Pakistan, March 15 -- Every day, the country hits a new low. The sad incident involving the hijacking of the Jaffar Express and subsequent actions, including a cleanup operation is the latest in a long list of lows! And, that too, at a scale that hasn't been seen in the past. While it is commendable the way LEAs have handled the operation at a kinetic level, the time for platitudes is over.

I am sure a lot will be written on the subject. The need for a relevant counter-terrorism policy. The need for an associated counter-insurgency policy. The need for not bowing down to terrorists. The need for a quick and deadly response. All fair points - so much so that yours truly had also written along similar lines five years ago particularly stat...