In the last few days, war-like rhetoric on both sides from highly-placed civil and military officials have assumed alarming proportions. Pakistan has been brandishing ‘nuclear deterrent’ while on our side, no less a person than the Army Chief has spoken of ‘short wars’. As one who has been a witness to all the India-Pakistan conflicts from 1947 onwards, I want to sound a note of caution. With enhanced technological capacity on both sides, any war, howsoever short, will have disastrous consequences. Apart from our brave security forces, the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab will face the brunt as it has invariably happened in the past. While fully safeguarding national security, I do not see why we should not talk with Pakistan on all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir. They are in adverse possession of half of my father’s former State, and I fail to understand, why we are always on the defensive in discussing this. But for this to happen, the sanctity of the line of Control and the International Border needs to be re-established and peace be restored.