I agree with you, and perhaps I should have been more specific in my statement. (As you correctly said this topic needs a separate thread,)
There is a significant constraint on our armed forces depending on the situation.
A preemptive strike on an enemy repositioning to a tactically threatening location, would not be initiated before completely weighing the costs to collateral damage.
I was referring to the usual cross border exchange where a retaliation is necessary to silence the enemy artillery ( located in a civilian pocket) which is targeting
our civilians. Then our field officers choose to protect our civilians, and pulverize the enemy knowing that there would be civilian losses on the other side. It's a painful but necessary choice. The first priority is protection of
our civilians by destroying the enemy's ability to harm them. There is no logic in letting our civilians die simply because we can't stop the enemy artillery. For the enemy the loss of personnel is a humiliating reminder that there are consequences to their actions.
Am eagerly awaiting your response on whether Pakistan should really care for Indian Muslim sentiments.
Also if you would comment on my response to
@PAKISTANFOREVER on whether Indian Muslims hate Pakistan.