THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 30, 2016- Topic 1
After running through a
variety of non-military responses to the September 18 terrorist strike at an Army camp in Uri, the Centre on
Thursday announced that Indian forces had carried out “surgical strikes” across
the Line of Control. With this, India’s next steps, post-Uri, are in uncharted
terrain, with New Delhi abandoning the self-proclaimed policy of “strategic
restraint” adopted in the face of earlier provocations by terrorists believed
to be backed by Pakistan. The operation, that began and concluded in the early
hours of Thursday, was claimed to be a military success, with no injuries to
the Indian para-commandos who went across the LoC into Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir to attack several locations. The decision to strike in this manner was
evidently taken after specific intelligence that terrorist groups were planning
attacks in India. This may not be the first time India has undertaken quick
cross-LoC operations, but it has never before chosen to share information so
publicly.
The terms “surgical strike”
and “pre-emptive strike” used by the Centre were intended to convey that this
was not an attack on Pakistan’s defence forces, but a targeted action against terrorists
poised to wreak damage in India. Pakistan of course has played down the Indian
operation, characterising it as an act of habitual cross-border shelling. It is
welcome that New Delhi declared the strikes complete shortly after the
operation, with the DGMO calling his Pakistani counterpart to convey that India
would not escalate the conflict beyond this. This, along with the briefings
held in New Delhi for envoys of various countries, indicates that the Centre
wants to end hostilities with Pakistan for the moment. This strengthens the
view that the operation was the result of pressure on the Modi government to
manufacture a strong response to Uri. Over the past few days there has been a
cascade of moves to underline that such provocations cannot be followed with
business as usual. The government reviewed the working of the Indus Waters
Treaty, declared it is flirting with the idea of reviewing Pakistan’s Most
Favoured Nation status, and pulled out of the SAARC heads’ meet to be held in
Islamabad. Having made it known that India does not want further escalation,
even as people living along the International Border and the LoC are shifted to
safer locations, the Centre will need to articulate what it regards as the new
normal — and indeed, how it hopes, or plans, to dissuade Pakistan from
escalating the situation in turn.
Vocabulary
Uncharted: of an area of land or sea not mapped
or surveyed.
Example: An uncharted region of space
Synonyms: unexplored, undiscovered, unmapped, untraveled, unfamiliar, untrodden
Self-Proclaimed: described as or proclaimed to be such by oneself, without endorsement by
others.
Example: Exercise books written by self-proclaimed experts
Restraint: unemotional, dispassionate, or moderate behavior; self-control.
Example: He urged the protesters to exercise restraint
Synonyms: self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline, moderation, prudence,
Control
Provocations: action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially
deliberately.
Example: You should remain calm and not respond to provocation
Synonyms: goading, prodding, egging on, incitement, pressure
Evidently: plainly or obviously; in a way that is clearly seen or understood.
Example: A work so evidently laden with significance
Synonyms: obviously, clearly, plainly, visibly, manifestly, patently, distinctly
Poised: be or cause to be balanced or suspended.
Example: He poised motionless on his toes
Synonyms: balance, hold (oneself) steady, be suspended
Wreak: cause a large amount of damage or harm
Example: Torrential rainstorms wreaked havoc yesterday
Synonyms: inflict, bestow, mete out, administer, deliver, impose
Shelling: bombard with shells.
Example: The guns started shelling their positions
Synonyms: bombard, fire on, shoot at, attack, bomb
Flirting: behave as though attracted to or trying to attract someone, but for
amusement rather than with serious intentions.
Example: It amused him to flirt with her
Synonyms: trifle with, toy with, tease, lead
on
Articulate: of a person or a person's words having
or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
Example: An articulate account of their experiences
Synonyms: eloquent, fluent, effective, persuasive, lucid, expressive, silver-tongued
Dissuade: persuade someone not to take a particular course of action.
Example: His friends tried to dissuade him from flying
Synonyms: discourage from, deter
from, prevent from, divert from