Busting the Penelope’s Web

On the sacred day of Buddha Purnima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words reverberated with historical depth and strategic clarity: “This is certainly not the era of war, but this is also not the era of terrorism.”

This wasn’t merely an echo from a rostrum of global diplomacy—it was the articulation of a new Indian doctrine. One that refuses to be shackled by appeasement or ambiguity. One that replaces half-measures with resolute direction, dimension.

India’s fight against terrorism has entered a decisive phase, with Operation Sindoor emerging as a defining threshold. It symbolizes the end of strategic restraint and the birth of calibrated retaliation. For decades, we have responded to aggression with dossiers; today, we respond with affirmative action.

Echoes from the Past

The journey to this tectonic shift is layered with a history dotted with strategic misses —times when India had the upper hand but chose the path of deference over decisiveness.

1947-48: Ceasefire in J&K

As tribal raiders backed by Pakistan entered Jammu and Kashmir, India mobilized, repelled them, and was poised to recapture the entire territory. But under Lord Mountbatten’s influence over India halted the offensive and internationalized the issue by moving to the UN. The result: Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) remains under illegal occupation to this day—what could have been a military triumph became a geopolitical wound.

1950s: The quiet loss of Aksai Chin

While attention remained focused westward, China stealthily built a strategic highway through Aksai Chin. Nehru’s casual dismissal on floor of Lok Sabha—“not a blade of grass grows there”—allowed the creation of a crucial artery connecting Tibet with Xinjiang and now, through CPEC, to Pakistan. That oversight endures as a major strategic vulnerability.

1960: Indus Waters Treaty

Even as Pakistan waged proxy wars in Kashmir, India signed away over 80% of the Indus basin’s waters. Brokered by the World Bank, the treaty was hailed as diplomatic magnanimity. In hindsight, it was unilateral generosity toward an unrelenting adversary sitting illegally over our territory.

1972: Shimla Agreement

After a resounding victory in the 1971 war, with 93,000 Pakistani POWs and territorial leverage in hand, India had the opportunity to reclaim our part of J & K from Pakistan. Instead, we returned prisoners without concrete guarantees on terrorism or borders—a historical blunder by all accounts.

2001–2010s: Lip Service

From the Parliament attack to 26/11 Mumbai, India bled repeatedly. And yet, our response remained confined to press briefings, dossiers, and isolated diplomatic offensives. Operation Parakram saw mass troop mobilisation, but stopped short of action. The adversary interpreted silence as softness.

Doctrine with Teeth

That era is over.

With Operation Sindoor, India conducted coordinated, deep-penetration strikes targeting over a dozen Pakistani military and terror installations—from Sargodha to Jacobabad. These were not mere symbolic gestures; they were strategic statements. The illusion of Pakistani military invincibility has been shattered.

More crucially, this operation has set a new normal: India will no longer distinguish between terrorists and the states that harbour them. No more red lines drawn in pencil. This is doctrine-backed resolve.

It is in sync with this tectonic shift that India has suspended Indus Water Treaty. PM’s clarion call ‘blood and water cannot flow together’ is now a state policy. Strategic generosity ends where national security begins.

Anchoring a New India

At the heart of this transformation lies a three-pronged approach:

1. Uncompromising Clarity:

“Talks with Pakistan will only be on terrorism or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.” This disavows the illusion that peace and terror can coexist or be negotiated simultaneously.

2. Strategic Peace with Civilisational Strength:

Quoting Buddha while launching a military doctrine isn’t a contradiction—it is civilisational clarity. “Shanti ka marg, shakti se hokar jata hai.” India stands for peace, but not pacifism.

3. Historical Consistency on PoJK:

The accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947 is legally and historically irrevocable. As per the Indian Independence Act and the Maharaja’s instrument of accession, PoJK remains an inseparable part of India. Any talks henceforth will only revolve around its unconditional return.

From Patience to Precision

Public sentiment today reflects maturity, not jingoism. The Indian people are not asking for war—they are asking for dignity. They are asking for deterrence, not escalation. For decades, Indians have watched the State bleed silently, offer olive branches, and then face betrayal. That era is over.

India’s new mantra is deterrence through strength, not silence. Pre-emption over reaction.

Never Again

In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope weaves a web by day and unravels it by night—stalling destiny. For too long, India has lived the Penelope paradox—our strategic advances undone by political reticence.

Operation Sindoor has broken that web.

This is no longer a nation that waits for pain before it acts. It is a nation that speaks softly but carries a precise sword. As India redefines its geopolitical stance, one thing is clear—we shall not blink first.

The war on terror is not over. But the rules of engagement have changed—forever.

India has stopped weaving webs. It has started wielding the sword.

Ranbir Singh Pathania practices law at the J & K, High Court of Judicature, and is member of J&K Legislative Assembly.