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Even as our attention is focused on Wing Cdr Abhinandan’s return, let’s look back and ahead a bit. India’s age old weakness of doing the military action precisely and professionally but failing to do the perception campaign right was on display again
While the readout by FS Vijay Gokhale immediately after the air strike on Balakot was appropriate and excellent, India failed to follow the same standard subsequently. In my view the armed forces briefing was 24 hours too late& appeared shoddy. Perhaps a lesson to be learnt there
What happened before the strike: India chose the target carefully and obtained precise intelligence about JeM leaders, their location and their movements at Balakot through a combination of HUMINT and TECHINT. Kudos are due to all who worked to get real time info.
Once the target was identified, the Air Force came into play. It took a lot of planning, coordination and selection of platforms, munitions and personnel to arrive at the right mix. Dry runs were carried out too—far from prying eyes.
Now came the biggest decision: Balakot is in KP, beyond Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. For 38 years after 1971, no Prime Minister had dared to breach the self-imposed restriction of not crossing the Line of Control, leave alone going deeper into Pakistan
After quick consultation with the NSA, service chiefs and intelligence chiefs, Prime Minister gave the in-principle approval but left the decision of choosing the time to the professionals. CCS members were briefed separately about the plan without details. The rest is history
What next? India has decided to keep up the pressure on Pakistan asking it to take credible, demonstrable and verifiable action against terrorist outfits including JeM and its leaders. Everyone is aware that this is a long haul.
Simultaneously, intelligence agencies have assessed that JeM will try and launch more audacious attacks in India, with or without the ISI’s support in coming months. This is where all hands on deck approach is required. Govt needs support from people on keeping vigil
Let’s not delude ourselves that just because Wing Cdr Abhinandan has been released (Pakistan would have had no choice but to do that eventually), Pakistan’s deep state is showing signs of abandoning its deep-rooted enemity with India. This is just a temporary pause. Be alert. END
