New Army chief’s confidence and caution
Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat has struck a fine balance, while preparing to take on any eventuality on the borders and maintaining peace in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. While he has made known his intention to gear up for a frontal attack against Pakistan, if the situation demands, he hasd also hoped for peace and tranquility along the borders. Undoubtedly, Pakistan is a belligerent neighbour, but India has to review all possible options before walking the war path. It is good that Gen Rawat has kept the option open of surgical strikes against terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), as and when the need arises. It should be clear, if it isn’t already, to Pakistan, that the situation will no longer be the same as before.
India is fully prepared to respond even beyond its borders, if the enemy provokes. In fact, the September 29 surgical strikes conducted by our Armed Forces were a stern warning to Pakistan and its proxies that cross-border terrorism will not be business as usual from now on. And, General Rawat must continue on this trajectory and ensure the State of Jammu & Kashmir as a total ‘no go zone’ for the Islamists. He is right in saying that insurgency and proxy-wars have badly affected the very secular fabric and the security forces in the State. But his resolve to prevent inimical elements further to disturb harmony and peace in the State is to be appreciated. Though cross-border infiltrations have come down in recent weeks, yet the Army is on full alert to thwart all kinds of winter shocks — something the militants have done in the past. Recent trend shows that the terrorists are now trying to sneak into the State through Jammu. And keeping this in mind, the Indian Army has made a foolproof strategy so as to take on the insurgents on all these routes at any time.
As per media reports, the Army is banking on the proactive war strategy, popularly known as the ‘cold start doctrine', to hone its conventional military operations and make the forces ready for immediate strikes across the border. In military parlance, the ‘cold start’ strategy is to swiftly mobilise and strike hard across the border within 96 hours or so. This provides enough room for the security agencies to go on a combat role without much preparation as they are already at a stage where they just need to move. Meanwhile, General Rawat is willing to follow the policy of wait-and-watch, as there could be changes in Pakistan's military tactics with the taking over of the new chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, last November.
But if the past is any indication, Pakistan-based militants will once again gear up for their dastardly acts, no matter whosoever is the Army chief in Pakistan, since they will always find support from the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence. The militants are constantly shifting their base depending on weather and terrain. They are now mostly operating from make-shift bases after the massive destruction of the terror launchpads in last year by the Indian military. It would be worth watching to see how General Rawat moves ahead, when he says: “Not all tasks to ensure territorial integrity can be done in a defensive mode. Offence, after all, is the best defence.”