Given the fragility of ISAF’s southern lines of communication passing through Pakistan, India could consider offering a passage through its territory as a meaningful alternative.

An absence of legal statutes in the insurgency affected areas would adversely affect the utility and efficacy of the security capacity of the state.

Air presence is a critical factor in counterinsurgency operations as it provides a high level of dominance and control over the situation.

The hard lesson of Chintalnar is that the police are simply not investing enough in their frontline leadership and training to tackle the situation. Even when attempts have been made to bring in competence, the efforts to acquire required counterinsurgency skills have been marginal.

Commanders and troops must understand that they are operating in a No Win situation and their overall aim will always remain achievement of a more perfect peace.