Whenever there is a significant terrorist attack or other such outrage on India, the Indian political leadership comes out and makes strong statements that these things cannot go on and that Pakistan will pay for it. Pakistan on the other hand is almost certain that there will be no major response from India because of the Indian fears of escalation. This has been evident already in yesterday’s case when it was stated that there would be proportionate response to Pakistan’s gruesome act, which appears to be another indication that India is still afraid of escalating the situation. On the other hand, the Indian Army Chief of Staff General Rawat in the beginning of the year stated, “We have done one surgical strike in PoK. But if we have to do something again, we will do it in a different manner and different style.” This would suggest that the Indian military was gearing for a bigger, militarily escalatory response on Pakistan. It is unclear if this was just a one-off statement or whether they have actually planned for such steps. If so, then statements about proportionate response yesterday are clearly contradictory, and represents a step backwards. Only time will tell which of these will accurately reflect the Indian response, whether it will be escalatory, as the COAS promised or proportionate as was suggested yesterday. Indian leadership, military and political, has got to recognize that proportional response will not stop Pakistan from engaging in cross-border terrorism.