The temporary coagulation of political unity soon after the Indian army conducted surgical strikes in Pakistan has fractured. The two sides of the political coin are now locked in a sterile debate over the existence of the videos of the army’s strikes. This is symptomatic of the political leadership mixing up the means with the ends. The continuing slugfest over releasing the tapes hardly promises what the social media and ruling party politicians have primed the citizenry to expect — a teeth-grinding fight to the finish with Pakistan over terrorism. An alternative narrative suggests that the four-hour operation has chastened Pakistan into dumping terrorism as a geopolitical tool.Pakistan withstood 15 years of American diplomatic pressure and drone killings of top Taliban leaders. And now Kabul has been forced to accommodate the “butcher of Kabul” and ISI asset Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Mercifully, the attack on the army camp in Baramula was unsuccessful. What if militants strike again with a large body count as in Uri? A repeat of the cross-border raid is ruled out. The only option for the government to hang on to its aura of machismo and sustain public expectations may be a full-blown war. Are we ready to pay the ensuing consequences of domestic economic distress and international isolation?  Talking of war, there are lakhs of inconvenienced civilians on Pakistan’s border with Punjab and J&K. The political accord between the Akali Dal, the Congress and AAP has dissipated amidst questioning about the purpose of their dislocation. Having taken a leap in the unknown, the onus is on the Modi Government to land on its feet. For this, the government needs an alternative plan to retain public support. If the Modi government opts for talks, it would begin to look like a soaped-up version of the Manmohan Singh government. The only difference was the UPA undertook covert cross-border forays that set the stage for dialogue while this government banks on over-the-top media exposure. Meanwhile, the nation stands diverted while both sides succumb to the lure of extracting political mileage.