Another phenomenon resulting from a terrorist attack is the over-exaggeration of the threat of terrorism. This does not mean that it is inconsequential. Far from it. India had almost 3,700 deaths resulting from terrorist attacks between January 2004 and March 2007, the most in any country other than Iraq. To put this in perspective, HIV/AIDS killed about 300 times the number of people in India and traffic accidents over 150 times. Yet, unsurprisingly, these avoidable casualties receive much less attention than those resulting from terrorism. At the same time, the magnifying media spotlight helps play into the terrorists’ hands.

The seeming inaction of the Indian government, coupled with its decision to go ahead with talks with Pakistan despite the Jaipur blasts and several border firing incidents, may appear to some as signs of weakness. On the other hand, a calculated focus on reaping long-term successes using primarily political means, may in fact be prudent policy on the government’s part. This is especially true in light of attempts by other democratic states in dealing with terrorist threats. In India’s own experience, one need only go back six years, to Operation Parakram in 2002, to see the limits of military force in countering terrorism.

The writer researches US foreign policy towards South Asia in Washington DC