India must pressure Pakistan by sharing evidence of the terror trail

The international reaction to India’s strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan has been one of concern, but muted and non-recriminatory, indicating that for most world capitals, India’s actions in response to the Pahalgam attacks were more or less expected, and even understood. While there have been calls for restraint and resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, there has been little action taken by any country to bring about much pressure to avert the strikes. This can be chalked up to New Delhi’s briefings to envoys, and calls by the Prime Minister, Ministers and the National Security Adviser to counterparts around the world through this crisis, that began with the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. New Delhi’s mature messaging has been that India is targeting terrorists that it hoped Pakistan would, especially after the “barbaric” nature of the Pahalgam attack. The Indian Air Force’s operations on May 7, on targets identified with terror groups, were precisely planned, with India’s assurance that no civil, economic or military locations would be hit. It was also impossible to escape the symbolism — details of the operations were delivered by two women officers of different faiths, sending out an image of progressive, pluralistic and resolute nation.