As the news of surgical strikes by India against Pakistan was
abuzz, the hues of response varied from elation, surprise and suspicion. For
all those, who undermined the Indian leadership and military capabilities this is
a formidable lump in the throat. Details apart, the surgical strikes carried
out by the Northern Command were much needed to infuse confidence, sense of
pride and respect for valor. The massive causalities inflicted by terrorists
during the Uri attacks had not only exposed chinks in India’s armor but greatly
dented morale of the armed personnel. Indian public too felt infuriated as
Indian government had in no clear terms called for an instantaneous response.
Having borne the brunt of brutal terrorist attacks Indian public felt cheated
when the party which vociferously denounced every act of Pakistan in opposition
failed to deliver instantaneous justice. Though the DGMO Lt. Gen. Ranabir Singh
asserted that “We will avenge the
killings of our soldiers, but we will do so on cold-blooded professionally
military assessment, and on a timeline of our choosing, not one dictated by
political imperatives or the prime-time news cycle” people hardly found any
respite.
In the meanwhile, Indian leadership critically evaluated
plausible options to inflict damage to Pakistan on a long term. India finally
harped on a multi-pronged approach to rein upon the brazen terror attacks. A
range of diplomatic, political and economic assaults were considered. On diplomatic
front, exercising right to reply India lacerated Sharif’s claims at UN word by
word by saying that “the Land of Taxila,
one of the greatest centers of ancient learning is now host to Ivy League of
terrorism. It attracts aspirants and apprentices from all over the World”.
India added that Pakistan had a “long
standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread
well beyond our region.” The first secretary Eenam Gambhir added that
Pakistan “channelizes billions of
dollars, much of it is diverted from international aid, to training, financing
and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against its neighbors”.
This coincided with US Senators Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher tabling a bill in
Congress designating Pakistan as terror state. Simultaneously Indian Americans
launched an online White House petition seeking the declaration of Pakistan as
terrorist state gained tremendous response. The petition which promises action
on local, state or international problems if the campaign receives 100,000
signatures. Before its official deadline of Oct 21st the target was
reached. Now the White House is forced to respond to it within 60 days.
Besides, India openly snubbed Pakistan and decided not to attend the SAARC
Summit at Islamabad. Fresh from the humiliating reception extended to Rajnath
Singh when he attended the Interior Affairs Ministers Meeting of SAARC, Finance
Minister refrained from participating in SAARC Finance Ministers meet.
Continuing the precedent, Prime Minister will abstain from SAARC. With India’s
position actively backed by Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan the process of
the regional isolation of Pakistan has officially begun. While experts
questioned the relevance owing to SAARC’s miniscule clout internationally,
India religiously followed the agenda of diplomatic isolation irrespective of
the outcomes. Interestingly, after the surgical strikes even Sri Lanka,
Maldives and Nepal expressed their reservations about SAARC. Consequently,
Islamabad was forced to take a call. Pakistan announced that SAARC meeting
stands cancelled indefinitely. With this, Indian efforts of diplomatic
isolation in the region has reached a new hilt.
To turn on the heat, India began reviewing the historical
Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) brokered by World Bank in 1960. While India initially
contemplated on scrapping IWT, it was perceived to be counterproductive. Instead
India is considering three ways to use provisions of treaty to its
advantage-firstly, suspension of meeting of Permanent Indus Commission so that
grievance redressal mechanism is halted and Pakistan would meet a dead end,
secondly restarting the Tulbul Project ( Pakistan calls it Wullar Bridge),
India suspended the construction across Jhelum river in 1987 following
objections from Pakistan, thirdly an inter-ministerial task force would be set
up to monitor the water usage from Western Rivers-Ravi, Beas, Sutlej. India is
considering on maximizing the use of waters from rivers governed by
Pakistan-Jhelum, Chenab and Indus. While the repercussions may not be
spontaneous desired effect will be felt within a span of 5-10 years. Finally,
India is now seriously reconsidering the Most Favored Nation (MFN) status
accorded by it in 1996 under the GATT where country grants a special favor like
lower custom duty. But Pakistan hasn’t reciprocated citing non-tariff barriers
and huge trade imbalance. Modi government is now critically reviewing all these
aspects on a war-footing basis. Since perceptible outcomes are not immediate,
Indian public failed to comprehend and appreciate the endeavors of NDA
government.
