Since 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge, his behaviour with Pakistan has been mature and convincing to any neutral party, the domestic audience and international players.

On December 25, 2015, Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore on his return trip from Afghanistan to meet Nawaz Sharif – an unprecedented diplomatic gesture in those days. He also asserted the strong and trusting relations between the two nations and advocated for regional peace and prosperity.

Just one week after Modi’s visit to Lahore, on January 2, 2016, India witnessed the Pathankot Airbase attack. Pakistan played a double game and requested an independent inquiry. Modi gave them a chance and formed an independent inquiry into the attack. India submitted proof to Pakistan, and Pakistan threw it in the dustbin.

After seeing no response from India for the 2001 Parliament attack and 2008 Mumbai attacks, Pakistan and its affiliated terror groups thought that Modi’s government was also similar to the earlier governments and he wouldn’t retaliate against them. After eight months, in September 2016, the same Pakistani-affiliated terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), attacked the Indian Army, and 19 Indian soldiers were martyred in that attack.

With this attack, the Modi’s government stance became tough with Pakistan. Ten days after the attack, the Indian Army crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and conducted retaliatory surgical strikes on terrorist launch pads. It was the........

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