We have to use other non-violent options, which can hurt Pakistan badly and make them realise that rooting out terrorist groups will extract a much lesser price than non-cooperation with India.

Pakistan will react in a way which we want, only if our actions have the potential of inflicting costs which are beyond its capacity to bear. The Prime Minister had said, “The use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated and that there would be a cost if suitable measures are not taken by them.”

There are three areas which can have an adverse effect on Pakistan’s economy and the society. The Pakistan government will not like to be confronted with problems that could lead to the break up of the country. They would have to weigh the cost-benefit ratio of the policy being followed against India vis-a-vis the possibility of a break up of Pakistan.

The first is the revocation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960. The second is providing, as Pakistan does to the Kashmiri Separatists, “moral and political” support to the various groups fighting for liberation from Pakistan. The last being the start of covert operations in Pakistan against the masterminds of LeT and other such organisations involved in the planning and execution of terrorist attacks in the country.

As per the Indus Water treaty, Pakistan has full rights on the use of the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab). India has, on the other hand, limited consumptive use rights on these rivers, but full rights for non-consumptive uses. If one looks at the map of Pakistan, all major rivers originate or pass through India and the headworks are located in India.

Pakistan depends hugely on the Indus River basin waters for its agricultural and other needs. Fortunately for Pakistan, India has always abided by the Indus Water Treaty even during the wars fought so far. Pakistan cannot expect us to abide by treaties when it does everything to break India through militant groups.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had recently said: “Pakistan expects India to abide by international agreements on sharing of water in the Indus River system. Pakistan would be paying a very high price for India’s move to block Pakistan’s water supply from the Chenab river.”Secondly, we should

extend moral and political support to the various groups fighting for liberation from Pakistan.

This would pose a threat to Pakistan’s stability and it will have to choose between a break up of Pakistan or attempts to destabilise India by supporting terrorist groups.

Thirdly, we should start covert operations in Pakistan. The perpetrators of terrorism in India must not be allowed to feel safe in Pakistan or anywhere in the world.

In world politics, like in real life, “nice guys” don’t come out as winners. In a world which is not perfect, to be able to achieve ones potential, one has to be “street-smart” and that is what India has to be.

We have, after each war with Pakistan, lost out on the negotiating table by being the “nice guy”.

We stopped operations in 1948 and went to the UNO when we were winning the fight in Jammu and Kashmir, returned Haji Pir Pass after 1965 and did not get Bhutto to agree to a permanent settlement of the