“We are also victims of terror” is a common rant of Pakistan’s leaders and analysts. But after 26/11, the capture of Kasab, it was no longer possible for then to deny Pakistan's involvement in the Mumbai attacks on 26/11. Initially they agreed with India by saying that only a part of the controversy was hatched in Pakistan. They also captured two of members LeT, but since then the trail has gone cold.

In March 2009, Pervez Musharraf came to India on invitation from India Today. He left India by saying “Solve Kashmir or there will be more Kargils”. Now, was that a suggestion to India or a threat? That can be interpreted as ‘Pakistan will react militarily if you try to take out any terror camps in Pakistan and the Kashmir under its control by carrying out surgical strikes.’

The recent terror attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the Police Training Centre in Lahore are fresh in the minds of all. Unfortunately, some of us in India believe that the fact that terror attacks are taking place both in India and Pakistan means that both India and Pakistan are now equal victims of jihadi terrorists and therefore have to fight this war together. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Unless this is understood clearly, we will continue to make errors of judgment and will nor be able to develop a coherent response without which the scourge of terrorism in India cannot be defeated.

India and Pakistan are not victims of the same terror.