The Cost of War

The attack on Indian soil in Pahalgam was not merely an act of terror—it was an assault on the
conscience of a nation. When innocents are butchered in cold blood, the cry for justice is not only
natural, it is national. In moments like these, when grief gives way to fury, the collective instinct is
to strike back—with force, with might, with a vengeance that leaves no doubt about the cost of
provocation.
Let there be no ambiguity: Pakistan, in its habitual duplicity, has for decades harboured the
infrastructure of terror. It nurtures proxy militias, exports radicalism, and pretends innocence
under the thin veil of plausible deniability. The world has seen through it. India has lived it. And
this time, there is a resolute demand from every quarter—from the common man to the Prime
Minister—that this cycle must end, and perpetrators must pay.
But in the pursuit of justice, it is vital that we examine—calmly, deeply, and patriotically—the cost
of war.
War is not a video game. It is not a campaign slogan. It is a fire that consumes indiscriminately. It
burns borders, but it also scorches homes. It sends soldiers to defend our flag, but it also sends
mothers into mourning. The idea that war is a swift solution is often preached by those far
removed from its consequences.
India is a rising economic superpower, a nation whose strength lies not only in its armed forces
but in its ability to build, innovate, and inspire. A full-scale war, even if morally justified, would
bring with it profound economic consequences. The stock markets, ever sensitive to geopolitical
uncertainty, would plunge into volatility. Investor confidence, both foreign and domestic, would be
shaken. The rupee would weaken. Trade routes would tighten. Oil prices could spike, triggering
inflation that touches every household.
Industries from aviation to agriculture would be disrupted. Our thriving services sector could face
layoffs. Infrastructure projects might slow. For a nation that is aiming to hit a $5 trillion economy,
the drag created by prolonged hostilities could cost us not only billions of dollars a day, but years
of progress.
And yet, this is not an argument for inaction. It is an argument for intelligent, surgical, unrelenting
response—not emotional chest-thumping. The nation does not seek restraint out of fear, but
precision out of strength. Punishment is not only necessary—it is inevitable. But we must be
careful not to let rage dictate recklessness. Strategic retaliation, covert operations, diplomatic
isolation, economic pressure—all these tools are within our sovereign right and capability. It is
time to use them with clarity and conviction.
A war, once unleashed, rarely follows a script. It opens floodgates that are not easily shut. Aerial
strikes may lead to counterstrikes. Borders may light up. Civilians may get caught in the crossfire.
Every tank that rolls forward is fuel away from hospitals. Every aircraft scrambled is money pulled
from classrooms. National security must never be compromised—but neither must we allow terror
to bait us into self-damage.
There is also a generational dimension to consider. India’s youth are building startups, filing
patents, making art, shaping science. Do we wish to redirect this demographic dividend into
trenches? Do we wish to replace laptops with rifles and ambition with anxiety?
We are, above all, a nation of “dharma”—of righteous action. The soul of India does not cower,
but neither does it crave destruction. We have taught the world the power of nonviolence and the
strength of silence. But we have also responded when provoked, as we did in Balakot. That
balance—of principle and power—is what makes us truly great.
Pakistan must be held accountable. There can be no talks under the shadow of blood. The
architects of terrorism must be hunted down, and the world must be made to see, yet again, what
it means to provoke the patience of India. But let the response be ours—defined not by anger, but
by resolve.
True patriotism lies in protecting not only our borders but our future. The cost of war is not just
what we pay today—it is what we lose tomorrow.