INDIA'S MASSIVE RETALIATION

Islamabad may not be awed but it certainly is shocked by the ferocity and volume of the Indian response to ceasefire violations along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. Given complete freedom to act by the government, the Indian Army and Border Security Force are firing back at will from every spot the Pakistanis have targeted. The volume and intensity of India's return fire is much higher than the usual calibrated response the Pakistanis have come to expect. Top government sources told Mail Today that Indian forces are systematically targeting infrastructure and force deployment nodes on the other side.

The damage on the other side is so high that Pakistan is, according to an internal report sent to South Block by the Indian mission in Islamabad, "ducking for cover" (see accompanying report). A media blackout of sorts is in place in Pakistan's affected areas so as to keep a lid on the extent of damage suffered; Pakistan's military establishment is on the verge of losing face, and it doesn't like the evolving situation one bit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the picture of confidence on Thursday evening during a function at Air Chief Arup Raha's residence. "Everything will be all right soon," he said. The government is understood to have also told Indian forces not to seek any flag meeting with the other side, thus sending the signal that it is in no mood to ease situation on the border with Pakistan until the ceasefire violations come to a complete halt. Top government sources said that firing on the International Border was a result of Islamabad's frustration over New Delhi blocking all of its attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue.

Channels shut

India's massive retaliation to the ceasefire violations has resulted in at least 35 deaths across the border, as per an assessment based on open sources. The government is not prepared to hold any discussion with Pakistan until the firing stops as it wants to underline the point that Islamabad cannot dictate the terms of dialogue.

The border move is no flash in the pan; it comes after a series of deft diplomatic moves. A top government functionary said a series of steps were taken in recent weeks to block every attempt by Pakistan to internationalise the Kashmir issue. To begin with, the UN Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) was made irrelevant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the UN General Assembly in New York ensured that Kashmir was not allowed to dominate the agenda. Coupled with some diplomatic engagements with Japan and China, the moves ensured that the Kashmir issue became irrelevant. Calling off the foreign secretary level dialogue with Pakistan because of its continued parleys with Hurriyat leaders also played a part in frustrating Pakistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is busy touring Haryana and Maharashtra where Assembly elections are due, has remained in close touch with the service chiefs to get the updates on the situation on the border. Sources said New Delhi is prepared for a long haul and will not stop at massive retaliation until its objective of keeping the sanctity of ceasefire was met.