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Lt-Gen Raj Sujlana (retd)
The acerity of the current political polemic about surgical strikes is not new. Politicians have never tried to understand how the military operates and how and when to exploit a war or a war situation to their advantage and thus failed repeatedly. That it is the case of the cease-fire and the sending to the UN of military councils during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1947-1948, while the success was so visible ; or the return of more than 90,000 prisoners to Pakistan after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 without recovering our prisoners; or by ensuring that the armed forces are always ready for battle in all aspects, regardless of what led to the disaster of the 1962 war.
Unfortunately, they still do not realize that if this trend continues, despite the resilience of the soldiers, adversity can hit again. While war is the result of failed diplomacy, warlike internal situations arise when politicians, bureaucracy and police are unable to control the situation, and this justifies the armed forces intervening, more often than not. # 39; army. Responsibility for the conduct of war or operations in a disturbed area must be left to the discretion of the military commanders, who will plan and carry out the operations required by the situation.
Hype on surgical strikes
The hype created by the "surgical strikes", sees no end. While the ruling politicians have not stopped beating since these operations were launched on the night of September 28 to 29, 2017, it is anathema to opposition politicians. , and their goatee was drawn endlessly. Manohar Parrikar, then Raksha Mantri (RM), said it was the first time the army had crossed the line of control after "Hanuman was invoked in them". He did not even know that three infantry regiments (Bihar, Kumaon and Rajput) had launched many attacks of this type with the war cry of "Bajrang Bali Ki Jai!" In doing so, he has set aside the remarkable role that the armed forces have played since 1947 to ensure the integrity of the nation with diligence and blood.
Now, a union minister adds that the ruling party has not drawn any political party from these operations and such statements from the opposition will raise the morale of the terrorists. In both cases, he is wrong. The open and blatant credit taken during the elections in Uttar Pradesh is no secret and one wonders how this will boost the morale of the terrorists.
Second, a congressional spokesperson has listed many such strikes in the past, mistakenly calling them "strategic surgical strikes". A false perception is transmitted to the public. It is necessary to put this issue in the right perspective.
Raids, strikes and tactical operations
The Army has a list of terminologies to describe various operations, but there is no term like surgical strikes. Borrowed from the US Air Force, it has become fashionable. Such operations have a very simple term: raid. These could be superficial, that is, when the target is located a short distance in enemy territory (many such actions occurred, including numerous surgical strikes). Or, these could be deep when the goal is deeper. An example of this is the raid carried out by the personnel of the 9 Para Commandos on the night of December 13 to 14, 1971, when they infiltrated through the LoC and the Poonch River and took the position of the enemy by surprise. Heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy and the six Chinese 122-mm guns deployed were destroyed, at our cost: two killed and 14 wounded.
These successful raids are tactical and non-strategic operations. Their effect is usually localized, whereas a strategic operation must influence the course of the war.
For example, during the Second World War, as the Japanese made their way through Burma, a major operation was launched to hit the enemy in their rear areas. The Chindits, also known as long-range penetration groups of special operational units of the Indian and British armies, were launched deep behind the Japanese lines. In the first phase (from February 1943), 3000 soldiers entered Myanmar on foot. At the same time, as a cover, a wide-ranging and varied deception was planned and executed, while they were making their way to a great deal of success. In the second phase (from February 1944 to August 1944), 9000 men were interposed by air behind enemy lines in gliders and some on foot. These operations greatly helped the ongoing efforts on the ground to accelerate the retreat of the Japanese and reverse the course of the war in this theater.
Two actions stand out as surgical strikes. The first is the Entebbe raid (in Uganda) perpetrated by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) commandos on July 4, 1976. Hijackers flew into the air and looted them. transported to Entebbe with 106 crew members and pbadengers on board as hostages. were well anchored in the open support of the Ugandan army. Suddenly, 100 IDF commandos hit them; 102 hostages were safely evacuated, the seven pirates and many Ugandan army members were killed and nearly a third of Ugandan air forces were destroyed. The badbadination of Usama on May 2, 2011 by the US Navy Seals in Bilal Town, Abbottabad, does not need to be developed.
One disastrous operation was the Iranian hostage crisis when the United States launched an operation to rescue its 52 citizens held hostage in their embbady in Tehran. He saw no gain as they lost eight American soldiers, a transport plane and a helicopter were each destroyed on the ground and five helicopters had to be abandoned. These examples explain what involves strategic strikes and surgical strikes.
The risk of failure and casualties is always high, but when it is justified, it must be taken. Our country also had the opportunity to conduct surgical strikes and show its resilience and determination as a nation, but politicians hesitated and developed cold feet. In 1995, six foreign tourists were kidnapped in the valley by the terrorist group Al Faran. These tourists were detained in the Warwan Valley in the upper part of Doda (J & K), their location was confirmed, the chances of success were high, but permission was refused to conduct what would have been a clinical operation. save all six. But tourists were destined for an ignominious end.
Another situation was the hijacking of the IC-814 airbus flying from Kathmandu to Delhi by Harkat-Ul-Mujahadeen terrorists. He first landed at Amritsar and then at three other locations before settling in Kandahar. Paralysis has taken over all offensive action; a gentle response followed; three violent terrorists have been released and continue to hurt us. Some of those in power now occupy important positions now and if they really want to do a surgical strike and gain political ground, there are targets in Pakistan: Masood for one!
Politicians must understand the importance of national security. Instead of involving themselves in aimless policies in relation to the so-called surgical strikes, they must work as a national government so that the situation is brought under control as soon as possible and that civil governance returns to its full potential [19659005]. s, id) {
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