Ministry of External Affairs, soon after the air strike on terror havens, in a tacit but categorical address to the nation said; “ In this operation, a very large number of Jaishe Mohammed terrorists, senior commanders, trainers and bruits of Jihadis who have been trained for Fidayeen actions were eliminated.”
It was a target accomplished. Neither the army nor the ruling dispensation went for numbers. The strategic and tactical action within the ‘rules of engagement” so as not to escalate, was designed as a pre-emptive strike under a definite mandate from the Government. Our soldiers fought against the terrorists and their infrastructure, in a situation akin to the classic hot-war like scenario.
The proxy war is a Philip to the Pakistani psyche.
Political big wigs in the ruling side soon jumped into the fray projecting the self-estimation of the damage to 250 to 400 range. Close to the heels of the foreign press, the desi opposition played Monday-morning quarterback, asking for counts and proofs. Political slugfest snowballed into reprehensive mud-slinging and overt questioning of the forces.
War on terror is not a hot war but war-mandated actions. Hence hybrid-war situations necessarily carry grey areas as explained by a veteran Air Marshell. In one of the channel talks, Admiral(Retd),Kumar has been explaining in hindsight , how during 2001, a planned action deep inside LOC had to be withdrawn on the advice of the then PM Sri.vajpayee, in lieu of the last minute input, that the terrorists have been shifted to a hideout located in between a hospital and a school, just before the parliament attack- to avoid massive collateral damages.
Our services are apolitical. We are fighting a hybrid war, a proxy war. Those who bay for blood, counts and proofs; Do you expect the army to get shot in the process? Why can’t we resist the temptation of an instant proof when the technology analyses can assuage our thirst soon? When you ask for proof, willy nilly you show the deficit of trust in the forces.
Can someone be found guilty of perjury if he surmises that the Politicians are discrediting the soldiers?
The brazen and daylight terror unleashed in Phulwara cannot go unnoticed in the din.
Major Gaurav Arya(Retd)quotes Rudyard Kipling in his tweet;
“God and the soldier, we adore
In time of danger, not before
The danger passed, and all things righted
God is forgotten, and the soldier slighted. “
Dukh mein sumiran sab kare, sukh mein karen na koi
Joi sukh mein sumiran karen toh dukh kahe hoi
Joi sukh mein sumiran karen toh dukh kahe hoi
