Pakistan, Oct. 21 -- India's appetite for military adventurism appears undiminished by the lessons of May 2025. On October 15, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh threatened an even stronger response to any future terrorist attack originating from Pakistan. Two days earlier, Pakistan's National Command Authority adviser, retired Lt Gen Mazhar Jamil, had warned at a London security forum that New Delhi's military doctrines betrayed a poor grasp of nuclear realities. His remarks, made public this week, put a finger on the conceit driving India's military calculations: New Delhi believes it can throw the first punch and still call the shots thereafter.

Under the Modi government, sabre-rattling has become something of a national pastime. Punitive...