Editor's Note
The dastardly terror attack on 20 Apr 23 by Pak militants in the Bhimber Gali area of Poonch - Rajauri sector that killed five Indian soldiers has caused much pain and anger to faujis. Several experienced veterans who have served in this area/ J&K responded to the article by Col Rajinder Kushwaha published by MVI on 22 Apr 23. Their responses collectively cover much ground relating to the possible causes of this attack and the required corrective answers that our forces must respond with. Hopefully, all concerned in our Fauj will benefit from these insights.
Colonel Rajinder Kushwaha (Retd)
Responses
Col. PK Royal Mehrishi
It is India's bane to exist with a weak and belligerent neighbour like Pakistan. Our policy of appeasing the minority community within reflects in avoiding action even when there is blood letting, killings and bombings by Pakistan within India. It appears we have a sadomasochistic streak in wanting to get hurt and wallow in the pain ? Why can't pain unleashed on India (by way of troop killings) be avenged with more visible pain to the enemy? If it be a vortex of spiral killings so be it! Do we have the stomach and political will to give it back than we get?
The Nation awaits an Answer!!
We were told post Surgical strike and Balakot that we have taught Pakistan a lesson, have we learnt our lessons? Our troops and Officers are brave, well trained, clear headed, mission oriented, killing machines on that there is no doubt.
What is the overall policy even for a single casualty inflicted on us? Going on ground and high profile visits by senior cdrs after an incident doesn't help much! Action matters, get on with it, be proactive. Lets have a tally of one to two Paki soldiers casualty every day across J&K sector for next six months!
Let them come begging for peace !!
The PM and his team are looking for a Nobel Peace Prize (NPP) for him. What is our top brass and staff looking for?
Give charge of higher formations to Cdrs who itch for a fight and don't sleep well, when we lose our men!! My point is why always a riposte even when attacked by a weakling like Pak? Keep them on the backfoot and guessing throughout. What use are fancy courses and deputations when your strategy can't put down some body your inferior in intellect, economy, military prowess, national unity and blatant corruption of its Cdrs? If a known heavy weight pugilist can't knock out (KO) a fly weight boxer then we are training and feeding the wrong guy!
One shudders to think what will happen when our heavy weight meets a super heavy weight? Before the G20 meeting of Foreign Ministers in Goa, Pakistan has again managed to bring J&K in the international headlines. We are still eating crow!!
Brig. BK Ponwar
One has to start the ROP Ex at 0530h. It takes approximately 5h to clear an axis of 10Km by an ROP of pl Str of 20 Pers. It goes in a V fmn clearing dominating hts. The Mine detector eqpt and Sniffer Dog to clear the Rd. so a Road say Jagdalpur to Konta a distance of 180km will require 18 ROP Patrols or 360 pers there are around 14 CAPF Bns on this axis.
Well within their capabilities. Situation is same on axis KG Rajouri BG Across Betar Nala to Poonch. Why was the Axis not secured by an ROP and picquets.
Col. Rajinder Kushwaha
I agree with Brig Ponwar. Need is for the army to put its own house in order. Veterans should stop bashing govt. Need for Surgical strikes arise because own fmns/units/soldiers/cdrs fail to do their duty. The devil lies there and not with the govt. Who ordered the move of a single vehicle? Who has stopped road opening procedures (ROP)? Isn’t J&K victim of Pak sponsored Insurgency? Isn’t Poonch a part of J&K? These are the questions that the govt bashers should answer.
Army has to set its own drills/procedures right. Lackadaisical approach must be shunned. My article has pointed out the aberrations which have crept into our conduct in J&K. Main aim of the article was to highlight the causes of mishap. Once we know the problem, we will know the answer too! I disagree with those who, instead of diagnosing the problem, start Govt - bashing. This incident is a clear cut case of total negligence and flouting of the drills. The fault lay within and not outside. CO RR Bn, RR sector cdr and RR Force Cdr must answer/be sacked for not following SOPs. Govt will do what it is required to do.
Veterans need to be judicious. Do not give a clean chit to those within army who are committing blunders. Training the guns on Govt is to mask your own mistakes. We must know Pakistan will never allow you to live in peace till it exists. And it has its supporters not only in Kashmir but in rest of India, too!
Brig. Pradeep Sharma
I am a bit tired of this dialogue, a stale and repetitive commentary. The Army has to set it's house in order. The army today is being commanded by professionals! Why don't we hit Pakistan where it hurts? Pakistan Army has a hand in this Poonch terror attack. For God's sake let the Army do their job! A Court of Inquiry would have been ordered, loop holes will emerge and hopefully things will return to normal. Right now we should be thinking of the breaved families.
Col. Anil Bhat
I agree with all on their recommended approach of dealing with Pakistan. Are the surgical strikes and Balakot only meant to be capability demonstrators? On China, I have asked - for how long will we not use firearms against PLA? They have taken advantage of this agreement since after the 1967 Nathula and Chola skirmishes. When will we learn? We must change our approach to effectively deal with both Pakistan and China.
Maj Gen. Rajan Kochhar
Let’s take a pragmatic view.
Intelligence inputs about movement of some terrorists in the area were known. Did we initiate any action to make it difficult for these terrorist to move around? Considering the threat we allowed a single vehicle to move without adequate protection. In this same area we have had over a dozen incidents where we have lost lives but have not been able to kill any terrorist. I am not aware if we have a strong counter infiltration grid in this area? Focus seems to be more on South Kashmir? After 2016 Surgical strikes and Balakot we have not done much to instill fear into the Pakis. A coherent strategy is required. Challenges are tremendous but not beyond us. Our forces can do it!
Maj Gen. Vijay Pande
I have commanded a Brigade in the same area. My views are that on this road the ROP was either not in place or not alert. Secondly, I don't see why a single vehicle was moving without any escorts that too at 1500 hrs when the ROPs anyway start winding up. Let's keep the strategic level away. It was a clear cut lapse at the Brigade and Battalion levels. Complacency may be the reason? I might add that nowadays that the area i.e. the hinterland in the Rajouri sector is pretty thinly held and not the way it was in my time. My respects to the fallen soldiers.
(Views expressed are the respondent's own and do not reflect the editorial stance of Mission Victory India)
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