Is a Pakistan-India war just one terrorist attack away?

January 20, 2017 16:01

We arrived in New Delhi on September 26, 2016 -- a week after the Uri attack had left at least 17 Indian soldiers dead. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militants who had crossed into Kashmir. The political class and media were in an uproar, demanding retribution. We were there to launch our new book, Not War, Not Peace?. Its purpose is precisely to analyse Indian options to motivate Pakistan for preventing such cross-border terrorism.

One of us braved the Indian-television scene and appeared on several news and discussion shows with various Indian counterparts to discuss what India could or should do to respond to this latest attack. The discussions on these shows were desultory and loud. The question for most participants was not whether to carry out a military reprisal, but rather how hard to strike. Some went so far as to say India should not shy away from the threat of nuclear war in mounting military operations against Pakistan. When we presented the book's analysis to a group of eminent generals and ambassadors -- serving and retired -- they also, generally, insisted that India must strike back to demonstrate resolve.

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