An opportunity may have got created to review the whole gamut of Af-Pak from a newer perspective. The drone attacks became inevitable primarily because Pakistan segmented terror setups into three kinds. Those who tried to capture power in Pakistan were dealt with ruthlessly, while the networks on the Afghan front were tolerated, while the outfits on India front actively encouraged.

India, in order to avoid escalation, prioritize economic development, and create grounds for long term solutions, has wisely chosen defensive measures like improving the social fabric in the subcontinent to ward off threats; US opted for counter-offensive via drone attacks. India engaged with civil leadership in Pakistan while the dialogue of US was mostly with Pakistan defense establishment.

The inability to perceive the historical bonds and cultural milieu which so strongly knits the SAARC region far more than the Silk route nations West and North of Afghanistan is startling. This led to a defective formulation of isolating Af-Pak region for direct intervention; while also inviting China to invest in those areas, particularly in Afghanistan where mega investments is reported being made by them in Copper mines.

Once it is recognized that terror infrastructure suits Chinese strategic interests, and their investment into military-cum-terror establishment of Pakistan continues to rise in support of such rationale, there can be real movement in attenuation of terror.

The eventual remedy is to facilitate cultural and economic integration of the two nations with all others in the region extending from Turkey to India.