India’s Right to Respond to Terrorism: John Bolton
New Delhi: John Bolton, former national security adviser, stated on NDTV that India possesses the right to respond to and address the threats posed by terrorists. His comments came nearly two weeks after attacks in Pahargam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Bolton, who served during President Donald Trump’s first term, acknowledged that India has a “legitimate right to self-defense” against terrorism. However, he emphasized the importance of exhausting all diplomatic avenues before considering military action.
He noted India’s historical efforts to find peaceful resolutions and mentioned the pressure on Pakistan from its ally, China.
“I think Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed considerable restraint after the 2019 Pulwama incident,” he remarked, referring to the attack that resulted in the deaths of 40 soldiers and was attributed to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The Indian military’s swift response then involved striking a terrorist camp in Balakot, Pakistan. Following the attack in Pahalgam, attributed to a faction of Lashkar-e-Taiba, speculation about military action has increased, particularly since Modi reportedly granted military forces “freedom” to assess targets and execute operations.
“It’s not the first time India has faced such attacks in 2019. The Kashmir issue continues to be a source of tension between the nuclear-armed nations, though it’s unfortunate to frame it as an ‘opportunity,'” he shared.
Bolton provided insights into two potential diplomatic strategies: pressuring Pakistan to control its territory and prevent attacks from its soil, and engaging China to ensure it addresses the activity of terrorist groups. He stressed that if these efforts fail, India would have no choice but to escalate the matter cautiously.
He also highlighted that when determining an appropriate military response, India should aim to limit its actions to those responsible for the attack. A precise retaliation could help Pakistan save face and open the door for further diplomatic discussions.
“Even neighboring countries might oppose this strongly, but resorting to terrorism is never an acceptable form of disagreement,” Bolton concluded.
