February 18, 2017; By: Nitin A. Gokhale; 3
Army Chief: Gen Bipin Rawat
Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat's tough statement warning trouble makers in Kashmir to desist from obstructing operations by his troops or else face the consequences has evoked expected reactions.
There was one section–and I don't want to call them intellectuals–which pays lip service to the fauj but in reality stands against everything that the army seeks to protect and defend. This group has variously dubbed the Army Chief's remark as 'intemperate statement,' 'belligerent stand,' and 'declaration of war against Kashmiri youth.' This group of people have sought to create an impression that the Army Chief has ordered his troops to kill and maim indiscriminately. This is nothing but deliberate distortion of an emphatic assertion by a professional entrusted with the security of the country. But more of that a little later.
However, Gen Rawat's unambiguous stand has acted as a much needed confidence booster to the troops–young officers and soldiers at the cutting edge–who were often left wondering if they were doing the right and necessary thing in combating the terrorists, many times paying with their own lives.
In the wake of elimination of Burhan Wani, a local youth-turned terrorist leader last year and the subsequent turmoil in the Kashmir valley, abetted in no small measure by the Pakistani deep state through the selfish and self-centred separatist leaders, politics had dominated the discourse on J&K. It was conveniently forgotten that irrespective of his origin (as a Kashmiri youth), Burhan Wani was after all a terrorist whose days were numbered once he took up arms against the Indian state. His killing in an encounter with security forces should have been treated as just that–neutralisation of a terrorist. Instead, a narrative was sought to be built blaming the security forces for doing their job and doing it professionally.
Months of unrest following Burhan Wani's death often hampered the movement of security forces, disrupted their logistics chain and disturbed a well laid out security grid. The successful surgical strikes by Indian Army's special forces against terrorist launch pads located in Pak-Occupied Kashmir was preceded and followed by two setbacks for the Indian Army at Uri and Nagrota respectively.
The Army can take the setbacks in its stride and learn lessons from them but what demoralises the soldiers are the barely concealed barbs by ill-informed critics who do not have the faintest idea about the difficulties and constraints under which the troops have been operating in the unending war in J&k for over a quarter century now. Now Army in the world has maintained the relentless tempo of operations as the Indian Army has done since 1990.
It is to the credit of Indian Army leadership over the years that troops have retained the highest degree of motivation despite mounting odds.
However, the unwarranted criticism about strategy and tactics and the contempt that some of our prominent opinion makers hold against the Army had begun to affect the soldiers on the ground. A slight hesitation had started to creep in in their approach to counter-insurgency and counter-terrorists operations. Fortunately, the Army Chief's statement would have removed any lingering doubts the soldiers may have had about the necessity of their job and their role.
At another level, the warning by the Army Chief to those hindering operations and the support extended to him by the political leadership over his stand should send the right message to those fishing in Kashmir's troubled waters.
The separatists cannot use the unsuspecting young men and women as cannon fodder for their own agenda and get away with it. The Kashmiri awam must question the separatists: How long are you going to fire from the shoulders of ordinary Kashmiris?
There have been suggestions that the Centre must reach out to the youth of Kashmir. Perhaps the time has come to do just that and ignore the usual suspects but before that the youth must begin to understand the difference between mindless protests and legitimate demands.
Politics apart, Kashmiri parents must also begin to ask the question to themselves: Why allow the young to be used as a smoke screen for political objectives?
Perhaps the stern warning that those who hamper legitimate army operations will not be spared should spur families in Kashmir to ask that question sooner than later.
So for all those who outrage against the Army Chief's statement: hold your thoughts. He is not seeking any impunity for his troops. All that he is asking for is the right of the Army to exercise its legitimate powers given under the very constitution by which you claim to swear.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nitin Gokhale has been a multimedia reporter since 1983. He has recently made a transition from being a full-time journalist to becoming an author, media trainer and researcher.
3 COMMENTS
1.
Sanjay kulkarni
The Chief has only stated that those obstructing the Legitimate military Operations would be treated as overground supporters and treated accordingly. Would the locals not take action against those hooligans who obstruct Doctors from reaching the hospital's for performing their duties to treat the civilians.
2.
Brig HS Kaura
A very dispassionate and true analysis of the ground situation . The intellectual amongst politicians (far and few they may be) have to come out clean on this in National interest .
Army Chief's statement was very precise , clear and unambiguous in best interest of the National security.
Jai Hind
Brigadier HS Kaura
3.
Anil
I totally agree with the author and the statement of Army Chief. Targeting OGWs or overground workers is a legitimate act in counter terrorist operations. All these pseudo custodians of human rights ( yet not wanting to get on the wrong side of national sentiment), please read about actions of Pak Army in response to shrine blast, killing nearly 100 terrorists, including by using heavy Artillery. Indian Army doesn't even normally resort to use of automatic small arms. Sure the world hasn't forgotten how Sri Lanka conducted it's counter terror operations. Indian Army is professional and are not mercenaries. Don't demonize them and don't make the nation weak.
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