Why Did The Congress Government Not Retaliate Against The 26/11 Attacks In 2008, As Narendra Modi Did Against The Pulwama Attack In February 2019? Was There Any Political Idea Behind It?

The Pulwama attack that took place on the fourteenth of February, 2019 had a huge impact on the minds of the citizens of India. It could be felt that this was an exact repetition of aggression and call for blood. It was a declaration that Pakistan felt that India was far too cowardly to ever retaliate against any attacks that they launch. This mindset had come about because of recent news and it could be seen that many countries felt this way.

At this moment, when India was being assumed to be a coward, and its government weak, Narendra Modi ordered the retaliation, an ‘air-strike’.

It was a clear message for everyone who had ever doubted that the country was wear and afraid of taking revenge for its fallen.

‘We stay quiet out of choice. Don’t take this to mean that we are afraid of you. We are just merciful.’

It was a declaration that India wasn’t going to stay quiet the next time someone went against it.

Because of this, I feel like much of the political intent behind the launching of the airstrike was only that, a message for the world to see.

But this brought up the question that if the country was so well-versed to attack and retaliate, why did it not do so?

Particularly, in my opinion, the attacks of 26/11 were first of all, unexpected and second of all, crippling. Also, it was quite easy to see at that time that the attacks on Mumbai were a deliberate provocation. Falling for that would have meant another crippling loss of life and the death of military personnel for the country.

While this is just what I think, for I am adamant that politics is a field I would never be able to understand, this is what I have felt while trying to answer this question. I think the facts and behaviors expressed by the terrorist group that pulled off the 26/11 attacks and the handlers and higher-ups who arranged the attacks were awaiting an attack, for whatever reason. There was some meaning behind their deliberate provoking, but for the life of me, I cannot glimpse even slightly what it could have been.