Pakistan had to lie after the air strike Fauji India magazine Apr 2019
Pakistan had to lie after the air strike Fauji India magazine Apr 2019
The Indian government responded to the Pulwama attack by launching its air power across the Line of Control (LoC) deep into Pak. For over three decades India had been suffering Pak supported terror attacks as it sought to avoid escalation. Post every terror strike, Pak played the nuclear card, warning India of its willingness to escalate. Thus, governments in India took the easy route, condemned the terrorist strike and sought international support. Nothing happened, other than a few conciliatory words. This only emboldened Pak to continue with its murderous assault unabated.
There had to be a limit which could be accepted by any nation. It was breached when Pathankot happened. The joint investigation by Indian and Pak teams was a final chance given to Pak to act. It refused, claiming no proof. The next such strike and a message had to be sent. India as a sovereign nation has full right to act as it deems correct. The government is not answerable to anyone, within or outside, except to those who voted for it. It had to display its determination and send a warning.
Post the attack in Uri, India launched a ground based surgical strike, which was a resounding success as it caught the Pak army unprepared and off guard. While it did shake the Pak leadership, since it was a shallow tactical operations, gains were limited. Pak refused to acknowledge the strike, hid casualty figures from its public and took members of the press to another location. This did not result in any significant impact on Pak, as being a tactical operation, it did not provide strategic gains. Pak had to be handled differently the next time.
Hence, post- Pulwama the counter had be strategic and impact global. This was the only manner by which the Pak nation, its leadership (both military and civil) and the international community would understand that India means business. Simultaneously, the strike should not result in civilian or military casualties as it could turn tables and give the advantage to Pakistan. Pak could scream across the globe that India targeted innocent civilians. Therefore, selection of the target had to be specific.
The intention of the government was clear. The strike should only eliminate terrorists. There was no scope for error. The terrorist camp at Balakote was located away from civilian habitation and on a hillock, which was a major benefit. It was self- sustaining and hence there were very limited chances of collateral damage. The IAF struck employing its Mirage aircraft and targeted the camp with Israel manufactured SPICE bombs. These bombs have the capability to penetrate and explode inside, thus reducing collateral damage. Further, they are accurate and ideal for precision strikes.
India had been monitoring the camp for over a decade. It housed terrorists of the Jaish e Mohammad (JeM), who undergo different stages of training. Post this, they are either despatched to Kashmir or Afghanistan. Hence, the camp was evidently on the radar of multiple nations and indicated the link between the JeM and the Taliban. Located deep within Pak, beyond the LoC it was not an easy target for ground-based operations.
India had given Pak the location of this camp on numerous occasions but each time it was ignored. Pakistan simply denied its existence. Hence destruction of this camp would have multiple benefits for India. Firstly, it would prove to the Pak leadership that India is aware of exactly where the ‘deep state’ trains its terrorists. Secondly, it was aware of the number of terrorists present at that location. Thirdly, it had pinpoint reference of the camp. Finally, every other such camp is on Indian radars and hence nothing can be hidden by the deep state.
Internationally, the strike conveyed India’s anger at their failure in curbing Pak. It was a clear message, either pull up Pak or risk a war in the subcontinent. The response was immediate. Pak, despite all its propaganda had no support. The international community backed India. China, Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) remained neutral, unwilling to openly side with Pak. To appease India, US, France and UK moved another motion to list Masood Azar, the leader of JeM as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council. China blocked as expected.
The execution of the air strike was with text book precision and it displayed professionalism and expertise on the part of the IAF. The Pak air defence system was breached and failed to even react. India aircraft struck the target, imposed necessary damage and withdrew even before Pak aircraft were airborne. This operation would be studied in the future across the globe for its planning and execution, as few nations have targeted a nuclear power with such brazenness, forcing it into silence.
Pakistan’s top leadership was shaken. It was an act of war as Indian aircraft had crossed the international border and struck beyond POK. Pak had always considered Kashmir to be disputed but the Indian air force struck deep within Pak, beyond POK. Realistically, they would have to respond, if only to save face. They attempted the same and in a day time assault attempted to strike Indian military positions.
In the ensuing dogfight, both nations lost an aircraft each, with a Pak F16 being downed by an Indian MIG 21 BISON, whose pilot was captured and subsequently released. The attempted strike by the Pakistan air force on Indian military targets was an act of war, which could have been escalated by India, had it chosen to. The LoC remained active with intense shelling by both sides.
