India has sought to put a lid on the debate about whether it can or should copy American-style surgical strikes or Israeli targeted assassinations to eliminate targets inside Pakistan by saying that it is an idea whose time may never come. An official source says India would not want to emulate the US or Israel because one, India is not US, and two, India’s relations with Pakistan are historically and qualitatively different from Washington’s ties with Islamabad.
The source pointed out that India is conscious of the fact that while Pakistan may be a “foreign” country in the strict sense of the word, it was a “part of us”, and it behoves India to take a sober and reasoned view of the relationship.
“It is easy to be hawkish on Pakistan but the story won’t end [with the] capture of one or two [individuals],” the source said, before going on to emphasise that dismantling of the infrastructure of terrorism will require a change in Pakistan’s mindset.
Further, the source noted, “[The] idea is not to bring Pakistan to its knees[.] It is not an exercise [in] retribution, [to] humiliate [Pakistan].” The remarks come at a time when some Indians, analysts and retired military officers included, are wondering why their country must not emulate the Americans and liquidate some of the most wanted fugitives from Indian law.
The chiefs of the Indian army and air force, too, have commented saying that the Indian armed forces were competent to carry out an Abbottabad-like operation, and that India was capable of taking out the 26/11 perpetrators inside Pakistan.
The source said that it was “logical to deduce” that many of the terrorists wanted in India for acts of terrorism were inside Pakistan, and acknowledged the “frustration” of many Indians at not seeing them brought to justice.
While India has “drawn a blank” insofar as the terrorists hiding in Pakistan were concerned, it has had some success in getting 16 or 17 persons deported from Dubai, it was pointed out.