It's no point blaming Pakistan. Pakistan or Pakistani elements (the same thing) did whatever they wanted to do. We need to decide our own course of action as a sovereign and independent nation.
We need to work on all three fronts - improving security mechanism in India (Precaution), improving post crisis situation (Cure), and eliminating sources of terrorism (Prevention). It is just like what a patient requires from a doctor -
1. Precaution - just like a doctor will say take medicine and vaccine, wear full clothes, stay healthy; we need to improve the arms, training and number of security personnel - from police to army to NSG. We need to divert focus from VIPs to common man. We need to have better intelligence. We need to considerably improve our technological edge. And we need to eliminate sources of funding and support from within India. Staying healthy is not inexpensive, but it’s an investment for a better future.
2. Cure - just like doctor will give medicine/ injection after investigation, we need better preparedness to tackle post crisis situation. We need to have better armed and trained commandos across India; the local police should be ready with new weapons and training. Why can’t we train 100 police in each of the top 25 cities in India in basic commando operations? All high profile places should have high level security at all times, till this terrorism menace is finished.
3. Prevention – Suppose you take medicines, wear full clothes, apply ointments etc., but keep standing near garbage or a pond infected with germs carrying mosquitoes, I would be surprised if you don’t fall ill – it would just be a matter of time before you do. Similarly, it is very important to eliminate the source of terrorism – just precaution and cure wont help. We need to finish terrorists hiding in their moles in Pakistan. No one wants war, and we should also try to avoid war. We should just conduct secret commando operations within Pakistan. If 10 Paki terrorists can kill 200 people, I am sure 100 Indian commandos can finish moiré than 2000 such terrorists. That is the real answer. Why can’t we have such commando operations in 10 such terror camps in Pakistan?
One more aspect – there are 4 centres of power within Pakistan.
First, the civilian government which has nominal power and most of it in social/ economic areas.
Second is the senior leaders of Pakistani army and ISI, who really call the shots.
Third are the elements with Pakistani army and ISI, who also initiate/ further many actions on their own.
Fourth are the Islamist extremist organizations, who dictate religious beliefs. The problem is all these have two core beliefs:
1. Radical and Extreme Islam
2. Anti Indiaism
Both feed onto each other as first belief cannot stand a unified, secular, progressive India.
Now, even the US can influence just two of these (Civilian Government and the Army top brass). First even these two will be unwilling. Even if convinced/ forced for some time, the other two will chart their course of terror. Getting rid of these two core beliefs will put their existence in question.. Hence, dialogue with Pakistan will be fruitless till the time we finish the third and fourth elements in Pakistan.
In addition, short term US and Indian interests are different, and US has always been blind to long term benefits (No wonder to see what has happened on Wall Street).
Therefore, there is only course of action secret commando operations deep in Pakistan against the rogue elements and terrorist camps, over a period of time. India too can have a large number of fiyadeen commandos!!