Indian Army has been losing very high number of young
officers in the undeclared/proxy war in Kashmir Valley. Matter of deep concern
as the bargain is killing a few terrorists at the cost of young officers. It’s
a very poor bargain indeed.
During British rule of India, army followed a dictum called
“last man last round”, came to be known as “not an inch of territory to be
lost”. This implied army troops deployed on a piece of ground are not to
retreat and die if attacked and even if odds are heavily stacked against the
force. Similarly for piece of ground to be held and defended against an
assaulting enemy, it needs tactical considerations and not emotional logic.
Over a period of time, armies realising that it costs heavy
to train officers and men have been modifying this dictum. Israel, surrounded
by maximum enemies was the first one to review and wisely so. It was changed to
live another day to fight back rather than get slaughtered in hopeless
situation. No wonder, it suffers least causalities in spite of very heavy violence
almost on daily basis.
Fishermen fishing in our waters around Andaman and Nicobar
Islands don’t mind being arrested by our security forces as they are assured of
decent treatment in jails till courts pronounce judgement which is very
liberal. Anyone caught by others is not arrested but knuckle cracking and
sending off is the treatment. Rightly these people dread others but don’t mind
stealing our fish.
Are we soft/too humane are shear incompetent to implement
law with the severity it demands or nation doesn’t care for the economic costs
being forced upon or is the Government of the day scared of harsh measures due
to vocal but incompetent media catering more for TRPs rather than truthful
reporting. Probably all combined make us a soft state incapable of tough
decisions.
Keeping in view the worsening security situation which would
become worse with militant Islam raising its ugly head on our borders, it’s
time for review. Situation becomes worse when locals start to side the
terrorists when cornered by security forces and start to act as human shields
and on collateral damage taking place, every one without accountability, wants
his 5 seconds of fame by quoting numerous laws and rights though it’s not
applicable when terrorists undertake terror acts killing unarmed civilians. Civilians
providing human shields emboldens other waiting on the other side and gives
adequate munitions to all divisive forces within and foreign.
When terrorists are surrounded, hiding and firing-why should
they be attacked? Wear them out and use maximum force after evicting civilians
being used as hostages. Some refuse to come out use appropriate force. This
will instill fear amongst terrorist and their supporters
Keeping the above in view, it may be desirable to review
basic tactics with following guidelines
Own/civilian
causalities are avoided.
Time be
used as force multiplier to own advantage- wear out/no hurry
Use
technology rather than physical force
Let NGOs/political leaders (those
who chest beat post an encounter) go in and motivate terrorists to surrender.
Also involve local Maulavi/village seniors to negotiate
Use fire; smoke and stun grenades to kill/evict holed up terrorists
Media be kept away during conduct
and video be released during operational press conference
This approach will be a win – win for security forces and
the nation, only looser will be terrorists and Pak, Isn’t that all we wish