The astounding success of the surgical strikes can be
attributed to the element of the surprise. India took a measured approach and
carefully executed it actions with diligence. India waited for Sushma Swaraj to
deliver her address at the UN before carrying out surgical strikes and
carefully used the international platform to expose Pakistan’s role as sponsor
of terror state and the atrocities perpetrated by it in Baluchistan. Even Prime
Minister Modi in his back to back address after Uri attacks refrained from
mentioning about surgical strikes. Intellectuals hurried to construe that Modi’s
speech at National Council meeting of BJP, Kozikhode reflected strategic
restraint. His attempts to draw parallels between India and Pakistan in terms
of economic progress and other aspects indicated that India was in no mood of
retaliation. Even the tone and tenor of speech at the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki
Baat on Sept 25th hadn’t provided any clue about the upcoming
military strikes against Pakistan. Indian masses, too resigned to the thoughts
that Uri attacks too would go down the Indian history as yet another
humiliation. But little did people realize that Indian leadership was
strategizing a befitting reply. The days preceding surgical strikes too were
dominated by several cease fire violations and massive infiltration bids.
Over the decades, emboldened by India’s meek response to
relentless terror attacks, Pakistan heavily relied on its low cost warfare to
inflict heavy damage on India. Unchecked, unhindered the terror outfits
flourished. The surgical strikes by Indian Army were thus timely, sending
strong message to war-mongers and sections of Indian public that decried
leadership for its inaction. India refrained from a full-blown conventional
war, as India is at the cusp to progressive economic resurgence. In the Global
Competitiveness Report for 2016-17 released few days back India climbed 16
places to settle at 39 position among 138 countries, while China is ranked
28. Clearly, a conventional war might
undo the recent economic gains, India rightly overcame the catch-22 kind of
situation by conducting timely surgical strikes. Meanwhile, National Sensex
crashed after the reports of strikes and suffered its worst fall post-Brexit. Despite
the negative impact on trade and economy Indian Chamber of Commerce strongly
supported surgical strike. Aside, retribution at this point has become
inevitable to drive home the point that India is capable of defending itself
and if need arises can retaliate reciprocally.
India’s surgical strikes against Pakistan invariably reminded
of Indian Army’s “Operation Hot Pursuit” conducted along the Indo-Myanmar
border to avenge the killing of 20 military personnel by the militants of
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), NSCN (K) in Chandel District
of Manipur. India then warned that “Western
disturbances will be equally dealt with. Friendship and tolerance will go hand
in hand. This is a beginning. India is Strong. This message should go to
everyone” implying that India is not averse to launch such operations on
its neighbors that harbor anti-Indian terror groups. However, Pakistan chose to
downplay and deliberately hinted that Pakistan
is not Myanmar and India shouldn’t think of any such action. These surgical
strikes, a first by Indian army across LoC, undoubtedly punctured the bloated
ego of Pakistan.
As the details emerge, DGMO announced that these strikes were
launched to neutralize the terror pads gearing to push infiltrators across the
border and were extremely successful. In the operation that lasted for four
hours, Indian paratroopers ventured into 6.5km of PoK, and destroyed 8 launch
pads. 38 terrorists and 2 Pakistan soldiers were killed. Now with Pakistan
accusing India of fabrication of truth, Indian attacks evaded international
attention. Also, since Indian operations are carried out in PoK, a legitimate
Indian territory, this operation was considered as a massive combing operation
aimed at extricating militants. Moreover, presence of Pakistan soldiers at the
terror dungeons confirms Pakistan’s Army is hand is glove with its illegitimate
bed partners-the UN designated terrorists.
Days after surgical strikes- World nations are slowly backing
Indian stance. US, Russia, and other Muslim countries echoed Indian sentiments.
But by all means, this retributory action would indeed propel Pakistan to
retaliate with more force and India must be prepared for any eventuality.
Further, these kind of action can’t force Pakistan to mend its ways. But
inflicting significant damage might make enemy wary and threat of punitive
retaliation will force enemy to reconsider the veracity of its clandestine
activities. For the past seven decades, in various encounters with Pakistan it
was proved beyond doubt that Pakistan understand the language of guns. India,
by strategically executing the surgical strikes delivered the message in a
language Rawalpindi clearly understands. Finally, Modi government deserves a
big pat on back for walking the talk and demolishing the rhetoric. But for the
exceptional valor and supreme sacrifice of Indian military and political
commitment country would be wallowing the swarm of pusillanimity.
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