Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Surgical Strike: Outcome of terrorism lava from India’s volcanic Eruption: Lesson For Pakistan Feeded Militants Dr. Monika Kannan, Shilpi Yadav & Jitendra Sethi Department of Geography, Sophia College Ajmer (Rajasthan) Keywords: Uri attack, Surgical Strike, Impact, and the line of control in Kashmir,”i remarked Indo-Pak border, Pakistan Reaction, International United States President Bill Clinton in March of Response. 2000. His contentious statement rang loudly throughout the world, reflecting the 21st century Introduction reality that the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan had undergone a complete transformation “Death is lighter than a feather, Duty is heavy as a from a seemingly contained, bilateral situation into Mountain”- this proved by our Indian Army. an international issue that has vast ramifications for the entire world, due in large part to the “The most dangerous place in the world today, I introduction of nuclear weapons and mid-range think you could agree, is the Indian sub-continent missiles into the arsenals of both countries. Map 1: Showing the location of POK “India has a much better case to go for pre-emptive a [more] fit case than Iraq for a pre-emptive strike.” action [against Pakistan]” announced Yashwant (Hindustan Times, 13 April 2003) Sinha the Indian External Affairs Minister during the first week of April. He also made a statement in The Uri attack was a carefully planned terrorist the Rajya Sabha, “If lack of democracy, possession attack that saw Pakistani handlers exploiting a of weapons of mass destruction and export of fleeting opportunity to inflict maximum casualties terrorism were reasons for a country to make a - on Indian troops. Coming as the attack did in the strike in another country, then Pakistan deserved to wake of the cumulative build-up of terrorist attacks be tackled more than any other country.” (The and infiltration attempts, the Indian government Hindu, 10 April 2003) Later, George Fernandes, resolved to act to send a message to Pakistan. That agreeing with Yashwant Sinha, stated, “Pakistan is message assumed the form of calibrated surgical Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 542 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in strikes against terrorist launching pads across the (JeM) struck at an Indian Army camp in Uri. The Line of Control and a diplomatic campaign to camp housed more than the usual number of troops, isolate Pakistan within South Asia, both of which given the changeover between two infantry were premised on the wide-ranging international battalions. This had resulted in the creation of condemnation of the Uri attack. additional temporary accommodation in the form of tents. Unlike in the past, this was seen as an The Uri Terrorist Attack obvious vulnerability by the Pakistani terrorist handlers who decided to exploit this fleeting On September 18, 2016, four terrorists belonging to opportunity. the Pakistani jihadi group Jaish-e- Mohammed The resultant impact of the Uri incident, which led Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who indicated that to the death of 19 army soldiers, was not the only those responsible for the Uri attack would not go provocation that hardened the government’s unpunished. Therefore, a robust and determined resolve to move beyond standard reactions. The response was expected sooner rather than later. It Army’s action against terrorist launch pads was was a matter of time before a strong message was also linked to the cumulative build-up of terrorist delivered, through surgical, yet demonstrative, attacks that had been emanating from across the means. Line of Control (LoC). This was reinforced by Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 543 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Map 2: Map of Kashmir, the crown of India India’s reaction to the Uri terrorist attack is a • After running through a variety of non- distinct departure from the strategic and tactical military responses to the September 18 approaches it had adopted in the past. The terrorist strike at an Army camp in Uri, the government decided to undertake a shallow Centre on Thursday announced that Indian surgical strike along the LoC. This clearly implied forces had carried out “surgical strikes” that the Army intended to target terrorist launch across the Line of Control. pads, which are typically located between 500 • With this, India s next steps, post-Uri, are metres and a couple of kilometres along the LoC in uncharted terrain, with New Delhi inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The abandoning the ‟self-proclaimed policy of decision reinforced the government’s restraint and “strategic restraint” adopted in the face of mature response, which had characterised past earlier provocations by terrorists believed Indian responses as well. Second, by limiting the to be backed by Pakistan. strike to terrorist launch pads, India maintained the • The operation, that began and concluded requisite balance between resolve to punish the in the early hours of Thursday, was perpetrators of terrorism and keeping a low military claimed to be a military success, with no threshold as would be expected from a reasonable injuries to the Indian para-commandos state. Third, on completion of the strike, the who went across the LoC into Pakistan- Director General Military Operations of the Indian occupied Kashmir to attack several Army informed his counterpart in Pakistan of the locations. same and simultaneously indicated termination of • The decision to strike in this manner was the mission, thereby, ensuring that no ambiguity evidently taken after specific intelligence existed regarding the scope and scale of the that terrorist groups were planning attacks operation. Fourth, a large number of friendly in India. foreign countries as well as the media were • This may not be the first time India has informed about the operation. This saw the undertaken quick cross-LoC operations, government and the army take ownership of the but it has never before chosen to share operation and its intended consequences. Fifth, the information so publicly. government called for cooperation from the • The terms “surgical strike” and “pre- Pakistan to fulfil its international obligations to emptive strike” used by the Centre were fight terrorism, as has been promised by Islamabad intended to convey that this was not an on more than one occasion. attack on Pakistan s defence forces, but a targeted action against terrorists poised to Facts about Surgical Strike wreak damage in India.‟ • A surgical strike is a military attack • Pakistan of course has played down the intended to inflict damage on a specific Indian operation, characterising it as an act target, with minimal or no collateral of habitual cross-border shelling. It is damage to surrounding areas. welcome that New Delhi declared the strikes complete shortly after the Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 544 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in operation, with the DGMO calling his • In the final analysis, it is clear that the Pakistani counterpart to convey that India Modi government has signalled a change would not escalate the conflict beyond in tack. It will be very difficult to retrace this. the steps from here. Presumably, it has • This, along with the briefings held in New worked this out in its calculations. Delhi for envoys of various countries, • Pakistan reaction on surgical strike is indicates that the Centre wants to end somewhat surprising as it has not endorsed hostilities with Pakistan for the moment. that India has conducted any Surgical • This strengthens the view that the Strike in Pak Occupied Kashmir. operation was the result of pressure on the • World powers including Britain and Modi government to manufacture a strong China are trying to reduce tensions response to Uri. Over the past few days between India and Pakistan and asked there has been a cascade of moves to both countries to exercise restraint in the underline that such provocations cannot be wake of surgical strikes by Indian troops followed with business as usual. across the Line of Control. • The government reviewed the working of • Pak media ridiculed and denied surgical the Indus Waters Treaty, declared it is strike by Indian troops across the Line of flirting with the idea of reviewing Control. Chinese media has shown Pakistan s Most Favoured Nation status, expressions of hope and said that all the and pulled out of the SAARC heads meet issues between the two countries can be to be held‟ in Islamabad. resolved through meaningful dialogue. • 29 September 2016 marks a turning ‟point, British as well as US media do not play with India sending out an unambiguous down the surgical strike and deem it to be message: it can no longer be business as paradigm shift in India s approach to deal usual. There are four reasons for that: with external threats. • Surgical strike by India is a paradigm shift • If International Relations‟ Experts are to be in India s approach to external threats. It believed, surgical strike by India will is exactly how an advanced, modern definitely curb Pakistan sponsored nation would‟ respond to such challenges. terrorism. The singular message is that it can no longer be business as usual; the message is Brief History of Stabilising the Border Regions that India is willing to give and take in its international relations and that it can no The Indian military has won many wars against longer be taken for granted. forces. In this climate of war we want you to look • Second, the Modi government has at these 6 most successful military operations that demonstrated that nothing is off the table the Indian military launched against Pakistan.