Pahalgam attack must elicit whole-of-nation response
The recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, has sparked outrage and demands for a more decisive Indian response. Although the Indian government has taken diplomatic, economic, and strategic steps against Pakistan—such as banning imports, halting incoming mail and parcels, and denying docking rights to their ships—these actions fall short of a comprehensive response to the gravity of the provocation. What is now urgently required is a whole-of-nation strategy, one that involves not just the government but also businesses, civil society, and individual citizens. The inadequacies in the government's response have drawn criticism from national security experts and commentators; they have pointed out contradictions in the country's broader foreign and economic policies. While we have rightfully taken a hard line against Islamabad, our continued commercial and diplomatic engagement with Turkey—a nation that has deepened defence ties with Pakistan and consistently backs Islamabad on Kashmir—undermines our strategic objectives. Turkey's alignment with Pakistan is no longer subtle or symbolic. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Pakistan in February and reaffirmed Ankara's support for Pakistan's position on Kashmir, advocating for a UN resolution-based approach—language that aligns with Islamabad's narrative.
Moreover, Turkey has become a key supplier of advanced weaponry to Pakistan, including Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones, and is partnering with them on the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet. Six Turkish military transport aircraft arrived in Pakistan delivering defence cargo, just days after the Pahalgam attack. Despite this, Indian carriers like IndiGo continue their lucrative codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, offering joint flights to over 30 destinations in Europe and the United States. According to recent reports, Turkish Airlines is gaining disproportionate economic benefits from this arrangement. Critics argue that such partnerships strengthen a country that openly aids Pakistan, both militarily and diplomatically. Sushant Sareen of the Observer Research Foundation was incensed: 'India is not a serious country... We feed snakes and then wonder why they bite us.' His remark points to a larger problem: India's lack of consistency between its national security priorities and its economic policies. In the wake of these developments, public voices are growing louder. Journalist Vikram Chandra questioned why Indians continue to use Istanbul as a transit point to Europe, noting that they should instead strengthen ties with Turkey's regional rivals like Greece.
Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal even suggested suspending all flights between India and Turkey, a sentiment echoed by many who believe that symbolic gestures alone are insufficient in times of national crisis. A robust response to the Pahalgam attack requires not only government action but also public participation. This means citizens should become more conscious of their choices—be it travel routes, products, or services that economically empower nations hostile to India's security interests. Indian businesses must also align with the national interest, reevaluating partnerships that indirectly support adversarial regimes. Ultimately, national security cannot be the responsibility of the government alone. A whole-of-nation approach, where policy, economy, diplomacy, and public behavior converge, is the only sustainable forward path. The attack in Pahalgam is not just a wake-up call; it is a test of India's resolve. To ensure such attacks do not repeat, people and the Centre must shed their ambivalence, enforce consistency in their international engagements, and harness a collective will and tenacity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
39 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Gujarat Congress leader arrested for posts on Operation Sindoor
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress general secretary Rajesh Soni was arrested on Friday for posting content on social media that was deemed misleading and damaging the morale of India's armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor, police said. The operation, launched last month by the Indian military to target terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), has been a focal point of national sensitivity, prompting authorities to closely monitor online activities. According to Superintendent of Police (CID-Cyber Crime) Bharatsinh Tank, an FIR was registered against Soni on Thursday over certain posts on Facebook. Along with the May 22 post on Operation Sindoor, police also cited an older post from April 3 last year in the FIR, which HT has seen. The posts undermine the morale of defence personnel and endanger India's sovereignty through misleading information, according to police. Based on a complaint filed by Ajay Swami, 35, a sub-inspector of the cyber crime cell of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID Crime, Gujarat, Soni was charged under sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) and 353(1)(a) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SP said. Operation Sindoor, launched on the night of May 6-7, 2025, was a high-precision military offensive targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists, with India repelling subsequent Pakistani counter-attacks. The government has since been monitoring social media for content deemed anti-national or disruptive, leading to multiple arrests across Gujarat. As many as 17 individuals, including Soni, have so far been detained in Gujarat for objectionable posts related to the operation. Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil said that Soni was detained by police as if they were catching a terrorist. Criticising the action. Gohil said his party colleague only tried to highlight that soldiers need to get their due credit instead of government spending taxpayers money on publicity.
