The basic principles of strategy are so simple that a child may understand them. But to determine their proper application to a given situation requires the hardest kind of work. —Dwight D Eisenhower
Ever since our Special Forces struck at the terrorists’ launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, there is a debate on its strategic ramifications and probable escalatory ladder of conflict between India and Pakistan. Interestingly, the discussion on the surgical strikes often crosses into the domain of medicine!
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement that Pakistan is still under the effect of anaesthesia is an interesting comment. Could the operations conducted by our Special Forces on the night of Sept 28/29 be clubbed into the category of strategic operations and what is the understanding of the term ‘surgical operation’?
National strategy is a derivative of national goals. It leverages environmental scan, national security, threat perception, diplomacy, economic profile, political exigencies etc. Defence, economic, maritime and development strategies are some of the sub-sets of national strategy.
Intriguingly, India has no document that defines our national strategy or defence strategy despite the existence of Cabinet Committee on Security for long. Thinkers and practitioners of strategy and tactics have often disagreed on the interface between strategy and tactics delineating where strategy ends and tactic begins. It is indeed difficult to define these into distinct hues of black and white.
With 19 soldiers attaining martyrdom in the Uri attack, there was an urgent need to respond to the terrorists’ attack launched by the deep state of Pakistan. It was a political exigency. The credibility of the government was at stake.
The soft state image of India had started impinging on our national pride. The surgical strikes carried out by the Special Forces across the LoC has changed this perception. This is the only plausible direct strategic gain!
In simple terms, the surgical strike is nothing but multiple raids conducted by our Special Force concurrently at multiple locations across the LoC. These raids were conducted to destroy terrorists’ launch pads established in the shadow of Pakistan posts along the LoC. It involved swift infiltration across the LoC, destruction of the designated launch pads including neutralisation of maximum terrorists present therein and return into own territory before Pakistan could react. Special Forces are best trained and equipped for these kind of tasks. These operations fall into the domain of tactical operations.
The Indian Army has been conducting raids along the LoC under the name of BAT (Border Action Teams) operations. These are tactical operations. It is for the first time that we have hit at the terrorists’ launch pads across the LoC.
As the operation didn’t involve any ground holding, this alone has little chance of pushing the conflict deep into the escalatory ladder. Breakdown of the existing ceasefire along the LoC is along the expected lines. Stepping up of terrorist activities is another area which is well on the cards. Too much is being read into the terrorists’ attack at Baramullah on October 3. Some have even called it an ‘opening salvo.’ We shouldn’t attach much importance to it. This action of terrorists in Baramullah is nothing more than the usual occurrences in Jammu and Kashmir. It is best left to the Army to analyse and take corrective action as deemed fit.
The Indian Army is capable of giving a befitting reply to Pakistan. As a nation, we should prepare ourselves to defend our soft key installations which could come under the attack of terrorists operated by Pakistan. There could also be multiple terrorist strikes in metros to cause terror and raise tempers. Intelligence agencies need to get their act together and provide actionable information.
Diplomatic success
The support emanating from the US, EU, Russia, Germany and other states are suggestive of the fact that diplomatically, India has done a decent job by isolating Pakistan in the international community. China’s restraint in the aftermath of surgical strike is in tune with its support to Pakistan, its long term ally. Any resolution to have Pakistan declared a terrorist state through the UN will be vetoed by China in the UN Security Council. These diplomatic actions emanating from the surgical strike surely go into the domain of national strategy.
In addition to Pakistan’s isolation in the international arena, India will have to device other ways and means to raise the cost of proxy war for Pakistan. Its isolation in Saarc is one such example. It must be pursued vigorously for long-term effect.
Intelligent use of Indus Water Treaty to India’s advantage, assisting the oppressed people of Balochistan, Shias of Northern Areas and Pashtun tribe along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in sync with the Afghan government are some of the measures India should activate to raise the cost of terrorism for Pakistan.
Internally, our politicians must learn the importance of national security and have some understanding of military operations. The demand raised by some of our political leaders asking the government to come out with video recordings of the surgical strike to counter Pak propaganda is nothing but sheer naivety and political adventurism at the cost of national security.
Our soldiers were on an operational mission and not on a video shoot. Even if video recordings are available from a remotely controlled platform, it wouldn’t be advisable to place them into the public domain which could jeopardise the lives of our soldiers. It is time to think nation first and give strength to our soldiers fighting a war at the LoC, enhance their fighting capability with better equipment/infrastructure and strengthen our intelligence to prevent any terrorist attack.
(The writer is a New Delhi-based defence, security and strategy analyst)
Published 07 October 2016, 18:06 IST