Pahalgam terrorist attack: How will India respond and when?

Speculation is rife that India is preparing a high-stakes, multidimensional response to the April 22 massacre of 27 civilians, mostly tourists,  in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.

The massacre at Baisaran, near the resort town of Pahalgam, was the deadliest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

“The perpetrators of this cowardly attack won’t be spared,” India PM Narendra Modi Modi reportedly told top security officials.

Meanwhile, India’s military and diplomatic corps have begun charting out options for both kinetic and non-kinetic retaliation. As per sources, it is expected that India may carry out Uri surgical strikes (2016) and Balakot airstrikes (2029) like retaliatory measures.

In response, in a podcast with ANI, former Commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd) said that India has other options.

'India Has Options'

"There are options. The only challenge which I foresee is that our country is used to a hundred per cent success. When Balakot happened or the surgical strike happened, there was no body bag scheme. They feel that the current India government can't stomach causalities. As many as 40 China soldiers were killed in Galwan. However, nobody will talk about it. All the political parties will talk about the death in Pahalgam and throw it back to everybody. When you start breaking the cease fire, which is also one of the options, there will be civilian casualties long with soldiers as well. If we manage to kill some Pakistani soldiers, it will not affect Asim Munir. When the country (Pakistan) which doesn't even accept the body of its officers and jawans, how can you give punishment by killing some Pakistani soldiers who are technically not directly involved in the incident. The punishment needs to come to those people," said Pandey.

Must Read: Pahalgam terrorist attack: What’s Pak-backed terrorists’ intention behind leaving women, children

'Pakistan Are Looking For Conflict'

"When you fire, don't expect that the enemies will not fire back. There will also be causalities of soldiers and civilians. And what is Asim Munir wants from you? He wants escalation and that is his survival. That is his ticket for seven years to be in power. They know that their country has economic and internal fractures. The hardliner Islamists, whom they have propagated, are behind their tails. They are looking for conflict which is something that will bind their country," he further said.

'India May Spring A Surprise'

"There is nothing called short war. I am quite sure that our political dispension is very smart and our security people are discussing about the situation. There are much better tools that should be used. This time there will be a newer option which will be beyond the imagination. Trust me that we are also capable of springing surprise. Trust our leadership to come up with a surprise for them," he added.