New Delhi's warning to Islamabad
Last month, Islamist gunmen — two of whom have been identified as Pakistani nationals — slaughtered 26 civilians in the Indian-administered part of divided Kashmir.
It was a brutal attack, in which Hindu tourists, including one from Nepal, were singled out for slaughter. And yet, it was not surprising: Terrorist groups have long operated freely from Pakistani soil, with the tacit or explicit support of Pakistan's powerful military.
What might be different this time is that India may have finally found a way to push back, including through military strikes on Pakistani terror camps — strikes that Indian officials claimed were 'measured, responsible and designed to be nonescalatory in nature.' Despite the risks of tit-for-tat retaliation, India, as the stronger side, could escalate or de-escalate the conflict to its advantage.
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