India, Sept. 13 -- Let us appreciate that any tactical flashpoint by soldiers on the frontline can have strategic repercussions.

These are testing times. While talks between foreign ministers offer hope, yet two nuclear nations are facing each other with their conventional armed forces across an unresolved border, have already had a few stand-offs, some casualties, have had shots being fired, and held several rounds of talks to resolve the impasse, without much success and counting. In such times, the military and the leadership must take their decisions with utmost care, caution and maturity. All organs of the government and all instruments of power of the country need to be synergized. And the nation must rise as one in such times of ...