Indian state created a strong media in India in the name of freedom of expression and started using it as an effective tool, in the name of Indian public opinion, to further its national interests. Thus, successive Indian governments have used it by claiming how their hands were tied by the Indian public opinion. Even more, Indian media would routinely taunt, troll, and disgrace the domestic leaders and even foreign dignitaries who publicly showed their differences or questioned certain Indian state policies. More than that, it started promoting the Hindu fanaticism and dictating the state policies. Now this media has turned into a monster. As a result, Indian state appears to be merely a slave of the monster that is its own creation.
Regardless of if the Pahalgam attack was a false flag operation or a real attack by the Kashmiri freedom fighters, Modi, it looks like, has been caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Given the 'Indian public opinion', he has to act hard against Pakistan. Yesterday’s announcement of certain retaliatory measures against Pakistan is not going to cool down the Indian monster media. It certainly is demanding a bigger action against Pakistan such as an air strike on targets in Pakistan, liberation of Azad Kashmir, or ground invasion of Pakistan.
If Modi decides in favor of a misadventure against Pakistan or Azad Kashmir, he faces a possible humiliation in the hands of Pak military because any attempt to browbeat Pakistan will be responded strongly and, unlike the case in Feb 2019, the Pakistani response will not be proportional or constrained. There is no coward Bajwa-IK duo sitting at helm this time in Pakistan.
On the other hand, if Modi decides not to oblige the 'Indian public opinion' and stays content with the retaliatory steps announced yesterday, India will see a rising tide of attacks by the freedom fighters on its military in the Indian occupied J&K. The resistance movements learn from each other the world over. Kashmiri freedom fighters have seen how other movements have blunted much superior militaries and Indian military in comparison is obsolete.