Context:

• Kargil War (1999) and Pahalgam attack (2025) are compared to understand how India’s security strategy has evolved, especially in dealing with Pakistan-backed terrorism.
  
  

Main Points:

1. Pahalgam Attack (2025) – Trigger for Review

• April 22, 2025: Terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam, Kashmir, killing 26 civilians.
  
  
• Attack was similar in intensity and surprise to the Kargil intrusion.
  
  
• Indian response: Swift and punitive – bombing terror camps in Pakistan and disabling critical assets like the Nura Khan air base and Kirana Hills missile base.
  
  
• Pahalgam has led India to re-evaluate and strengthen its counterterrorism strategy.
  
  

2. Lessons from Kargil (1999)

• Kargil occurred when India was perceived as a nuclear-weak state, just after it declared nuclear capabilities in 1998.
  
  
• Intelligence lapses were a major issue – both military and civilian agencies failed to detect large-scale Pakistani infiltration.
  
  
• The Kargil Review Committee led to long-term structural reforms:
  
  
  • Creation of National Security Advisor (NSA)
    
    
  • Joint operations among R&AW, IB, and DIA.
    
    
  • Formation of NTRO, NSCS, and JIC.
    
    
  • Revamped military doctrines, including Cold Start Doctrine.
    
    
  • Focus on surveillance, precision weaponry, and network-centric warfare.
    
    

3. Strategic and Technological Changes Since Kargil

• India developed indigenous weapons (e.g., Rafale, Tejas, Akash missiles, BrahMos, Pinaka).
  
  
• More focus on:
  
  
  • Cyber warfare, space-based surveillance, and artillery support.
    
    
  • Joint operations, tri-service integration, and the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
    
    

4. Weaknesses in Counter-Terror Response

• Despite Kargil reforms, India was slow to respond to asymmetric attacks like:
  
  
  • 2001 Parliament attack
    
    
  • 26/11 Mumbai attacks (2008)
    
    
• These events exposed gaps in response speed and deterrence.
  
  

5. India’s Proactive Posture Post-Pulwama (2019)

• Pulwama attack (2019) marked a shift to preemptive strikes:
  
  
  • Balakot air strike destroyed a terror camp inside Pakistan.
    
    
  • Established India’s will to respond to terrorism beyond its borders.
    
    

Conclusion: A New Red Line

• The Pahalgam attack (2025) is being viewed as a new Kargil moment.
  
  
• India’s response shows:
  
  
  • No tolerance for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
    
    
  • A permanent shift in India’s national security doctrine — from reactive to preemptive and punitive
    
    

Message to Pakistan: “No Kargil or Pahalgam again.”