Just hours of planning

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 29

It was around noon yesterday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally okayed the time and locations for the military strike cross the Line of Control (LoC) to destroy terrorist camps located in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Over the next 16-17 hours, the dynamics kept changing and ended when the Indian Army team comprising para-special forces and the local “Ghatak” platoons reported back success around 4.30 am today. Almost when the Indian troops—divided in six teams—were finding their way back, armies of the two countries exchanged heavy fire across the LoC. The top brass of the political establishment was informed that the operation was a success. 

Though cross-LoC military actions have been undertaken in the past, the first public announcement of such a move came this morning from Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh at a press conference.

Sources said a military move was ordered in two parts across an arc of 250 km. The local formation commanders were given total freedom to choose the place and the time of strike.

Targets were six terrorist launch pads at five locations across the LoC, including those at Kel, Lepa valley, Tatta pani and Bimber. Three of these have been totally destroyed. The death toll of terrorists, on the basis of footage from UAVs, was around 40. “Significant attrition of terrorists has been caused,” a senior functionary told The Tribune.

The first part of the military move involved artillery fire across the LOC, including from a location near Uri— close to the same place where terrorists killed 18 Army soldiers on September 18.  The second part involved utilising the confusion caused by the artillery fire to sneak in troops using the typical “crawl and slow stealth” from pre-decided spots cross the LoC, using several ingress routes away from the locations of the artillery fire.

As the artillery opened up, five separate teams of heavily armed soldiers of the Indian Army crossed over to PoK, they were backed by UAVs providing live footage to the Northern Command in Udhampur, the tactical headquarters of the three Army divisions at Baramulla,  Kupwara and Poonch. The orders were clear: “Shoot to kill… don’t leave behind any injured soldier… be quick and destroy everything.” The troops needed to surprise the terrorist in these camps. The entire operation lasted for four hours, commencing around 12.30 am to 4.30 am on Thursday. Earlier, around 2 pm on Wednesday, the special teams had been asked to stage forward. Helicopters dropped teams at advanced pre-decided locations. From later afternoon to night-fall on Wednesday, briefings were conducted and troop leaders given clear instructions. The go-ahead to cross the LoC was for midnight.

The Army troops were carrying heavy firing capability, including shoulder-fired weapons and flame throwers.

Around 5 am this morning, the Pakistan Army retaliated with artillery fire; and around 7.30 am US National Security Adviser Susan Rice called up Indian NSA Ajit Doval.

Hitting back

September 18

• Terrorists attack Uri camp around 5 am; kill 18 soldiers
• The Cabinet Committee on Security meets and PM Modi gives in-principle nod to Army Chief’s proposal to go across the LoC and hit terror camps
• All intelligence gathering resources put on task to gather information

Over the next week

• Army identifies weak points of Pakistan along the LoC and put these under observation, using human intelligence and UAVs
• The spots of attack are discussed at the top level and clearance is sought to cross the LoC

September 27

• The PM is yet again briefed at the military operations room in South block— a plan is okayed and changed to bring about surprise

September 28

• The go-ahead is given, PM Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, NSA Ajit Doval, Army Chief are kept informed of every development
• During the night, the troops cross the LoC (around 12.30 am on Thursday) with all set for simultaneous attack at six locations at 3 am
• The entire attack was over in less than 30 minutes

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All praise for action

Our armed forces have again exhibited exemplary courage by destroying anti-India designs. I also congratulate the PM on taking a bold decision and showing true grit and mettle in crucial times. — Rajnath Singh, Home Minister

India is capable of repelling all forces that subvert peace in the region. We are proud of Indian Army for taking pre-emptive action & repelling terrorists’ attempt to destabilise peace & tranquillity in the region. — Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

We are with our armed forces. AIMIM party completely stands united with the country and the armed forces. We are against any form of terror. — Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM president  

The entire country stands behind the armed forces. — Arvind kejriwal, AAP convener

Today’s strikes signal the rise of a new India where the government doesn’t get cowed down by nefarious designs of terrorists. I congratulate Modi and Indian Army for the strikes. — Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party president

We stand with the government. This is a strong message that conveys our country’s resolve to prevent further infiltration and attacks on our security forces and our people.  — Sonia Gandhi, Congress president

Our party supports the Army action but we feel military action is not the answer. Diplomatic and political moves must continue to defuse tension between the neighbours. — Sitaram yechury, CPM general secretary

We will support all action of the security forces so that terrorism comes to an end and what we all were waiting for has now happened. — Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief 

We have been told that there were heavy casualties on the other side and there was no harm to our soldiers. We will support all actions of the security forces so that terrorism comes to an end and Pak doesn’t support any terror activity from its soil. — Ghulam Nabi Azad, Oppostion leader in Rajya Sabha 

We should not step back and go ahead as India and armed forces have the capacity to unfurl the Tricolour in Lahore and Karachi. — Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader

Surgical strike on terrorists across LoC has been welcomed because it was a necessary step, which had not been taken for many years. — Prakash Javadekar, HRD Minister  

No territorial violations have been committed during the operations since PoK is very much a part of India. The surgical strikes were not a military operation but an anti-terrorist exercise and the LoC will not prevent us from carrying out an anti-terror operation. — Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting  

