India had already taken non-military action. After decades of confrontation it wants to expand its toolkit in response to what it views as Pakistani-backed terrorism. On April 23rd it suspended the Indus Water Treaty,

The Indian military said early Tuesday it had launched strikes against Pakistan in retaliation for last month’s militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Malik Khadim’s lips tremble, his voice chokes and his head dips as he raises a hand to his grief-stricken face. It’s a vain effort to stem the tears gushing down his gaunt and weatherbeaten cheeks.