19 September 2016

THE URI ATTACK



                          The URI Attack                          19.9.16

 

The Uri attack  has left 17 of our soldiers dead and more important it has dealt a severe blow to the izzat of our Armed Forces. The Army is sizzling with anger and the Modi Government is sitting in a huddle confused as ever. However the Indian Army is a disciplined force and would not go overboard without a green signal from the elected political bosses. Ultimately the buck stops at Modi. More than 30 hours have passed since the attack and during this period numerous meetings have taken place. Doval meeting the HM. HM meeting the PM. Parrikar meeting the Army Chief. Army Chief meeting the PM. Jaitley meeting the HM. Both HM and Jaitley meeting the PM. So on. Incredibly nothing clear has emerged till now regarding the Indian response to this brazen attack from across the border.

Apart from above fierce statements have emerged from members of the ruling party. PM will ensure that culprits would not go unpunished. HM will declare Pakistan a terrorist state. Jaitley will see to it Pakistan is exposed before the world. The topping on the cake was by Ram Madhav who wants a jaw to be taken for every tooth. Brave statements like feeding dope to the people so that they don't see the utter policy failure of this Government vis-a-vis  Pakistan. Fortunately this is not the 20th century. Every information is available on social platforms and on the internet. People are fully aware of what is happening and cannot be fooled. We know for instance that Pathankot,Gurdaspur happened . Modi visit to Lahore. ISI landing in Pathankot to investigate its own attack. In a nutshell no policy or strategy was ever in place by this so called Nationalist Government to deal with repeated terrorist attacks from across the border. Can we expect now ?

I don't think so. Already arguments to rule out a swift strike by the armed forces as was done in the case of Myanmar has started floating around. The most favourite is that we will strike at our own chosen time and place. Meaning let time pass and everything will cool down and people would forget. Of course at least till the next attack. I have to offer the following suggestions as a common citizen of this country.

1. First of all how efficient is our intelligence gathering. Do we have information and coordinates of terror camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir? Do we know who are members of the group in the Pakistan Army assigned to carry on these terrorist acts? Where is the location of the group?
Where are the commanders of these terrorist groups located? During MMS tenure when 26/11 occurred it was almost decided to carry out a surgical strike in Pakistan. When the Airforce Chief was consulted he said it will not be possible since clear location and coordinates of terrorists camp is not available. So update intelligence continuously on such locations,people and places so that these can be hit when time comes.

2. Any response has to be swift preferably within 3 hours of a terrorist attack. Then is not the time for meetings and consultations. For this to happen a clear policy has to be in place in advance. Such a policy paper should be prepared and kept confidential. Immediate response as per the policy paper should be carried out within 3 hours of a terrorist attack.

3. How many spies and informers do we have in Pakistan? I think a special attention has to be given to increase their numbers. There is no shortage of disgruntled elements in Pakistan. From the Baloch to Pashtuns and from Shias to Ahmediyas. These should be taken on our payrolls who would continuously supply us information and also sabotage when required. Sleeper cells should be in all the major centers of power in Pakistan. When the security of the nation is in question cost should not matter.

4. A lot is said about nuclear attack in case we retaliate inside Pakistan territory. If we go by fear then we are already defeated. First of all Pakistan will think twice before using nuclear weapons. They know that India will wipe out Pakistan. Looking to the size and population India will be hardly effected. Other thing is that the action should be swift and accurate so that before Pakistan could use nuclear weapons the International community would get time to intervene and call for a ceasfire.

5. Another thing is we assume that any military action would bring Kashmir in focus. Why are we so defensive about Kashmir? Kashmir is Indian territory legally and morally. Let the world talk about Kashmir. Nothing would come out of  it. Pakistan has absolutely no case to talk about it. Let things be decided for once and for all times.

6. Considering everything the preferred action is covert operations inside Pakistan. Terrorist should be killed and military installations targeted. Recently former Army Chief Shankar Roy Chaudhari suggested that India should have its own fidayeen squad for this purpose. RSS who claims to be the protector of Hindus should supply its members for this squad specially when Modi is in trouble.

7.There are a number of secessionist movements in Pakistan. Balochistan,Sindhustan.Pashtunistan. We should now upgrade our assistance to them. Supply them arms and expertise. It is high time that we send our troops to Afghanistan and increase our presence there. It will demoralize the Pakis.

8. The Americans are now wooing India to neutralize the Chinese in this region. We should exploit this situation fully and demand sophisticated military equipment from them. The predator drones are very important for us. The US should supply that to us so terrorists in Pakistan could be targeted and killed.

9. There is one last thing I want to say. It is a fact that we have to make our own arrangements for our security. Nobody is going to come and help us. Our Army is one of the finest in the world. Therefore it is sad to note that our military bases are not secured properly and terrorists can enter them at their will. It is definitely a security lapse. After Pathankot lessons should have been learnt and proper steps to secure the periphery should have been taken. The DM Manohar Parikkar should have taken responsibility for the URI attack and resigned. He has been making only unnecessary statements some of them of ridiculous nature which shows his immaturity

 Mr Modi was very aggressive when he was in opposition. It is coming to haunt him now. He has a absolute majority in Parliament now and the people expect him to act. Till now he has been floundering without any idea what to do. The time for bluster is over and the more he remains inert the more harm he is inviting for India.

 

ASHOK KUMAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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