India is preparing for decisive action and the writing on the wall is clear – action must now move beyond rhetoric into the realm of hard, irreversible consequences. In the last 24 hours, tectonic shifts have unfolded. The screws are tightening, the political climate is thick with anticipation.

The belief that “nothing will happen” is fading, not because of blind optimism, but because the foundation of India’s strategic retaliation is being laid out – meticulously, quietly, and purposefully.

The Strike Will Happen. And When It Does, Pakistan Must Respond – That’s The Design
The Indian response, when it unfolds, will not be symbolic. It will be definitive. The hope, ironically, is that Pakistan does respond militarily, because only then will the layers of India’s strategy begin to show. This is a calculated push-and-escalate game that could very well see India striking not once, but multiple times.

In the first round, India will hit Pakistan’s conventional targets – military installations, terror hubs, or launchpads. The Pakistani Army will retaliate. India will strike again, harder. By the third time, when Indian forces escalate vertically – attacking deeper, striking harder, and pushing Pakistan’s fragile economy to the brink – the fallout will not be confined to the battlefield. It will hit the core of Pakistan’s already bleeding economy: fuel shortages, rising commodity prices, public outrage, dry taps and blackouts, a plummeting stock market, and a civil breakdown. That’s the domino effect India wants. That’s the war Pakistan cannot afford.

When Modi Says “Final Response,” It’s Not Mere Semantics
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that this time India’s response would be final, it was a signal to friends and foes alike: there will be no surgical strike with PR optics. This will be strategic retaliation, designed not to win applause, but to break the spine of Pakistan’s terror infrastructure.

India must remember, and remind the world, that it has endured far too many provocations- Pahalgam being only the latest. The cost of restraint has been steep. This time, restraint should not be on the table.

What About India’s Economy and Markets?
Let’s be clear. India’s stock market is resilient. The size and maturity of the Indian economy- having weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and emerged as the fastest-growing major economy – can absorb short-term geopolitical shocks. Pakistan, on the other hand, stands on the edge of an abyss. With mounting debt, negligible forex reserves, and political instability, Pakistan cannot survive a prolonged conflict or even a short but severe economic disruption.

The Farce Called Hafiz Saeed and Pakistan’s Moral Bankruptcy
Let’s speak plainly: Hafiz Saeed is a terrorist, not just in India’s eyes, but by UN designation. And yet, Pakistan treats him like royalty. Saeed, also known by the local codename “TATA,” lives in Lahore in a private residence-cum-mosque complete with a private park and is guarded by Pakistan’s elite SSG commandos. Two national IDs, state security cover, and public funds – this is what Pakistan offers a man who masterminded terror against another sovereign nation. It’s not just an insult to India, but a slap in the face of global counterterrorism efforts.

Pakistan claims Saeed is in jail. The truth? He’s far from it. He’s comfortably nested in Pakistan’s backyard while innocent lives are targeted across the border. And yet, instead of outrage, the international community mumbles about “restraint.”

India’s Digital Counterstrike and the Hypocrisy of “Peaceful Artists”
India has started taking digital action – blocking Pakistani Twitter handles masquerading as actors, influencers, and sportspersons. But let’s not stop there. Some Indian celebrities too have openly expressed admiration for Pakistan. It’s time to draw a line. Being an Indian public figure comes with responsibility. Sympathy for a terror-supporting nation cannot be brushed off as “art has no boundaries.” Let ED and other agencies ask tough questions. The time for naivety is over.

International Responses and Missed Opportunities
As expected, the US, China, Turkey, and Iran have called for de-escalation. The real tragedy? India’s delay in retaliating allowed this window of “international peace preaching” to open. Had India struck immediately after the Pahalgam attack, there would have been no time for this performative diplomacy. The global playbook always favors first movers. India must stop waiting for permission slips and instead set its own terms of engagement.

Ten Immediate Measures India Must Enforce
—Full-spectrum military retaliation—Land, air, and sea.

—Break diplomatic ties with Pakistan—immediately and unequivocally.

—Zero people-to-people contact—No visas, no exchanges.

—Trade embargo—Complete halt to all business.

—Ultimatum to MNCs—Choose: India or Pakistan.

—ED scrutiny of celebrities doing business with Pakistan.

—Ban all Pakistani media—TV, YouTube, OTT.

—Full blackout of Pakistani presence on Indian social media.

—No sports or cultural engagements—ICC or ICCI, none of it.

—Make monetary remittance to Pakistan a criminal offense.

These are not harsh measures; they are sovereign imperatives. Anything less will be seen as hesitation, and hesitation is the enemy of justice.

Has India Missed Its Strategic Window?
There’s concern that India may have missed its “iron is hot” moment. Indeed, when the intelligence was fresh and the rage palpable, immediate salvos from Pinaka systems (and not outdated Bofors) could have delivered a strong message. Delayed action always dilutes credibility. Pakistan understands this game, and plays it well. It’s time India reclaims the upper hand.

Pakistan’s Power Play – Appointing ISI Chief As NSA
Pakistan, too, is preparing for war, not through diplomacy but espionage. For the first time in its history, a serving ISI Chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik, has been appointed as NSA. This consolidation of intelligence and national security powers signals desperation, not confidence. Pakistan is centralizing its control amid paranoia, because it knows that India’s response, if unleashed fully, can break its back.

Why Pakistan Will Lose
The reason is simple: leadership and Pakistan’s Generals (Military people)

Pakistan is drowning under the weight of corrupt generals, political puppets, and radicalized policies. India, meanwhile, is stable, growing, and united under decisive leadership. Its military is professional. Its diplomacy is precise. Its economy is vibrant. The contrast could not be sharper.

The Last Bit 

India must not blink. Not now. Not again.

This is not about revenge. This is about resetting the deterrent. This is about justice for Pahalgam and every other sin committed by the state machinery of Pakistan under the pretext of plausible deniability.

When a terrorist walks under the protection of a sovereign nation’s elite forces, that nation forfeits its right to diplomatic grace. The time for peace talks is over. The time for action has arrived.