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| Seven major highlights of General Singh's Monday interview | | Plain-speaking | | Neha
Jammu, Jan 15: Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh did well yesterday to call the Pakistani bluff and warn it of dire consequences in case it continues to violate ceasefire, commit heinous crimes against India and violate war rules and kill and mutilate Indian soldiers on duty. He took no less than 6 days to give a concrete shape to the response he wanted to give to what Pakistan did in the Mendhar sector on January 8 and when he gave his response, he cleared all cobwebs of confusion and declared that the Indian Army would not tolerate any violation of ceasefire in the future and that Pakistan will pay a very heavy price in case it dares to commit such barbaric act as the one it committed on January 8. It is not clear whether or not he took into confidence the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister before going public and saying what he said without mincing words.
It would be only appropriate to refer to here the seven major highlights of what General Singh said while addressing reporters in New Delhi on the eve of Army Day. Such an approach would help the esteemed readers of the Early Times understand the meaning and significance of what General Singh said without any difficulty.
One: The "beheading (of Lance Naik Hem Raj) is unacceptable and most unpardonable. It is barbaric. It defies all logic. It is against the very rules of engagement. It is against the ethics of soldiering...We are annoyed...It was pre-meditated and pre-planned cross-LoC attack. Let us see if the Pakistan army heeds to our protests and complies with it...We will have to pressurise them to give the head back. India never indulges in such inhuman behaviour. We have to make the Pakistan army accountable. There are diplomatic and political ways of doing it. As far as the Army is concerned, increasing force and violence is a national decision. We want the head back but what do you do when a country and its Army are in denial mode? I think we should pressurise them nationally and internationally as part of our national element so that they are made accountable and they are made to return the head of our soldier which they have taken away."
Two: "The Pakistani army needs to be accountable. We reserve the right to retaliate at the time and place of our choosing. Pakistan army uses terrorists as tool. As far as our intelligence is concerned from the battalion, the operation was carried out by the Pakistan army commandos, SSG and their Army regulars. The possibility of Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists providing help to Pakistan army in the assault in which two Indian soldiers were killed, one of them beheaded, cannot be overruled. Pakistani army was 'poised for this operation' much in advance, (as) such an attack requires preparation of at least 15 days, including recce and cannot be launched in just two days".
Three: "He expects the Indian commanders 'to be aggressive and offensive' in the face of provocation. I don't expect my commanders to be 'timid'...We shall not be 'passive' when fire at. Therefore, when fired at, when provoked, we shall respond. Commanders must understand that the Army hierarchy is standing behind them. The reply would be given but the LoC would not be crossed over. We have been firing back. 'The orders are very clear to local commanders that when fired at, they have to retaliate'. As far as military options are concerned, it is an operation which will be dealt with by the Army at the tactical level. We have adequate resources, wisdom and competent field commanders who would be able to deal with the situation."
Four: "Pakistan's nuclear blackmail" cannot deter the Indian Army, as it is prepared to meet any challenge.
Five: "We will uphold the ceasefire as long as the adversary (Pakistan) does. Indian troops had never violated the agreement as claimed by Pakistan. Pakistani army needs to be accountable. It should respect civil control which it has not been doing".
Six: "I am of the view that we should not dilute provisions of the AFSPA. Terrorists are afraid of this because this gives us powers to carry out operations against inimical elements and enemies of the State who defy the rule of law. Any decision to revoke this from any part where it is applicable must be taken after consideration of all facts and inputs from all security agencies and stakeholders that are deployed. AFSPA is 'an enabling' act as it 'gives us additional powers to operate in an environment which is marked by very high degree of uncertainty and complexity and an asymmetric environment where you cannot differentiate between a friend and a foe as the terrorist merges with the backdrop and hides amongst the locals'. There are challenges for soldiers while carrying out operations and we got to give these enablers to the soldiers".
Seven: "Demilitarisation of Siachen Glacier area against the backdrop of the 'trust deficit' existing with Pakistan (is just not possible). It is strategically important for us. It is our area and we need to continue to hold it. If any thought is to be given to consideration in terms of demilitarising and pulling out, it is to be done in the backdrop of the trust deficit which is to be addressed and we got to wait and watch the conduct of the Pakistan Army and then take a call on it. Any decision in this regard by the authorities concerned has to be 'very conscious, deliberate and pragmatic' and not lose out the strategic gains that we have made. We have shed a lot of blood in trying to gain that advantage and let us value that".
Has not the Army chief General Bikram Singh put things in perspective and spoken what was needed the most at this critical time? Yes, he has. All right-thinking Indians and friends and well-wishers of India need to congratulate General Singh. It would be better if the Congress-led UPA Government endorse in the General's line in its entirety. |
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