Viewpoint: How India’s response to Pakistan weakens Sharif

As Delhi explores its options to respond to the attack in Uri, which killed 19 soldiers in one of the worst terror attacks in Kashmir in recent years, the Modi government seems to be making a strong case for strategic restraint.

Amidst growing demands, especially from his ruling BJP party’s rank-and-file, for strong action against Pakistan – who India blames for the attack – the Indian prime minister managed to turn attention from incessant warmongering towards long-term challenges facing the region.

Pakistan has strongly denied involvement in the Uri attack.

In his speech to his party cadres, Mr Modi challenged ordinary Pakistani’s to a race on development as opposed to one on military engagement.

“I want to tell the people of Pakistan, India is ready to fight you. If you have the strength, come forward to fight against poverty. Let’s see who wins. Let’s see who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India,” he said.

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Days after India lampooned Pakistan as the “Ivy League” of training centres for terrorists, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj used her speech to the UN General Assembly on Monday night to deliver a stinging rebuttal to Pakistani President Nawaz Sharif.

“Let me state unequivocally that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will always remain so. My firm advice to Pakistan is stop dreaming about Kashmir,” Ms Swaraj said.

Nawaz Sharif, in his earlier address, had paid tribute to Burhan Wani, the separatist militant whose killing triggered the current wave of violence in Kashmir.