Response to Pulwama Attack : Is Air Strike was a Better Option
The air strikes by India deep into Pakistan at Balakot (near Abbottabad in Pakistan), Chakoti and Muzaffarabad (both in PoK) at 3.30am on February, the 26th displays a revolutionary shift in India's approach towards the handling of cross border terrorism. In an offensive that lasted 19 minutes,
12, IAF Mirage-2000s struck the terror camps with 1000kg bombs using precision guidance.
The mission was supported by indigenously built AWACS ( Airborne Early Warning and Control System) aircraft, called "Netra". This aircraft is like an airborne picket that can detect enemy aircrafts from a long range and performs command and control functions.
Reports indicate heavy casualties at the terror camps. JeM commander and trainer, Yusuf Azhar, the brother-in-law of JeM Chief Maulana Masoud Azhar is reportedly eliminated in the strike.
The operation was a befitting reply by India to the Pulwama terror attack and it also clearly calls Pakistan's nuclear bluff.
I salute the decisive political "will" and the audacity with which the airforce conducted the operation.
This highly risky and daring strike so deep into Pakistani territory is not only a demonstration of Indian military prowess, but is also a symbolic representation of India's intent to deal with Pakistan in future. The same was so essentially required.
Pakistan is trying to play it down, ostensibly to not let the situation to escalate in the face of pressure from its public.
The Indian Cabinet Committee for Security held its meeting this morning and similarly a high-level meeting was held in Pakistan to review the damage. The forward air bases and air defence weapons in J&K and Punjab have been put on a high alert. Last 3-4 days has also seen a heightened movement of troops and additional deployment in the valley.
Pakistan had also mobilised it's troops to coincide with the Pulwama terror attack.
These may be early indicators of a deterioration in diplomatic efforts and may give way to a military escalation.
India has played it's cards very well and is calling the strike as a "non-military pre-emptive attack", specifically targetting JeM terror camps and not civilian. Thereby, indicating to the world community that India, based on credible intelligence, only carried out these strike to prevent imminent future terrorist attacks from JeM on Indian soil.
India must now be prepared for some kind of a military retaliation from Pakistan, who would want to save face.
However, as it appears from their initial response, Pakistan may not like to escalate the situation beyond a point and is likely to resort to more car bomb/ fidayeen attacks and localised military actions like, surgical strikes, fire assaults, heavy shelling across LoC, BAT actions, etc.
Lastly, it is a matter of immense pride for every Indian that we have demonstrated to Pakistan and the rest of the world to not to mess with us anymore.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
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