Ajit Doval to Pakistan: Behave—or face the consequences

India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval briefed Russian, Chinese and French officials on India’s strikes at terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Doval spoke with the Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Doval’s message was clear: India has no intent to escalate matters further with Pakistan but is prepared to respond with resolve if Islamabad decides to escalate and retaliate against India.

India’s stance in the matter has been clear from the time it took military steps against terrorists in Pakistan on Wednesday morning. In his briefing Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that, “…India exercised its right to respond and pre-empt as well as deter more such cross-border attacks. These actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate, and responsible. They focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India.”

A defence ministry press release early on Wednesday morning had said the same thing: “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted. India has demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution.”

CAREFUL MESSAGING

India has been careful and consistent in its messaging on “Operation Sindoor,” the military operation targeting terrorist sites in Pakistan and PoK: Its actions are meant to deter terrorists operating from Pakistani soil. They are not against Pakistani civilians or that country’s military infrastructure and installations.

Pakistan sees is that way. After the meeting of its National Security Committee it said that, “Pakistan reserves the right to respond at its own time, place and manner.” It further added that, “The Armed Forces of Pakistan have duly been authorized to undertake corresponding actions in this regard.” Earlier it had declared India’s actions to be an “act of war.”

It is not clear what “corresponding actions” Pakistan can undertake in India as New Delhi does not use terrorists as proxies in other countries or as a policy instrument. The import of the statement is that Pakistan plans to retaliate against India.

In the past one decade, India has responded to atrocities by Pakistan-based terrorist groups after they attacked Indian troops in Uri, in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in 2016 and in the wake of the Pulwama terrorist strike in 2019. Those actions, however, were in response to the killing of Indian troops and paramilitary forces. This time, India has responded to the killing of 26 tourists, including one Nepali citizen. In each of these cases, India has taken one step further to tell Pakistan that its actions are not acceptable.

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