New Delhi: The Pakistani establishment is spoiling for a war but India is no mood to humour it. However, India has sent a strong message to Pakistan that an extremely strong retaliation is likely unless it stops ceasefire violations.
For the last several nights, Pakistan has been targetting Indian posts along the Line of Control (LOC) with small arms fire. The Indian Army has been reacting in an effective manner.
Matters came to a head after Pakistani troops started firing at Indian posts along the International Border (IB). According to senior officials, the Pakistan Army targetted the Pargwal Sector in Jammu. Indian troops reacted strongly.
In a hotline conversation that followed, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Indian Army, issued a strong warning to his counterpart in Pakistan that India may not limit herself to mere retaliatory firing if such activities continue.
The Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, resulting in the deaths of 26 persons, most of them tourists, has led to a diplomatic and military stand-off between India and Pakistan. Ever since the brutal killings, the Pakistan Army has been attempting to provoke India into taking steps that may lead to a full-scale war.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the Indian armed forces total independence to choose the place, time and form of any military action against Pakistan.
“Pakistan wants a war desperately. Though a full blown conflict will destroy the country, both physically and economically, the politicians and generals in Pakistan care little about the citizens of the country. They are simply looking for an excuse to justify the endless sufferings of the people in their country. India never spoke of War after the Pahalgam mayhem. We only spoke of going against the terrorists and their handlers. Pakistan, however, immediately started speaking of War. This reveals their true intentions,” a senior official in the Ministry of Defence said.
Pakistan is clearly confused. It knows that India is waiting for an opportune moment to strike. However, it doesn’t know where, when or how this strike is going to take place. As a result, it has increased troops strength along the LOC and the IB. It has also moved mobile radar stations closer to the border to check any movement of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. The IAF has, however, moved its assets to the country’s central sector and is carrying out drills.
Capital ships of the Indian Navy are not only patrolling the Arabian Sea, close to Pakistan’s territorial waters, but also holding trials of advanced missile systems. The Indian Army, meanwhile, is preparing for any situation thrown at it. All of this has left the Pakistani defence establishment that may have been waiting for a knee-jerk reaction from India, foxed.
“We are simply playing with their nerves. We will tire them out. And then they will not know what hit them,” a senior Indian military officer said.
