NSA coordinating between PM, different agencies
As ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir continued on Wednesday, India has given a free hand to the security forces to retaliate and is prepared for the “long haul.” New Delhi will also not succumb to blackmail by Islamabad for talks to resolve the present crisis till Pakistan Army and Rangers stop firing on Indian security posts and hamlets.
“They (Pakistan) cannot dictate terms to us for talks. The talks, if at all are held, will be at our terms and till then we are prepared for the long haul,” top Government sources said here on Wednesday.
Sources said the Government has given free hand to the Army and the BSF to undertake retaliatory steps. Media reports in Pakistan claimed that at least 35 people, including civilians and security forces personnel, were killed in retaliatory fire by India in the last two days. While 20 died on Tuesday, 15 others were killed on Monday. However, there was no independent confirmation of this claim, they said.
During the day, NSA Ajit Doval emerged as the key player from the Government to coordinate with the Prime Minister, different agencies, Home Ministry and BSF to deal with the situation. Doval had detailed meeting with officials of Home Ministry, security agencies is reported to have briefed the PM about the inputs.
When asked about the ongoing violations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Wednesday “jaldi sab theek ho jayega. (Everything will be alright soon).” This was the first statement by Modi since firing began on the International Border and line of Control (loC) six days back.
The Prime Minister made this observation on the sidelines of a reception hosted by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha at his official residence on the occasion of the IAF Day. Modi, however, refrained from going beyond this statement.
Elaborating upon the Government’s plan to deal with the situation with Pakistan not willing to de-escalate tension, officials said, “We are also responding with massive retaliatory fire and we are not going to stop firing and targeting Pakistani security posts till they stop firing.”
Asserting that that there is no question of holding talks or flag meetings till Pakistan stops firing, officials said the latest bout of ceasefire violations took place since India had blocked all efforts by Islamabad to internationalise the Kashmir issue.
Citing the reason that could have frustrated Pakistan, officials said Pakistan was upset with India’s move to close down the United Nations Military Observers Group on India and Pakistan. India had mooted this proposal in July this year as the UN mission has no relevance after the Shimla agreement between India and Pakistan in 1972.
Secondly, Modi refrained from joining issues Pakistan when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raised the Kashmir issue in UN General Assembly session last month in New York.
Thirdly, India’s successful and meaningful engagement with Japan, China and US did not go down well with Pakistan, and it was trying hard to focus attention on Kashmir by firing on hamlets and security posts on the international border, officials said.
As regards the current situation on the loC, they said seven ceasefire violations were recorded from 1.30 pm on Tuesday till seven am on Wednesday in Poonch sector.
Asked to spell out measures taken by the Army to counter Pakistani firing, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Wednesday said the security forces have “given adequate, immediate and appropriate response to Pakistan.”
The IAF chief said ceasefire violations and firing from across the loC are “quite serious” and the Government wants a “quick resolution” of the problem there. Stating this during an interaction with the media at IAF airbase in Hindon, Ghaziabad, he said, “The issue is quite serious and it should not happen. The Government is taking it seriously and we want a quick resolution of the problem. We want peace and tranquility and want the borders to be normal.
“India wants good relations with our neighbours and the Government is taking a number of steps in this direction diplomatically and otherwise. We are all concerned and efforts are being made to bring this to an end. All security agencies are concerned the way the things have developed in last few days and we want an early resolution,” he said when asked to comment on the ceasefire violations along the lOC and the International Border.
Asked about the directives given by the Government to the Services on the way to handle the ceasefire violations, the IAF chief said, “Directions are very simple that we need to resolve the issue at the earliest. We want peace and tranquility on the border so that the nation can focus on development and other important issues.”
Earlier in the day, Home Minister Rajnath Singh instructed BSF chief DK Pathak to give “strong reply” to Pakistan and not hold any flag meetings till Pakistan ended shelling and firing on the border. The BSF chief had appraised Singh over phone about the ceasefire violations along the loC and and International Border areas.
In the afternoon, Home Secretary Anil Goswami convened a high-level meeting which was attended by Intelligence Bureau chief Asif Ibrahim and top brass of IB and BSF to take stock of the situation. The Ministry directed to provide required logistical support to the rehabilitation centres opened by BSF, where civilians had shifted from borders areas.
In the evening, the NSA also convened a meeting of Home Ministry officials including Goswami and senior officials of Boarder Management division. Top brass of Intelligence and Security agencies also attended the meeting that also went into evidences that terrorist elements were also taking part in the aggression by Pakistan’s Army and Rangers, which was also trying to push in infiltrators in the Indian territory.
The BSF on Wednesday said the situation on the border with Pakistan is unpredictable and the paramilitary will retaliate heavily to any Pakistani misadventure.
On being asked if there could be a resolution to the unprovoked firing by Pakistan some time soon or the situation could escalate into something like a full-fledged war, Director General of BSF DK Pathak told The Pioneer, “So far, overtures have not been made from either side on any dialogue or flag meetings. The situation (on the ground) is unpredictable, it may escalate further or may be peace is restored within a matter of day or two.”
“We will definitely retaliate heavily to any unprovoked firing from the other side. We are mandated to guard the borders and will do so at any cost,” Pathak said.
On the Pakistani forces targeting civilian areas and inflicting casualties to innocent citizens, he said, “Professional forces should not do that….May be they are desperate.”
When asked about the instructions from the Government in tackling the situation, he said the Ministers of Defence and Home have made it amply clear on what our response will be on the unprovoked firing by Pakistan and there is no need to add anything to that.
Shelling by Pakistan during the day remained intermittent and their forces usually resort to heavy shelling during the night for which the BSF is prepared to retaliate in full measure.
BSF Inspector General of Jammu Rakesh Sharma told The Pioneer over phone, “Retaliation from our side has been sufficient in terms of the lethality of the equipment used. After receiving civilian casualties on our side due to Pak shelling, we have also inflicted heavy damage to them in terms of human and other assets.”
Sharma further said, “We are fully prepared to retaliate to their actions. We are already using area domination weapons of matching or higher denomination.”