The latest attack on Uri is literally the last straw. The Pakistani terrorists murdered 18 men in their sleep as they did not have the guts to face them head-on.If we don’t rein in Pakistan, it would mean that India is big on words and poor in action. Moreover, regardless of the political class’s thinking, the common man is so incensed that India need to take firm decisive action. As Ram Madhav a senior RSS ideologue says, ‘Strategic restraint is passe’.
India has trashed Pakistan soundly in three bloody wars in 48, 65 and in 71. The sound trashing at Kargil in 1999 is not termed as a war, as Pakistan claims there were no soldiers involved but only irregulars. The 
demoralizing defeats have left such deep physiological scars on the Pakistani minds that, they cannot think straight. The only thought in Pakistani minds is to inflict some sort of defeat on India and possibly grab a portion of land under some pretext to claim a modicum of victory to salvage some lost pride. To this end, they have been waging a cowardly war on India for more than three decades.
Vajpayee, a far-seeing politician almost brokered a peace-deal but was thwarted at the last moment. Then Kargil happened and the situation became bleaker after that. Then a litany of efforts by Pakistan – The parliament attacks, The Bombay blasts, Pathankot attack and now Uri. Though India has shown admirable restraint and highlighted Pakistan’s support for terror-based activities in all international forums, the moment has come for India to take some decisive action. 
I think India has to ponder on the fact that though it has taken umbrage at every new attack like Pathankot, the fact is – Pakistan is planning a number of strikes continuously. We were aghast at Uri but, Nowgam happened the next day, then a possible threat in Bombay and who knows where else? From this, a clear pattern emerges that Pakistan has planned a series of strikes, till it reaches tipping level and India retaliates poorly and brashly. This is what we must guard against. If and when we strike, it must be on our terms.
India should look for a complete action plan on multiple fronts to tackle this problem. It is important to appoint somebody like Mr. G Parthasarathy the former envoy to Pakistan, as the head of this action committee. He not only knows Pakistan intimately but, is also au-currant with the various terror-groups nurtured and emanating from there. A multi-pronged action needs to be planned.
- A wide diplomatic effort should be launched all over the world in all forums like SAARC and the UN. All efforts should be made to declare Pakistan a terror-state with consequent penalties and isolation besides trade embargoes.
- Attack options across the Line of Control should be looked into if necessary to hunt down the terrorists. Other countries like USA, Israel and neighboring countries could be brought on board during these operations. This time India should not be overly worried about escalating the war, as Pakistan has ridden enough on this fear of India. Pakistan has anyway shown a cowardly streak in trying to dress up these efforts as indigenous uprisings and rattling their nuclear arsenal at the smallest provocation.
- A special commando squad needs to be formed, who will trace and hunt down the terrorists similar to the “Wrath of God “operations of the Israelis after the Munich massacre. India needs to work closely with them, as there is no one else better qualified to hunt down terrorists. The Americans have shown that they can do anything in Pakistan when they landed and hunted down Osama Bin laden in Abbottabad.
- India has recently signed an agreement with USA to collaborate on the manufacture of Predator drones. It is also learnt that Indian scientific organizations are pursuing drone technologies independently. It is high time we put it to practical use. India can effectively use drones to target the terror bases in POK and root out the problem once and for all. Targeting most of the terror chiefs and those who are responsible for the attacks in India would be a bonus. As long as we take into confidence, certain friendly countries during the strike, we could avert blame directly. It is time that we paid Pakistan in the same coin and if Pakistan accuses us, we could always look at the sky and say ‘what drone”, give us proof. This policy must be carried out till all the terror chiefs are removed.
- Last and most importantly, India must think deep in terms of a permanent solution, instead of only reacting to Pakistan’s attacks. As we know, there is an LOC in place with Pakistan and India administering the two sections for the last 70 years. India must plan its strategy carefully and then announce in a very important forum –That in the interest of peace, India is willing to convert the LOC to an international border, provided Pakistan agrees completely with no pre-conditions. By doing this, India would be demonstrating to the world that, they want peace. By a miracle if Pakistan agrees, well and good and permanent peace would be there in the sub-continent. If not, we are back where we started with nothing lost on our side. Otherwise all bets are off and everything is back on course as usual. The difference being- India has made sincere efforts art peace but proves to the world that, Pakistan is only a warmonger( And poor one at that, as they have lost all the wars)
Other pressures on the economic front could be brought on Pakistan. India could use the Indus water to renegotiate with Pakistan their rightful share. Already three of Pakistan’s neighbors like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India have felt the effects of Pakistan’ terror activities. It’s the right time to encourage Baluchistan to open another front against Pakistan, as they are badly affected due the inhuman human rights atrocities. Pakistan’s economy is in shambles and India could convince many countries to embargo Pakistan’s products so that they feel the pinch. Pakistan has only one friend China who has been supporting them more for their own strategic purposes , than for genuine support.
The measures adopted , should not only solve the current problem but, also ensure that it does not rise again.