As predicted, Pakistan is washing its hands off the whole affair by bluntly stating that the Mumbai attack was not planned on its soil. While there are some reports of Pakistan planning some action to prosecute those detained under cyber laws it is clear that India has not succeeded in getting Pakistan to act against the prepratators of terror strikes. In a way it is a good thing simply because India can now tell the world that it followed the so called internationally accepted norms and procedures to get to the root of the problem and now that Pakistan has not responded, India is free to take whatever action that may be necessary at the time of its choosing.
India is, of course, free to not say anything further as far as the kind, extent and scope of the action. Any layperson should know that it is time India tightened the noose around Paksitan.
First, it must immediately suspend the composite dialogue and other useless agreements such as the Joint Terror Investigation Mechanism, the various busses and trains running between the two countries and the so called people-to-people contacts. That way the one thing India can make sure is no undesirable person manages to enter India as a legitimate tourist/visitor. India should then suspend all the trade links with Pakistan. It should also declare that any attempt by Pakistan based entities to infiltrate India's international border or the LOC will be met with strong retaliatory action and that Pakistan would be responsible for any consequences. India should also tell the US that it must immediately stop the sale/transfer of sophisticated weapons such as the AMRAAM, JDAM and AAM missiles and F-16 fighters to Pakistan as these are not required to fight the Taliban and Al-Qaeda along Pakistan's western border but are in fact meant to boost Pak military's strength to stave off any military pressure from India. India could also very carefully calibrate its response in terms of sending troops to Afghanistan to protest the thousands of Indians working there to rebuild that war ravaged country. India should also increase its military to military contact with the countries of Central Asia especially Tajikistan where it already has a small contingent of air force personnel at Farkhar. It must also offer these countries training facilities by deputing Indian military instructors and troops for their modernisation. Needless to add that all these countries are also threatened by terrorism that emanates from Al Qaeda and Taliban combine and there is a huge amount of goodwill and affection for India.
Internally, there is an urgent need to take immediate action against all those elements that are presently threatening national unity such the MNS, Sri Ram Sena, SIMI operatives and above all the Maoists and the numerous insurgents in the Northeast. Unless the Central Government sends out a clear signal that it will actually not tolerate any disruptive and sepratist activity it will be difficult to defend our democratic system.
