Sincerity in Omar’s remarks

Apropos of ‘J&K stands united’; there was something different in the way J&K CM Omar Abdullah spoke in the Assembly. It was full of gravitas — measured and emotional. It was anything but political. Not many CMs have the guts to openly admit that they have failed; he appeared sincere in his remarks. The Kashmiri people have also expressed unprecedented spontaneous outrage. But it cannot be ignored that some locals did function as a support system for the terrorists during their stay in Pahalgam before the massacre.

Bal Govind, Noida

Rare political integrity

Refer to ‘J&K stands united’; Omar Abdullah’s unequivocal condemnation of the Pahalgam massacre and his candid admission of failure in tourist safety reflect rare political integrity. His assertion that he has no moral right to demand statehood amid such tragic circumstances is commendable and sets a high standard of accountability. In a region scarred by decades of violence, his resolve to foster peace and communal harmony rather than politicise the tragedy deserves appreciation. This principled stand must be acknowledged and supported by both the Centre and the public.

Balbir Singh Kakkar, Jalandhar

Paradigm shift in warfare

Refer to ‘Drones are changing war and India must catch up’; warfare in the 21st century is undergoing two major changes. First, armies confront each other not only on the battlefield. Instead, wars are fought by states against non-state actors with no clear battlefield, no clear distinction between combatants and non-combatants and no clear idea of what victory might mean. Second, weaponry is becoming increasingly mechanical and technologically advanced. These changes are inter-connected as drones and other automated devices are becoming the main tools of warfare. The increasing use of drones signifies a paradigm shift in warfare. For India, this transition is not just a necessity but an opportunity to leapfrog into the future of combat and stay ahead in this transformation.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Will demolitions help?

After the deadly attack in Pahalgam, a disturbing shift has taken place in Kashmir. The authorities have demolished the houses of local suspects by using explosives — a method associated with Israeli forces in Gaza. But these demolitions are not limited to the homes of suspects. In several cases, powerful blasts have destroyed more than a dozen surrounding houses belonging to ordinary citizens. Families with no connection to the suspects are now homeless, silenced by fear, with nowhere to go. It may scar their lives forever.

Abrar Fayaz, by mail

A treat to watch Suryavanshi

It was a very natural response when Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid rose from his wheelchair to applaud 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who carved a niche for himself in IPL history by becoming the youngest centurion. Kudos to Dravid for identifying and mentoring this young player. Vaibhav blazed his way to a century in just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium. It was a treat to watch the ‘child’ prodigy, who is superbly talented and fearless. Many would have succumbed to performance pressure but he was an absolute picture of calm and composure.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

Lot to learn from youngsters

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s century in just 35 balls was a masterclass, reminiscent of another great left-hand batsman, Yuvraj Singh. His consistency was impressive: the first fifty was scored in 17 balls and the second in 18 balls. There is a lot to learn from these boys. His example should be followed by professionals. The ability to be disciplined and determined with immaculate planning and execution can help one overcome any difficult task. Suryavanshi’s knock will remain etched in the hearts of Rajasthan Royals fans for many years, even though the team has struggled in the ongoing season.

Vasanth Kumar, Bengaluru

Letters to the Editor