The Story So Far
In 2016 (Uri attack), 2019 (Pulwama), and 2025 (Pahalgam massacre), India responded to terror attacks with cross-border strikes into Pakistan.
The latest 2025 strike targeted nine locations in Pakistan after a deadly massacre.
The situation escalated into aerial conflict involving missiles and drones.
Pakistan’s Use of Proxy Terror Groups
Pakistan has long used terrorism as a tactic to harm India without direct war — described as “bleeding India through a thousand cuts.”
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is one of the most active and dangerous groups supported by Pakistan’s establishment.
LeT carried out major attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Who is LeT and How Do They Operate?
LeT doesn’t attack Pakistan but focuses on India and Afghanistan, aligning with the Pakistani military’s strategy.
Even under global pressure, LeT survived by rebranding (e.g., Jamaat-ud-Dawa) and carrying out charity work inside Pakistan.
The group has a large support system, including funding, recruitment, and protection from authorities.
The 'Double Game' of Pakistan
Pakistan has pretended to help the U.S. in its war on terror, while secretly supporting the Taliban and protecting terrorists like Osama bin Laden.
This strategy helped Pakistan gain from both sides while avoiding punishment from the international community.
India’s Response Strategy
India now uses controlled military strikes to respond to terror, without crossing into full-scale war.
These strikes aim to send a message but avoid nuclear escalation.
Scholar Christine Fair suggests three options: stay passive, kill terror leaders, or escalate. India is choosing calibrated escalation.
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