Posted on 05/18/2002 10:30:32 AM PDT by HeliumAvid
Indian Army on six-hour alert
18 May 2002: The Indian Army has been put on a six-hour alert and the cabinet committee on security will today consider military options against Pakistani terrorism that revolve around air raids on terror camps and limited capture of strategic territory, top officials said.
Officials also said that the Indian Army has been put on less than six-hour alert in the northern sector where an Indian offensive is being planned against Pakistan.
Indian forces were so far on training mode.
India deployed the largest strength of troops since the 1971 Bangladesh War on the common border with Pakistan following the 13-December-2001 Pakistani terrorist attack on Indian Parliament.
Officials said that all non-field formations responsible for setting up supply routes have been pressed into action again.
“The focus is on a limited offensive in the northern sector,” an official said.
Military circles are widely discussing an old option to seize Haji Pir pass captured and returned in the 1965 war with Pakistan.
A captured Haji Pir will connect Uri to Poonch and limit cross-border terrorism.
In a winter offensive, India was planning to open a second front in the desert.
But officials said that most of the strike elements have been moved to Punjab.
Analysts said that this indicated that if the war escalates, India could open a second front in the plains of Punjab.
“Our understanding,” said an official, “is that if Pakistan does use the limited nuclear strike option against our troops, it would be better to face it in the scarcely-populated desert than in agriculturally-rich, densely-populated Punjab.”
This is one major drawback with opening a second front into Pakistan from Punjab.
Officials said that India expects the United States to come down heavily on Pakistan either if it escalates the conventional war (which India thinks it cannot win) or if it goes for a nuclear strike.
Army moves missile units to border
17 May 2002: The Indian Army has mobilised seven artillery units capable of firing short-range missiles in case of an intense conflict with Pakistan while initial reports suggest that four Pakistan army bunkers were hit by Indian troops retaliating against Pakistani firing in the Jammu sector, top officials said.
Officials said that the Indian Army and Air Force will conduct aerial surveys in the Jammu sector to block Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are now flying within Pakistani territory for the last two days.
Indian defence ministry officials said that all seven artillery units were deployed in the Bikaner sector of Rajasthan while two more units are likely to join them from Punjab.
The artillery units are equipped with long-range 155-mm and 130-mm guns besides anti- tank missiles and short-range surface-to-surface missiles that can hit Pakistani bunkers 40-50 km inside the Line of Control (LoC).
Officials said that artillery fire was being planned to be used to target terror camps in Gultari, Mangala and Skardu.
Officials refused to say when and if short-range missiles would be used.
Senior army commanders decided at a hurriedly-called meeting at Army Headquarters that artillery units were required since Pakistan was using mortars and 155-mm howitzers to attack Indian targets.
Officials said that army commanders have submitted a special plan to neutralise Pakistani firing in the Jammu sector where the Indian Army is disadvantaged.
The Indian Army is planning to use air surveillance to ascertain Pakistani positions deep inside Pakistani territory to overcome this disadvantage.
After the Kaluchak massacre, the Indian Army is first attempting to neutralise Pakistani artillery firing by deploying more artillery units in the Jammu sector and north of Pir Panjal.
The army also plans to consolidate its position on the upper ridges from Zojila to Turtuk and engage the Pakistan army in artillery exchanges in case it attempts to block national highway 1A.
Army, intelligence give plans to CCS
18 May 2002: The Indian Army and the intelligence agencies have submitted two sets of retaliatory measures to the cabinet committee on security (CCS) to counter Pakistani terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, top officials said.
Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today convened the CCS that asked Pakistan to recall its high commissioner to India, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.
Government spokespersons did not reveal other details of the CCS deliberations.
Top officials said that the Indian Army had suggested three options to the CCS.
The first option is to strike at terror camps located between 40-50 kilometres inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with artillery, short-range missiles and air-to-ground missiles fired by the Indian Air Force and Army Aviation Wing.
Officials said that this option precludes crossing the Line of Control or international border (IB).
The second army option suggested to CCS is surgical strikes against terror camps in PoK after crossing the LoC and IB.
The army has said this option should be accompanied by a naval blockade of Pakistan to deny oil and other essential goods.
The third option is a full conventional war bolstered by sea-denial where Islamabad and other strategic targets will be captured.
Indian intelligence agencies have suggested other strategies if military options are unfeasible because of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent.
The agencies have proposed a long-term counter-insurgency strategy that involves covert action.
Official said that covert action could include secret missions to eliminate terrorist leaders, terrorist cadres and the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Intelligence agencies have also suggested issuing identity cards to border residents and eviction of illegal Pakistani migrants.
The wild card; will the US secure Pakistan's nukes when (hopefully) india hits? Is it a correct assumption for India to make? Pakistan has already said it would use nukes first....
Works for me. Repeat as necessary on a world-wide scale. Exterminate the vermin.
On the surface, this guy appears to be a nut case and he worries me. This testosterone display is upsetting the balance of power and distracting the continued war on terror. The Indi's need to control this guys pissin contests.
Seems like the most likely option to me.
Sure the US would support India against Pakistan, but I am wondering just what India expects from the US. If I were Powell I would be telling India not to start anything it can't finish on its own.
I don't think anyone would bother coming to Pakistans aid, (Iran maybe) but if the US gets involved, China is just waiting for the US to be sufficiently distracted to launch against Taiwan. Don't want to encourage them.
And allow the killing of wives and children of soldiers to go unpunished? THe ArmyCOS was recently in the US meeting with Rumsfeld. His attitude is just what india needs now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.