Army vows to respond at right time
15 Jan 2013 7:49 AM IST
On the eve of 65th Army Day, chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh indicated that though Indian Army (IA) do not wish to escalate the issue of the recent beheading of one of the two Indian soldiers at a skirmish on 6 January at the Line of Control (LOC) in Poonch sector into something bigger, but it would surely like to rap Pakistan army on its knuckles. Gen Singh, at a widely publicised press conference on Monday, told the media: ‘This is an operation at the tactical level. But the beheading has strategic nuances. My commanders on the ground have been asked to retaliate in a measured manner, while upholding the (sanctity) of LOC. Army hierarchy is standing fully in support of the commanders.’
The General’s mood was reflected in his use of the word ‘tactical,’ read ‘limited,’ about 10 times and ‘localised’ about five times in a 90-minute press conference. Some observers believe that the Army publicised this beheading incident, more than the more routine cross-LOC fire exchange, because it wanted Pakistan army on the backfoot, for reasons ‘political’ in nature. The ‘nuances’ that he talked about, will be taken up ‘at the government of India level.’
He also told the media that Churunda in Mendhar area is on the way to Uri and is largely ‘dominated by the Pakistan army. There is constant small arms and mortar firing that goes on.’ The other similar area, Gen Singh mentioned, was the Krishna Gati area, closer to Poonch. ‘These are points of (terrorist) infiltration.’
The COAS was not ready to examine the quality of Indian Army contingent’s response in the Mendhar skirmish at this point in time, ‘because it is important to keep the morale of the soldiers high.’ He was expansive when he said, ‘We have given the message (to Pakistan army) we shall certainly respond at a time and place of our choosing. We want the international community to also get the messages.’
Gen Singh reflected complete empathy with the family of the two fallen soldiers. ‘If they want me to visit them, I shall certainly visit them.’ He pointed at the fact that the attack on 8 January was ‘pre-meditated, pre-planned.’ Because he pointed out, ‘that kind of operation could not have been undertaken without such preparation.’ He also said that there is ‘no intelligence’ at the moment for any Chinese involvement in the decision-making process of Pakistan army.
The General’s mood was reflected in his use of the word ‘tactical,’ read ‘limited,’ about 10 times and ‘localised’ about five times in a 90-minute press conference. Some observers believe that the Army publicised this beheading incident, more than the more routine cross-LOC fire exchange, because it wanted Pakistan army on the backfoot, for reasons ‘political’ in nature. The ‘nuances’ that he talked about, will be taken up ‘at the government of India level.’
He also told the media that Churunda in Mendhar area is on the way to Uri and is largely ‘dominated by the Pakistan army. There is constant small arms and mortar firing that goes on.’ The other similar area, Gen Singh mentioned, was the Krishna Gati area, closer to Poonch. ‘These are points of (terrorist) infiltration.’
The COAS was not ready to examine the quality of Indian Army contingent’s response in the Mendhar skirmish at this point in time, ‘because it is important to keep the morale of the soldiers high.’ He was expansive when he said, ‘We have given the message (to Pakistan army) we shall certainly respond at a time and place of our choosing. We want the international community to also get the messages.’
Gen Singh reflected complete empathy with the family of the two fallen soldiers. ‘If they want me to visit them, I shall certainly visit them.’ He pointed at the fact that the attack on 8 January was ‘pre-meditated, pre-planned.’ Because he pointed out, ‘that kind of operation could not have been undertaken without such preparation.’ He also said that there is ‘no intelligence’ at the moment for any Chinese involvement in the decision-making process of Pakistan army.
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