Irrespective of what bravado from New Delhi, the options before India are extremely limited to retaliate the senseless killing of 44 CRPF jawans. While Pakistan has denied its involvement in the carnage
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Exclusive Talk with Geo News in Munich Germany (15.02.19)@SMQureshiPTI @erfaan_aftab #Pakistan 🇵🇰#Germany 🇩🇪 #MSC2019 pic.twitter.com/cZLUQEClgz
— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 16, 2019
India is blaming Islamabad without mincing words.
The Ministry of External Affairs will initiate all diplomatic measures to ensure the global isolation of Pakistan. #Pulwama
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 15, 2019
India will press with the international community to ensure the early adoption at the UN of the ‘Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism’. #Pulwama
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 15, 2019
We salute you, brave sons of Mother India.
You lived for the nation and served the country with unparalleled valour.
We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families. pic.twitter.com/tav2J3hSMI
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2019
The fact is that there are very limited avenues left for India to take up an action.
Surgical Strike
Surgical strike, or any sort of commando raid is not carried out after formally announcing it. Pakistani forces are in a state of readiness and are expecting it. The assets that India will like to take out will precisely will be the one  that would be given best possible cover by Pakistan. Masood Azhar, for one, has had best of protection and it can only be expected to be increased.
Cruise Missile Attacks
While Bramhos , fired from Sukhoi 30 MKI can get the job done with relative ease (Assuming a local asset has provided the target), collateral damages may spark a wider war between Nuclear armed neighbours. Also nothing stops Pakistan retaliating with a a few Babur Missiles on advance Indian bases and oil refineries in western sector.
Covert Operations
Both Indian and Pakistani Intelligence generally don’t have direct covert actions in each other’s domain. The reason is ironical. Both the agencies know that they are heavily infiltrated by other. This is any one of the reason that attacks on Indian soil are carried out by ‘outsourced’ militants.
Trade barriers
India already has limited trade with Pakistan. The only country which can force Pakistan to listen to reason is China, and Beijing has no reason to attend Indian requests. With US’s own servicemen loosing life to Pakistani supported Taliban, there is little that Washington can deliver
Indus River
Diverting sizable amount of Indus waters, in violation of Indus Water Treaty is another step that India can take. But this can rally Pakistan to declare war on India even before an attempt to the effect is made. Indus is lifeline of Pakistan and every drop of it will matter to the country
Naval Embargo
Once again, Pakistani Navy is strong enough to avoid any such embargo near its ports. While blue water shipping can be disrupted, Pakistan will not be kneeling unless its oil supplies are effected.
In effect there is no scenario, short of a deceleration of war, that help India retaliate for Pulwama attacks. Modi has his job cut out for him, and is he delays, might be for the next PM of India
