The biggest and most cowardly attack till date on Army in Uri sector on Sunday has unleashed a wave of anger among the armed forces veterans residing in Uttarakhand. Suspected laskar terrorists had attacked a brigade headquarter in Uri in which 17 armed forces personnel were killed. The four terrorists involved in the attack were killed by paratroopers of the army.
The armed forces veterans of the state are unanimous in the view that time for a decisive response has arrived now and political leadership of the country should act to give a fitting reply to such barbaric attacks. The veterans are united in the belief that the terrorist attack has clear imprints of total involvement of Pakistani army.
Major General Chander Nandwani (Rtd) told The Pioneer that the political leaders should now stop tall talks and instead act as per the wish of the people of the country. He said that the presence and location of 44 terrorist camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) is known to the defence establishment of the country and a surgical strike on these hideouts is one of the options before the government. Nandwani brushed aside the threat of Pakistan to use nuclear weapons in case India undertakes any punitive action and said that Pakistan has given such mock charges in past too. He said that a public opinion in the country for a befitting reply to Pakistan has built up in the country and the government of India should act now.
The President of Uttarakhand ex services league, Brigadier R S Rawat (Rtd) said that the morale of the armed forces of the country can be salvaged by a fitting retribution. He however cautioned against any knee jerk reaction. “If any attack is carried out now then it would be not much of use as enemy too is prepared. We must retaliate but its time and quantum should be decided after careful planning,’’ he said.
The retired Brigadier informed that Indian troops are in an advantageous position along most of the lOC and in case of any skirmish India is in a better position. He said that the government of India should undertake economic and trade sanction and try to isolate Pakistan internationally.
The retried JCOs and Other Ranks (ORs) are also of the view that the limit to which we can tolerate the misadventures of Pakistan has long surpassed and India should give a fitting reply. “If need arises we ex-servicemen are ready to hold weapons again. We have power to teach a lesson to Pakistan and if we continue to keep quite on such provocations then an emboldened enemy would carry out more of such attacks,’’ said N S Rana a retired Havildar and a resident of Nathuwawala.