Hindustan Times
44 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
UK expresses support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S Jaishankar reiterated India's 'zero tolerance' policy for terrorism and the need for decisive international action against terror and those who support it during meetings with British foreign secretary David Lammy on Saturday. Modi said India valued Britain's backing for the fight against cross-border terrorism while Jaishankar said India's partners should understand the 'zero tolerance' policy for terrorism as the country will never accept the perpetrators of terrorism being treated at par with victims. The remarks by the top Indian leadership, made against the backdrop of several countries hyphenating India and Pakistan during last month's military clashes, reiterated to the world community New Delhi's new approach to fighting cross-border terrorism backed by Islamabad. Britain's foreign office had said before Lammy's meeting with Indian interlocutors that he would address how the current peace between India and Pakistan can be supported for regional stability. Modi said in a social media post after meeting Lammy that he values 'UK's support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism'. He also appreciated Lammy's 'substantive contribution to the remarkable progress in our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, further strengthened by the recently concluded FTA'. A statement from the external affairs ministry said Modi had 'underscored the need for a decisive international action against terrorism and those who support it' - an apparent reference to Pakistan. The two leaders discussed regional and global issues and Lammy 'strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed support for India's fight against cross-border terrorism', the statement said. Modi also expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) and the double contribution convention and expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. He welcomed continued collaboration under the Technology Security Initiative (TSI), especially its potential to 'shape trusted and secure innovation ecosystems'. Modi also reiterated his invitation to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to visit India. Lammy arrived in New Delhi on Saturday morning for meetings to review the bilateral partnership, especially trade and strategic ties, a month after India and the UK finalised the FTA. Lammy had visited Pakistan shortly after New Delhi and Islamabad reached an understanding on halting military actions on May 10. In his opening remarks at the meeting with Lammy, Jaishankar thanked the UK government for the strong condemnation of the 'barbaric terrorist attack' in Pahalgam and its support to India in the fight against terror. 'We practice a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and expect our partners to understand it, and we will never countenance perpetrators of evil being put at par with its victims,' he said. Lammy responded by referring to the 'horrific terrorist attack' and said Prime Minister Starmer had asked him to convey the 'deep condolences of the UK and a hand of friendship with India and support as we deal with the terrorism threat in a comprehensive manner'. Jaishankar described the finalisation of the FTA and double contribution convention as a milestone that will boost two-way trade and investment and have a 'positive effect on other strategic aspects' of bilateral relations, besides strengthening supply and value chains. He also referred to other significant initiatives that have seen progress, such as the TSI for deeper collaboration in strategic sectors such as AI, semiconductors, telecom, quantum computing, health technology, critical minerals and advanced materials. The TSI, coordinated by the national security advisers of India and the UK, was launched during Lammy's last visit to New Delhi in July 2024. 'We have also launched the Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue, the first meeting of which was held…this week. This will enhance, among others. the TSI's effectiveness in promoting trade in critical and emerging technologies, including the resolution of relevant licencing or regulatory issues,' Jaishankar said. The India-UK infrastructure financial bridge can unlock quality long-term capital flows from Britain to India and contribute to infrastructure development, and there is also good collaboration in the education sector with many UK universities planning to establish campuses in India, he said. Lammy described the finalisation of the FTA as Britain winning a 'trophy' and the beginning of a new era in bilateral ties since it is expected to increase will trade by £25.5 billion. He also conveyed the UK's interest in enhancing cooperation in key sectors such as trade, investment, defence and security, technology, innovation and clean energy. Lammy also met commerce minister Piyush Goyal and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. A readout from Britain's foreign office said bolstering economic and migration ties and delivering growth opportunities for British businesses topped the agenda for Lammy's visit. Lammy also focused on the migration partnership, including 'work on safeguarding citizens and securing borders in both countries'. The readout added, 'Addressing migration remains a top priority for the government - the Foreign Secretary is focused on working internationally with global partners to secure the UK's borders at home.' Lammy's visit would also prepare the grounds for a visit by Starmer to India for the formal signing of the FTA. Both countries are currently involved in the legal scrubbing of the FTA, a process expected to be completed in three months. During 2023-24, India was the UK's second largest source of investments in terms of number of projects for the fifth consecutive year. India was the UK's 11th largest trading partner in 2024, accounting for 2.4% of total British trade, and two-way trade in goods and services was worth nearly $57 billion in 2024. The FTA is expected to increase bilateral trade by $34 billion a year from 2040. Within a decade of the deal being implemented, 85% of British products will become tariff-free in India. Indian tariffs on alcohol will be cut from 150% to 75%, falling to 40% by the 10th year of the deal. India will also cut automotive tariffs from more than 100% to 10%. The UK too has agreed to cut its tariffs and 99% of India's exports to Britain will face no duties.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
German packaging ink major Siegwerk plans to double capacity in India as economy grows
With the demand of packaging ink growing in double digit in India in sync with the country's economic growth, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co, a 200-year-old German company clocking an annual turnover of over ₹1,000 crore in India, is planning to double it's capacity in the country in 5 years as rising consumerism has given rise to growth in branded products needing safe packaging. To cater to the domestic demand and achieve it's target, the company has decided to add capacity at it's existing factory in Assam and plans a new factory in Western India to cater to the southern & western markets where packaging printing has picked up over the past years. 'In the last 5 years, we have grown at an annual compounded growth of more than 12% to 13 %. And we see the same continue in the future. We plan to double by 2030. In the next 5 years, we would cross ₹2,000 crore revenue,' said Ashish Pradhan, President, Asia, Siegwerk in an interview. 'The macroeconomics is helping us. The GDP growth in India which is one of the largest and fastest growing economy in the world and the demographic dividend is helping us,' he said. 'The capita consumption is a fraction of what we have in the developed world and there is still a lot of head room to grow here,' he added. Stating that the market economics were favorable, he said the company was hopeful of achieving upto 20% market share from about 12% now in India. On the capacity expansion he said, 'We have one large plant in Guwahati, which is the second-largest plant in the whole Siegwerk group. We are making it bigger now with more capacity, which will take us to 2027-28. And then, we will invest in a brand-new facility in the West either in Gujarat or Maharashtra.' 'We are also continuously looking for acquisitions in the Indian market. Over the next five years, in India, we will see at least 50% more investment than what we have already had so far,' he added. 'Our growth is linked to packaging. Typically packaging grows a little faster than GDP. So, if India's GDP is 6.5%, we can expect packaging to grow at about 8-9%. And we are growing at 12-15%,' said Mr. Pradhan. 'It indicates that there is a strong, robust consumption of consumers of all kinds of FMCG products. And the numbers tell us, that the market is becoming more brand-focused rather than an unbranded market. And that will aid packaging,' he said. The company with 800 employees accounts for about 13-14% of the Group's sales. It produces about 25-30,000 tons of ink a year. As far as sustainability & recycling is concerned coatings will be a very, very important for the company. 'Because globally, circular economy is a big topic. We have invested heavily into getting top-notch scientists to work on this in Germany and India,' he said 'So, that also tells you how much importance India has, not only just manufacturing and supplying, also in developing technology,' he pointed out. Mr. Pradhan said the company would contribute more for safe packaging as the awareness on health and nutrition has increased. 'In 2020, the government had banned the use of toluene as a chemical in inks used for food packaging. And that has really helped us grow because we were the pioneers to get toluene-free inks into the country,' he said. 'Today the generation Z is very very careful about these things, so that will be the other big driving factor that the industry has to take care of, and I think we are very well placed because we are the global leaders in safe packaging,' he added. On the policy related changes that could help the industry grow he said the biggest thing in everyone's mind is what is going to happen on the circularity and recycling front. 'Today paper cups has a PE coating and that PE coating on the paper prevents that paper to be recycled. So now we have come up with a coating to replace the PE and then we put it on the paper, and all this has to be driven by regulation,' he said. 'This whole regulation push in circularity and sustainability is what I would look for. That is for the future for packaging industry whether it is paperization, use more paper, less plastic' he emphasised.
