I’m not sure why you're bringing in principles of international justice here. Every country has the right to feel aggrieved if its citizens are killed by non-state actors. In Pakistan’s case, however, we know these aren't even truly non-state actors—the government and military have a long history of arming and protecting them.
The fact remains that India has never engaged in terrorism against Pakistan, whether over Kashmir or any other dispute. Pakistan has fought four conventional wars with India—and lost all four. Realizing it can't defeat India through traditional military means, Pakistan turned to terrorism in the 1990s. The list of attacks is long: the IC 814 hijacking, the Parliament attack, 26/11 in Mumbai, Uri, Pathankot, Pulwama, Pahalgam, and many more.
Pakistan bears direct responsibility for the bloodshed in Kashmir. The core issue lies in Pakistan’s self-assigned role as the thekedar (custodian) of Islam. Because Kashmir has a Muslim-majority population, Pakistan has long believed it should be part of their country. For decades, they have supported the secessionist movement by arming and radicalizing Kashmiri youth. Instead of books and laptops, these young people were handed stones and weapons to attack Indian forces.
Now that the Indian government has revoked the state's special autonomy and brought Jammu & Kashmir under direct administration from New Delhi, Pakistan cannot tolerate the visible signs of progress and development in the region. In response, it has resumed efforts to incite violence and terrorism. This time, however, even many local Kashmiris have expressed discontent with Pakistan's interference.
Pakistan, a country that survives on IMF loans should focus on fixing its internal issues instead of constantly meddling in Kashmir. If Pakistan simply minded its own business, there would be no bloodshed in the valley.
As for dialogue, India has made sincere efforts time and again, only to be betrayed each time:
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated the Aman Ki Asha bus diplomacy while Pervez Musharraf was secretly planning the Kargil invasion.
- Dr. Manmohan Singh, one of India’s most soft-spoken and diplomatic prime ministers, consistently sought peace, only to be repaid with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks that killed 170 innocent people.
- Narendra Modi, too, extended an olive branch early in his tenure by making an unannounced visit to meet then-PM Nawaz Sharif in 2015. Pakistan responded with the Uri terrorist attack.
You must understand—India and Pakistan are fundamentally different countries. One is an emerging economic powerhouse; the other is dependent on international bailouts. India has neither the incentive nor the obligation to continue engaging with a nation that repeatedly responds to peace efforts with betrayal.
This is why the Government of India has shut the door on formal dialogue. Even in response to terrorist attacks, India no longer engages diplomatically. The new approach is clear:
If you sponsor terrorism, expect a military response. Our missiles will do the talking.
It’s laughable to compare the IRA with the Islamic terrorist groups operating out of Pakistan. Even your former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, admitted that there are over 50 terrorist groups active in Pakistan—and the government itself doesn’t even know how many are popping up every day.
To believe that a peace deal would satisfy these extremists is incredibly naïve. Just recently, your own Army Chief, General Asim Munir, made a communal statement implying that Hindus are fundamentally different from Pakistanis. That kind of rhetoric only reinforces the deep-rooted ideological divide.
Let’s be real: even if the Kashmir issue were magically resolved tomorrow, these radical Islamist groups wouldn’t suddenly disappear. They would simply find a new target. And given India’s size, prosperity, and its 80% Hindu population, it’s obvious where their hatred would be redirected.
It’s foolish to assume these groups would sit back quietly and let a peaceful, pluralistic neighbor thrive. Their agenda goes far beyond Kashmir—and that’s exactly why India cannot afford to let its guard down.