Editorial from "The Pioneer" appeared on July 13, 1999

The Indian Armed forces deserve a standing ovation and much more for the victorious conclusion of Operation Vijay. Pakistani intruders, unable to cope with mounting losses and under pressure of international opinion, have turned tail and are retreating rapidly to their side of the Line of Control. For India, the triumph is doubly commendable for not only have the bravehearts decisively won the military conflict but our diplomats and policy-makers also achieved remarkable success in convincing world opinion of Pakistan’s perfidy. Just as the jawans and their commanders merit unstinted praise, our foreign policy coordinators must be complimented for their relentless diplomatic campaign. The country’s political leadership, too, rose to the challenge posed by Pakistani chicanery. India was lucky, indeed, to have at its helm a leader of Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s calibre, credibility and experience.

The most significant facet of the two-month-long conflict was that the Indian people rose in unison to defeat the enemy’s stealthy conspiracy. If ever there were a People’s War, it was this. The spontaneous outpouring of support for the Armed forces, witnessed from Kutch to Kohima and Kargil to Kanya Kumari, demonstrated yet again the power of the spiritual bond that holds this 5,000-year-old civilisation together. Apart from contributing liberally to various war funds, the people showed their solidarity against the enemy by turning out in thousands at cremations of those who laid down their lives so might live free. This was in striking contrast to the demoralisation witnessed in Pakistan whose authorities shamelessly abandoned their dead in Kashmir’s snowy heights. It was left to our army to give a decent burial to those hapless Pakistani soldiers who were pushed to their untimely death by an irresponsible bunch of politico-military megalomaniacs.

In the end, not just Indians, but also the people of Pakistan and the world at large shall heave a sigh of relief that Islamabad has finally read the writing on the wall and called off its misadventure. However, only the eternally naive would believe that Pakistan will not be prompted to launch such ill-fated military forays in the future. It is, therefore, essential that we do not accept their pledge to withdraw at face value and monitor their every movement. At the slightest hint of duplicity, the Indian Army must silence their recalcitrance with a volley of fire. It is only proper that India has called off air attacks but said reconnaissance flights shall continue to ascertain the withdrawal. In fact, India must not rule out taking in prisoners-of-war in case sections of the Pakistani desperadoes show signs of defying their chastened political masters. As for the handful of out-of-work Afghan mercenaries masquerading as “Kashmiri freedom fighters”, they must be taught a lesson they shall not forget in a hurry. It is also to be hoped that no such conflict will ever have to be fought over the LoC. India must not only guard every inch of the Line but also drastically augment its military intelligence mechanism. And, when negotiations begin in a few months, India would do well to insist on redrawing the LoC to deny Pakistan the logistic advantage it currently enjoys thanks to the misplaced magnanimity of past Indian leaders.