Return part was most difficult, says Maj who led surgical strikes

New Delhi, September 10

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The surgical strikes across the LoC were precise and conducted at a frenetic pace but the Major who led the daredevil mission says that the return was the most difficult part and bullets fired by the enemy soldiers were so close that these were whistling past the ears.

The Army Major speaks about the stunning mission in a new book brought out on the first anniversary of surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The officer is referred to as Major Mike Tango in the book, titled “India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes”.

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The Army had decided to use soldiers from the units that had suffered losses in the Uri attack for the elaborate revenge mission. A Ghatak platoon was formed and soldiers from the two units that had lost men were roped in to man border posts and provide crucial terrain intelligence and support to the mission that lay ahead.

“Tactically, this was a smart move — few knew the lay of the frontier land better than they did. But there was another astute reason. Involving them in the mission would at least begin to lay the ghosts of Uri to rest,” says the book.

“As team Leader, Maj Tango had chosen every man himself, including the officers and men who would play a supporting role. He was also acutely aware of the fact that the lives of 19 men were, quite literally, in his hands,” the book says.

A total of four terror launch pads operated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and protected by the Pakistan army were selected.

“Through a series of masked communications over mobile, Maj Tango’s men contacted four ‘assets’ — two local villagers in PoK and two Pakistani nationals operating in the area, both moles in the dreaded Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group.

“All the four assets separately confirmed the target information that was placed before them,” the book says. Written by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh and published by Penguin India, it tells 14 true stories of extraordinary courage and fearlessness, providing a glimpse into the kind of heroism India’s soldiers display in unthinkably hostile conditions and under grave provocation.

The mission was brief — the soldiers were expected to reach their targets, study the latest intelligence they could possibly access with their satellite devices and then proceed to wipe out every man they saw there, the book says.

Two of the terror launch pads identified as targets were well inside PoK and roughly 500 metres away from each other, it says. Both launch pads were close to Pakistan army posts for logistical and administrative purposes.

“From the moment the firefight began until the last bullet was fired, it had been just over an hour. The frenetic pace of the assault meant the teams, now united after the split attack on two launch pads, would prepare to leave with only a very rough estimate of the number of terrorists they had managed to kill: 20. The figure would be corroborated days later by India’s external intelligence.

As for the return, the Major decided to take not the route used to enter PoK but a different path that was longer and more circuitous, but comparatively safe. But while the Indian soldiers were returning, the Pakistan army posts opened fire with everything they had. “If I were a foot taller, I would have been hit many times over,” the Major recalled. Crossing in pairs as the ammunition hit the ground inches from them, Maj Tango’s team made it to the LoC before the sun was up, finally crossing it at 0430 hours.” — PTI

Stunning mission

"A total of 38-40 terrorists and two Pakistan army personnel were killed at the four targets. The three separate teams had simultaneously struck four launch pads across the LoC." Book on surgical strikes