India escalated employing artillery and damaging Pak posts and villages causing intense panic. Request for a ceasefire was made by the Pak DGMO in a call to his Indian counterpart. India had conveyed its message, hence could de-escalate.
Pak had hoped it could bargain for the release of the pilot in their custody. The message went clear from the Indian side. There are no shackles now. India can and will escalate, unless you act first and display some form of surrender. This led to Pak unilaterally announcing de-escalation and returning the pilot within 2 days, unharmed. Internally it projected the same as an act of decency on their part, whereas the reality was abject surrender.
Throughout the entire operation Pakistan kept hiding and denying. It hid the failure of its air defence system, air force, state of emergency along the LoC where shortage of blood reigned, and casualties continued to mount. It hid the downing of the F16 and the loss of its pilots by a MIG 21. It continued to claim that it had brought down two Indian aircraft. It denied the existence of the camp at Balakote and the casualties which occurred.
The IAF was aware that they could befool the Pak AD for some time during the conduct of its strike, not the entire duration. Its success indicated that there are major flaws in the Pak air defence network leading to its pilots neither reacting nor being able to challenge Indian aircraft in their territory. It implied that the Indian air force entered and left Pak airspace unchallenged. This failure will dog Pak for a long time. The deep state cannot inform its public that its airspace was breached with impunity. Hence, there has been no comment on the same in any media report by Pak.
The admission of the downing of the F 16 would have severe ramifications for the invincibility of the Pak armed forces. The fact that it was downed by a much below calibre MIG 21 BISON has broken the myth of the F 16 being amongst the best fighter aircraft in the world. The pilot was killed by Pak locals themselves mistaking him to be an Indian, further adds to their discomfiture. Its non-announcement will impact the morale of the air force. However, as is routine, Pak ignores its own warriors who gave their lives for the flag, whether it be Kargil, along the LoC or now in the air battle. While the nation may remain fooled, its armed forces would lose faith in the top leadership.
Pakistan’s major decision was to deny the existence of the camp and the success of the Indian strike. Accepting the destruction of the camp would have implied its existence and a loss of international face. Admitting the loss of terrorists would have had similar impact. It would have removed all myths of Pak not being a state sponsor of terror. It would also have conveyed to the nation that India has struck deep within Pak.
Pak took the easy way out. Prohibited entry into the camp, disposed of the bodies and moved survivors to a safe location, away from contact with journalists. They are cannon fodder and more could be created. It is easy to take select journalists to another hilltop and show no damage, instead of showing them the camp India claimed to have destroyed. Pak media is under the control of the deep state hence none could publish any comment other than official statements issued by the DG ISPR.
It managed to fool foreign media too for some time. However, as India began releasing satellite images of destroyed buildings, the foreign media began having doubts. The local public was pressured into silence. Pak has struggled to save face, while being aware that it was hit and hit hard.
The deep state has managed to keep itself distant from the activities of terrorist groups operating from its soil. It is surprising that even in India most blame Masood Azar for the Pulwama strike. The reality which Indians have missed is that he remains only a front face of the organization, the fall guy who could be declared a global terrorist. After all, every action of his, from fund raising to recruitment and training is done under the authority of the deep state.
The Indian air force strike has shaken the Pak establishment. It has realized that its nuclear myth has been broken. It also knows that there are vast weaknesses in its military power, which can and will be exploited by India, if it so desires. It is aware that it must now keep Kashmir simmering at a much lower level, as another incident can be further devastating. It has realized that international support is in India’s favour and it would be left isolated. Economically, if pushed into an arms race with India, it could be left in financial doldrums.
Militarily, if India escalates, Pak would be forced to pull out troops from Baluchistan, which could lead to losing the advantage which it has gained after intense struggle. Iran, after observing Indian actions would, in case of another strike copy the Indian model. This would be another blow for Pakistan.
Pakistan is now aware that India would not change its stance on talks on Kashmir. It would have no option except to cry to the international community but to no avail. It may have realized that permitting the JeM to conduct this strike was a gamble which it has lost. If sense prevails in their top leadership, they would desist for some time. If not, then they may be in for another shock. The ball is in Pakistan’s court. It can either change policies and improve relations or continue the path of self-destruction. Time will determine the option it takes.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army