Pulwama attack—India’s black day

On 14th February 2019, six years ago, a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force was attacked by a suicide bomber in Pulwama, Jammu, leading to the tragic loss of the lives of 40 brave Indian soldiers. The country faced one of the deadliest terror attacks in 2019, marking this day as the black day in Indian history. The incident created worldwide rage and a storm against terrorism, and India has since then continuously worked on anti-terrorism campaigns to eradicate it from the Indian subcontinent. The terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed took responsibility for the attack.In response to the deadly terror attack, The Indian Air Force launched a retaliatory attack, “The Balakot air strike,” on 26 February 2019 and destroyed terrorist camps in Balakot, Pakistan.On the 6th anniversary of Black Day, various prominent leaders paid their tribute to the martyrs. PM Narendra Modi, who is on his two-day visit to Washington. DC took to X to express his honor and gratitude to the brave soldiers and their unwavering determination to protect the nation. He said, “Homage to the courageous heroes we lost in Pulwama in 2019. The coming generations will never forget their sacrifice and their unwavering dedication to the nation.”.Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri paid tribute to the brave soldiers on Pulwama Day. “Acts of terror take away the most fundamental human right—the right to life. I join the nation in paying homage to the valor of our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the dastardly Pulwama terror attack. Their courage & duty towards the nation will continue to inspire generations to come. Jai Hind,” he posted on X on the black day.The Pulwama attack is a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by the gallant heroes and a call to remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism.True to life, in a conversation with Rukmini Sen, professor of history at Ambedkar University, paid tribute to the martyrs. Rukmini mentioned that the incident will be carried down to the history books, just as the partition and Kargil war were, and upcoming generations should learn from the bravery of these heroes who dedicated and sacrificed their lives for the nation. She wishes that the incident keeps the flame of unwavering dedication to the nation burning in the hearts of Indians.India is one of the most powerful nations in Asia and an emerging nation in the world. It is the fourth most powerful military in the world, with a well-equipped army, a strong air force, and a rapidly modernizing navy, which puts India with a strong defense system on the global stage.However, in spite of the strong defense system of India, terrorism, northeastern state insurgency, money laundering, and internal disturbance have been a part and parcel of India’s history. As such, it needs to divert its policies towards enhancement of its intel to take timely steps and avoid any insurgencies or internal disturbances. It should also partner with developed nations like the US to develop its intelligence technologies, counter terror funding, and put a permanent break on separatist tendencies that fuel violence.The country has a long way to go, and to emerge as a developing country, India needs to balance its defense strength with enhanced intel capacity to fight terror and protect the nation.