Centre, Army must stay vigilant

Refer to ‘Ganderbal shocker’; the killing of APCO Infratech workers by Pakistan-based militant outfit People’s Anti-Fascist Front is the first terror attack on a key infrastructure project in the Kashmir valley. This attack, which came days after the new government assumed office in the UT, underscores the challenge for the Omar Abdullah government and is also a testament to how tough it is for infrastructure companies to execute projects in disturbed areas. This incident has again shown that Pakistan should never be taken at face value and the Centre, the armed forces and the UT government cannot afford to let their guard down.

Bal Govind, Noida

Government must assert itself

With reference to ‘Ganderbal shocker’; the incident has reinforced India’s consistent stand that talks with Pakistan and terrorism cannot go together. Even if the Pakistan government does not endorse such incidents, it cannot absolve itself of responsibility. The government should assert its authority to find an amicable solution. India wants to maintain peaceful relations with all its neighbours, including Pakistan. Pakistan is reeling under a severe economic crisis, which it can overcome with the help of India. In such a situation, Islamabad will have to pursue a friendly policy towards New Delhi in consultation with its army.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Penalise hoax threat callers

Apropos of ‘Hoax threat calls’; due to a surge in hoax threats targeting Indian airlines, flights are getting delayed, diverted or cancelled, causing huge financial losses to the airlines and inconvenience as well as anxiety to the affected passengers, gradually eroding their faith in air travel itself. Such hoax threat calls are serious offences and deserve deterrent punishment entailing protracted incarceration and punitive fines. State-of-the-art technology must be deployed to curb this menace.

Roshan Lal Goel, Ladwa

Oversight could be dangerous

With reference to ‘Intel agencies need parliamentary oversight’; since intelligence agencies work in secrecy and have little accountability, they become a law unto themselves. The row over the plot to assassinate anti-India separatists has brought this issue in the spotlight. Even if the writer has made an impassioned plea for parliamentary oversight, it is hard to see the agencies accepting this, since they work behind the scenes and any sensitive information falling into the wrong hands would be dangerous for them and their operations.

Anthony Henriques, Mumbai

India should recalibrate policy

Apropos of ‘Dealing with China: Why India should rethink strategy’; since its inception, the PRC has never treated India on an equal footing, basing its foreign policy on the strategic triangle comprising the US and Russia. Viewing India as a strong competitor, China adopted all sorts of diplomatic and military means to suppress India and endanger its sovereignty and economy by weakening Indian capabilities to challenge China’s hegemony. India became the first non-socialist country to establish diplomatic ties with China and has remained one of its top 10 trading partners. Knowing China’s true intentions, India should recalibrate its policy to prioritise its interests, including strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, non-cooperation with Pakistan, gaining supremacy in industrial and military sectors and maintaining strong foreign relations.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Put forth a unified strategy

Refer to ‘Dealing with China: Why India should rethink strategy’; the Middle Kingdom syndrome, which has embodied Chinese aggression since the rule of the Zhou dynasty, seems to have been resuscitated by Xi Jinping, who has styled himself as a dictator. His election to the post of President was a sham as there was no other name on the ballot. Thus, in order to deal with China led by an autocratic leader, India needs to devise a unified strategy notwithstanding the differences across party lines.

Vinay Saroha, Kurukshetra

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