain. 

The terrorist attack is clearly the handiwork of Pakistani terror network. Whether, the imminent attack waslost on theintelligence of the government is another point of debate.Observers point out that Pakistan’s ruling establishment had blamed India for aiding and abetting Baloch Liberation Army in hijacking of a local train in Baluchistan and murder of hundreds of hostages on March 11 this year. India had flatly denied any involvement in that terrorist act.   Pakistan had rejected the denial and the Pakistani army had sworn revenge. The other conjecture is about the strategic timing of the attack which coincided with the visit of American Vice President J.D. Vance. Although Vance is on a partly personal visit, he is outspoken on international affairs; therefore it was done during his presence on Indian soil in order to draw international attention. 

Third, the choice of the spot for the attack; Pahalgam is a major tourist attraction. It is reported that there were more than two thousand tourists camping in that area on that fateful day of the tragedy. For some reason, there was not a single member of State Armed Forces – Army, Para-Military or even the local police – at the Baisaran meadow which is just five kms from Pahalgam town and a designated tourist spot. 

Be that as it may, innocent lives have been lost. The government’s claim of making the valley of Kashmir free of terrorism also got busted. So the government as well as the people are raring to go after the terrorists wherever they may be hiding. The public anger will force the government and the army to take some drastic action to bring the culprits to the book. 

The larger question is, what should India do to eliminate sporadic, unanticipated and inhuman attacks by the terrorists coming from across the border? The second related question is, how does India destroy the military-cum-militant machine that manufactures thousands of terrorists every year? Indian Army captures or kills some terrorists and more are sent by Pakistan. This ghastly cycle will continue until the terrorist bases in Pakistan are destroyed. It should be like the IDF (Israel) going after Hamas terror network and infrastructure. It may not be an overstatement to say that the killing of 22 April is compared to that of the 7 October attack on innocent Jews of Israel. 

The sympathy and support from world powers have been pouring in. Again some observers suggest that America will take the terrorists out of Pakistan. That is at best a wishful thinking. India has to protect its own citizens. Once New Delhi begins to do so, the other friendly countries will support. 

 New Delhi has to follow a two-pronged strategy. One, to mobilise diplomatic support for a decisive attack on the terrorist hideouts and bases in Pakistan. New Delhi has initiated certain non-military steps like declaring the Pakistani High Commissioner non-grata, cancelling the Indus Water Treaty that will choke Pakistan without water and openly declaring that it will not stop at anything short of stoppage of supply of terrorists from Pakistan. 

India is a democracy. Citizens, military officers, and strategic experts have started debating if an all-out military intervention into Pakistani territory would be a prudent step. That is not for non-military persons who are not at the helm to suggest any concrete action. It is not a calculation whether India will succeed in weeding out terrorists from Pakistan. It is unavoidable for India to go in search of the terrorists. Pakistan should cooperate with India to get them. Given Pakistan’s deceptive behavior, it is too much to expect that Islamabad will transparently extend a hand to India. Remember, Pakistan was sheltering Osama Bin Laden in its full knowledge while the Americans were desperately hunting for him. 

Whatever the nature of response, it has to be decisive in the sense that terrorism in Indian soil becomes a thing of the past. It is so worrying that,  as a nation,  when things tend to become  normal people begin to live in relative peace and security Pakistan throws a  spanner by sponsoring terrorist activities like those in Mumbai, Uri, Pathankot, Pulwama and Pahalgam. This is intolerable by any human or political standard. New Delhi has been mobilizing the world relentlessly against terrorism by raising it in any international forum. Yet, the scourge of terrorism does not stop inflicting India. But, not just India many other countries in the world have been victims of this heinous act of terrorism. 

The world should rally together to fight this evil. New Delhi has been advocating against terrorism. Now it is time it should lead in action as well. If the countries, the peace-loving ones, do not support India, the bell may toll for them. It is an international menace. It has to be fought collectively. Let India give this message loud and clear through diplomacy as well as forceful action whenever necessary. The time has come to do that now.---INFA 

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)

 

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