Here are India's weapons against Pak terrorism

India has chosen its weapons to defeat Pakistan in the war on terrorism: diplomacy and international pressure.

"I am making it quite clear that it (war) is not a solution," said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament on Thursday. "Pakistan must be forced to act against terrorists. There is irrefutable proof (that) the epicentre of this (Mumbai terror) attack, and not only this one but many more are in our neighboring country," he said.

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal F Major said the defence forces would do what the Government orders. “That is (military strike) left to the Government, not me,” he said. But unlike India’s military, the Pakistani army may defy its political masters. India's primary objective is to use diplomacy to break the nexus between the Pakistani army, espionage agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terrorist groups without further weakening the civilian government.

The key then for India is to work with the United States to build international pressure on Pakistan. USA’s State Department, the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency can bend Pakistan by using their close institutional and personal links with Pakistani generals. Analysts believe the current crackdown in Pakistan—the reported detention of important terrorist leaders and the closure offices belonging to a banned Islamic charity group—is a pointer that a start has been made. India may ask donor countries and institutions to tell Pakistan that it will not get aid if it will be diverted to the military budget.

US President-elect Barack Obama could make India’s war on terror easier if he increases American aerial strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas and take out anti-India militant groups. India and the US may cooperate and get Russia, China and Iran to put pressure on Pakistan. The three countries have stakes in ensuring Pakistan doesn’t turn into a failed state or implode.

The US could help India by asking Saudi Arabia and the Arab world to pressurise Pakistan. Drying up Saudi sources of funding for Pakistan-based militant groups would bolster UN sanctions against these organisations. All these diplomatic options have their limitations and the biggest challenge is to not just get the world to act now but to keep the heat on Pakistan for long time.

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