The whole nation is outraged over the martyrdom of five soldiers in the July 8 terror attack in Kathua, and it has been promised by the government that perpetrators of this heinous crime will be punished soon.
Terrorists and their mentors sitting in Pakistan would pay a heavy price for the martyrdom of five brave hearts.
Kathua is at core of the national discourse about terrorism, as focus has riveted on counter-terrorism ways and means . The July 8 attack in Kathua is not the first attack. Since June 9, the day Reasi terror attack took place, killing nine pilgrims, there have been serial terror attacks in Doda and Kathua districts even when the region was recovering from the deadly onslaught in twin border districts of Rajouri-Poonch.
This is a serious situation and it calls for an adequate and stringent response both in short and long terms.

NEWS ANALYSIS

It is expected that terrorists involved in Kathua terror attack are traced and neutralized . This is important to deliver a message to them and the likes of them in Jammu and Kashmir that they cannot escape even in the thickest of jungles the wrath of the security forces . The forces are duty-bound, as the whole nation stands with them in solidarity, to finish off enemies of the nation. This is what is required immediately.
President Droupadi Murmu underlined this in her statement on X on Tuesday morning . She said : ” The attack on a convoy of Army personnel in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir by terrorists is a cowardly act that deserves condemnation and firm counter-measures. My sympathies are with the families of the brave hearts who laid down their lives in this ongoing war against terror in its all forms. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
President of India represents soul of the country. She symbolizes collective thinking of the nation . When she makes a statement, it is representation of the will of the nation . She characterized the attack as a ” cowardly act,” because the terrorists ambushed a moving of the unsuspecting troops from a hillock . It was not a direct fight . It was surreptitious. That’s what made it cowardly act .This cowardice has hit soldiers , and five brave hearts were sent home in coffins wrapped in National Tricolour . President Murmu understood all the dimensions and addressed them when she condemned the attack and stressed for firm counter-terrorism.
The immediate task has been assigned , to neutralize the terrorists and the structure in which they operated . this has been promised by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha , who is responsible for governance in Jammu and Kashmir and ensuring safety and security of all citizens . He has also asked for severe punishment for the perpetrators of the crime.
In the long-term , there are many options before the country and it will have to think about them and act accordingly. One thing that is profoundly clear that Pakistan has not learnt any lessons , it deserves punishment for doing what it is doing in Jammu and Kashmir , sending terrorists from across the Line of Control and international border , using drones to send money and arms and ammunition , and a concerted misinformation campaign against India at the international for a, which it also uses to indoctrinate young minds in J&K. These acts cannot go unpunished , the lives and future of soldiers, their children and the whole of the nation have been challenged .
To tackle this cross-border terrorism , India has listed support of many countries, including the United States . Russian President Vladmir Putin too has come out in support of India’s stand on dealing with cross-border terrorism . Putin joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi in condemning the dastardly terror attack on soldiers in Kathua. A joint statement in Moscow on July 9, specifically mentioned Kathua terror attack and condemned it . That means that the world knows what Pakistan is doing , and if Islamabad is punished for all these acts of terror on Indians , it has no one to defend it .
This attack and the future threats that Pakistan holds for the country should invoke high intensity crackdown on all the elements supporting terrorism , as severely as the terrorists. These threats have to be eliminated with fresh counter-terrorism strategy so that the peace and development of J&K moves on unhindered. Counter-terrorism has to be normalized not a quick fix response in retaliation to the attacks that Pakistan keeps on staging in J&K.