The army suffered huge damage in Manipur on 4th of June when the militants of the NSCN(K) group attacked them and we lost 18 army men.
On 9th morning Indian army with intelligence attacked back and took out around 50 militants. It was a well executed operation with no casualties on the Indian side.
The Army issued a statement which was a bit vague in details. The statement did mention just that the operation was in the border and that President of Myanmar said they don't want to allow any militants operating out of their land and that they were not involved in the operation. Everything was perfect till then.
Then the government stepped in and the MOS of I&B Col Rathore shot off stating that we entered the Myanmar and the army of Myanmar was informed. This led the Myanmar government to issue a denial that this happened, this put them in an embarrassing position.
The Minister also went on to state that we wanted to send a message and we will repeat such operations in future against any country. He added to good measure that we will take out militants at any place of our choosing. This is plain immaturity on the part of the minister. The Ambassador has been called to explain the statements and the NSA is rushing to Myanmar also. Minister also tweeted with 56InchRocks which is plain chest thumping.
Covert operations has to stay covert and always the message will go out in a subtle way to the people who has to get the message.
First and foremost people of this generation who are jumping in joy have to understand that this is not the first time we have our army enter other country and take out militants. Those who have read Kaoboys of RAW will know that we had a covert operations wing under RAW which ensured every militant actions had a retaliation. IK Gujral government wound down the covert operations wing of the RAW.
There are many more such operations, in 2003 we entered Bhutan and with the help of their army took out northeastern militants. Also heard on the TV that during the Narasimha Rao government an entire Battalion entered Myanmar and took out some of the militants. Myanmar and Bangladesh government headed by Sheikh Hasina allowed us to conduct such operations.
Secondly this has caused huge embarrassment to the Myanmar government. They will think twice before agreeing to a similar operation request.
Thirdly there are political reasons for this and I am sure the army action in itself (without the statements by the Government) would have proved a point that the government was decisive in acting against the militants.
Hope the government learns from this episode and don't go about chest thumping. Read that the PM and EAM are upset with this and I hope that is true.
On 9th morning Indian army with intelligence attacked back and took out around 50 militants. It was a well executed operation with no casualties on the Indian side.
The Army issued a statement which was a bit vague in details. The statement did mention just that the operation was in the border and that President of Myanmar said they don't want to allow any militants operating out of their land and that they were not involved in the operation. Everything was perfect till then.
Then the government stepped in and the MOS of I&B Col Rathore shot off stating that we entered the Myanmar and the army of Myanmar was informed. This led the Myanmar government to issue a denial that this happened, this put them in an embarrassing position.
The Minister also went on to state that we wanted to send a message and we will repeat such operations in future against any country. He added to good measure that we will take out militants at any place of our choosing. This is plain immaturity on the part of the minister. The Ambassador has been called to explain the statements and the NSA is rushing to Myanmar also. Minister also tweeted with 56InchRocks which is plain chest thumping.
Covert operations has to stay covert and always the message will go out in a subtle way to the people who has to get the message.
First and foremost people of this generation who are jumping in joy have to understand that this is not the first time we have our army enter other country and take out militants. Those who have read Kaoboys of RAW will know that we had a covert operations wing under RAW which ensured every militant actions had a retaliation. IK Gujral government wound down the covert operations wing of the RAW.
There are many more such operations, in 2003 we entered Bhutan and with the help of their army took out northeastern militants. Also heard on the TV that during the Narasimha Rao government an entire Battalion entered Myanmar and took out some of the militants. Myanmar and Bangladesh government headed by Sheikh Hasina allowed us to conduct such operations.
Secondly this has caused huge embarrassment to the Myanmar government. They will think twice before agreeing to a similar operation request.
Thirdly there are political reasons for this and I am sure the army action in itself (without the statements by the Government) would have proved a point that the government was decisive in acting against the militants.
Hope the government learns from this episode and don't go about chest thumping. Read that the PM and EAM are upset with this and I hope that is true.
Totally agreed. The govt must be as subtle as the army in releasing statements. But that is too much expectation in India :).
ReplyDeleteCovert ops were done by Rajiv too in Lanka and Mauritius and not ended with Indira.
I think Bhutan ops was in 2003.
Started thinking to which generation I belong to :)
I saw the interview of RS Rathore .... His facial reaction was that of Rambo after the mission is accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAnand you are also getting old :)
ReplyDelete31 rounds around the sun :)
ReplyDelete