This refers to the editorial, “No surrender” (May 18). Unilateral ceasefire is a sensitive move on the part of the Governemnt. It is, therefore, bound to invite plaudits and brickbats in equal measure. Though the Government should have meticulously weighed all options, keeping in mind the failed experiment of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime, before arriving at the decision. Never before has the Indian Army established such a firm grip over terror perpetrators as it has done today. Attacks and counter-attacks may push the civilians in the line of fire and that's what the Centre aims to avoid. Isolation of terrorists during the one-month will unequivocally determine the intentions of the terrorists apart from sending a subtle message to the peace-loving people.
The Government's announcement comes with an unambiguous caveat that unprovoked attack will be met with strong retribution and that is how it should be. The terror network may or may not use the ‘truce period’ to clandestinely regroup and restrategise, but the Indian Army should spruce-up its intelligence gathering capacity and augment its long-term plans with an eye on the future. Army's Cordon and Destroy Operations (CADO) and Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) may have temporarily been suspended, but the eagle's eye on the enemy's nefarious design cannot waver an inch.