The US expects Pakistan to take effective action to combat and de-legitimise United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including LeT, JeM. — Susan E Rice, United States National Security Adviser   

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Ex-servicemen hail move

The first move in a vicious game has been made. A declared trans-LoC operation was conducted after 10 days, which is sufficient time to plan, prepare and think strategy through. The die is cast and it is not going to end here. — Lt Gen KJ Singh (retd), former GOC-in-C, Western Command 

It is a very bold action taken by the government. The area of choice for the operation, restricting it to the realm of the Line of Control and targeting only terrorists indicates a well-thought-out strategy. — Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), former GOC-in-C, Northern Command

This operation has been done after a lot of deliberation and is not just a knee-jerk reaction. It has been calibrated to give a strategic response through tactical operations. — Maj Gen GG Dwivedi (retd), who has commanded a Brigade in Baramulla

The operation is a shot in the arm for the morale of the forces and also for the nation as a whole and shows that it is time that we as a nation stood on our own feet. Since we have not attacked Pakistani posts and only targeted terrorists, Pakistan has no justified cause for escalation. — Brigadier Pradeep Sharma (retd), former NSG officer 

While giving us moral ascendancy, operations like this work towards demotivating the adversary on the ground. Such operations require top-level intelligence and immaculate planning and its successful execution in the face of heavy Pakistani deployment across indicates that latest technological equipment was also available. — Col Bipin Pathak (retd), former Intelligence officer

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India has right to respond: B’desh

Dhaka: India has “all legal and globally accepted right” to respond to any attack on her sovereignty and territory, Bangladesh said on Thursday after the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes against terror bases across the LoC but called for “restraint” from all sides. Iqbal Chowdhury, Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: "It (Kashmir issue) has been a long, continued dispute and there has been a violation from the other side. Bangladesh always feels that any country must honour and respect the sovereignty of a third country.” PTI

Trying to ease tensions: China  

Beijing: China on Thursday said it was in touch with India and Pakistan through different channels to bring down tensions, asking them to properly deal with their differences and work jointly to maintain peace and security in the region. “As for the tension between Pakistan and India, recently Chinese side has been in communication with both sides through different channels," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. PTI

Fishermen told not to venture far

Ahmedabad: The Coast Guard and Gujarat Fisheries Department have issued instructions to Indian fishing boats sailing in the Arabian Sea not to venture beyond 15-20 nautical miles in view of surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the LoC, even as the state's coastal parts have been put on high alert. Fishing boats sail from coastal districts of Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar and Junagadh into the Arabian Sea for their catch, at times coming perilously close to the international maritime boarder that India shares with Pakistan. Already around 465 fishermen, mostly from Gujarat, are languishing in Pakistani jails after being apprehended by the Pakistan agencies from near the border. TNS

Pak students’ event off in Ajmer  

Jaipur: An educational institute in Ajmer has called off a student-exchange programme involving a delegation from Pakistan in view of the escalating tension between the two countries and opposition of some Hindu outfits. The exchange programme involving 38 students and teachers from Pakistan was scheduled to be held at Mayo College between October 2 and 5. "In view of the current scenario and respecting public sentiments, the Mayo college management committee has decided to call off the event under sports and cultural exchange programme," Achal Deep Dubey, senior English teacher of the college, said.  PTI

Western Command chief inspects forward areas

Chandigarh: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen Surinder Singh visited the Vajra Corps at Jalandhar and inspected forward locations in Gurdaspur and Amritsar over the past two days. Appreciating the efforts being made to enhance the levels of preparedness while interacting with field commanders, he emphasised on the need to ensure a high degree of alertness at all levels, especially in the areas adjoining J&K such as Pathankot and Gurdaspur. Lt General Singh said there was a need for greater coordination and cooperation with the BSF and all Intelligence agencies in the area for better synergy. He was also briefed by the Vajra Corps Commander on the Army’s operational and administrative aspects in the region. Following the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed, Army formations and Air Force installations have been on high alert. TNS

Army operation gets thumbs-up from public, social media 

New Delhi: India's answer to the killing of its 18 Armymen in the form of surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) has received an overwhelming response from the social media and people across the country, providing the much-needed relief and respite to the Narendra Modi government battling negative perceptions following the Uri terror strike. Soon after the announcement at a joint press conference by the External Affair and Defence ministries, messages started shooting across, congratulating the armed forces and praising the way the Indian government “strategically distracted” attention from the event using issues like the Indus Waters treaty and Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan. TNS

Sharif calls joint session of Parliament on October 5  

Islamabad: In the wake of India's surgical strikes across the LoC, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif has called a joint session of the Parliament on October 5. “Joint session of Parliament will be convened on Wednesday to reaffirm the national resolve for safeguarding the sovereignty and preserving the territorial integrity of the motherland against any kind of external or internal threat as well as reiterating the moral, political, and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir,” Sharif said, reported Geo News. He said a meeting of national security committee would be held on October 4 with special invitation to all the CMs to deliberate at length emerging scenario across LoC. ANI