... Unfortunately, successive Indian governments have tended to treat this proxy war as a law and order problem in which the army merely extends 'aid to the civil power'. The unified command in Kashmir is not a truly integrated command appropriate to fight the Pakistani plan. Upgrading and equipping the paramilitary forces to take on the responsibility of fighting the proxy war – with the army providing back up support - has not so far been tried.

Only ... on January 17 has a move in this direction been made ... (but) decisions do not meet the requirements of the situation. What is needed in Kashmir is a totally unified command, under an army general, with all forces totally integrated and intelligence performing an operational role as part of the counter-proxy war campaign under that command ... The decisions are merely improvisations and fall far short of a total rethinking on the most effective command structure and force composition ... The Government must also (do) some fresh thinking on the political front ... If it is interested in a permanent solution, the Centre must take the lead in liberating Kashmir from the clutches of dynastic politics.

It should also assume the responsibility of reviving a normal political process, not excluding the release of some of the imprisoned dissident leaders.