To set the context on rhetoric vs reality, let’s start with some quotes regarding Pakistan heard during the election season.

“Now if they fire a bullet, we will fire a bomb, it is not like before that Pakistan would fire and our soldiers would be mute spectators” said Amit Shah during the Loksabha election campaign.

“Vote for PM Modi as both China and Pakistan are afraid of him,” said Sushil Modi of BJP, during the Bihar Assembly election campaign even as he questioned why Nitish Kumar travelled to Pakistan in 2012.

However the statement that stood out in the recent past for obvious reasons was the Home Minster’s statement exhorting the “gyani” terrorists to learn yoga.

The sound bites were good during the election season, but being in power brings with it the responsibility of governance as well. So what are the options on the table? Does going to war with a country that has nothing to lose make sense?

In September 2007, Nawaz Sharif confessed to have 'let down' his then counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee and claimed that he wasn't aware that Pervez Musharraf was the mastermind behind the Kargil attack. He also said that he regret not having taking any action against Musharraf. But given the inconsistencies, and experience with Hafiz Saeed situation etc., trusting Pakistan’s leaders has become a tricky proposition.

Whether one likes Thackeray or not, he makes one valid point - beef up internal security. Many of you may be aware that India is the 4th largest importer of arms. Are we better off spending much more of the $ 40 billion defence budget (about Rs 2.5 lakh crores) on improving the internal security measures with more recruitment, training, and management of forces and whatever other measures are needed than just buying expensive equipment and war planes that are becoming targets of attack?

From a political/diplomatic standpoint, this brings up an interesting question, chest thumping apart, what is significantly different between Congress and BJP when it comes to dealing with Pakistan?

The debates will go on, and so will the blame game, but is there an easy solution that does not jeopardize the Indian economy and initiatives such as make in India?  

What are your thoughts on the action that India can take?

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