‘Troops should stay till J-K goes to polls’

The deployment, observed Rasgotra, is more of a drain on Pakistan than on us. ‘‘We can live with the operational costs and the morale of our men is high, but Pakistan is bleeding,’’ he said. The long deployment, he declared, had proved fruitful by shifting the world opinion firmly in our favour.

Air Vice Marshal Kak too advocated status quo on the border for at least 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, the send-a-card-to-soldiers drive launched by The Indian Express here met with an overwhelming response. People of all ages poured their hearts out on paper.

There were pats on the back, good wishes and words of inspiration aplenty — all for the soldiers. And many used the opportunity to vent their ire against Pakistan. Mrinal of Sector 11, Panchkula, said she had just one request to make: ‘‘Shoot those Pakistani soldiers.’’ And though the messages differed in content and language, they all carried one message: “We care”.