Give wing to escalation across LoC

No such reticence has been shown by the other side. The international community has openly recognised Pakistan’s complicity in cross-border terrorism. Pakistan herself has not really denied it. President Pervez Musharraf has blown hot and cold on his intentions and capability to stop the traffic of militants into India. He recently repeated that Pakistan cannot ensure that there is no movement of terrorists across the border.

In such a case, we need to take action ourselves. We could, for instance, inflict some pain on Pakistan in response to the increasing pain we’ve been subject to for so many years. This message could be conveyed across, and not be words or rhetoric alone. Continued militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has taken its toll, it’s felt that we have not done enough to counter terrorism. We can’t allow these assumptions to be nurtured any more. The obvious need is stronger, even ruthless, action against the militants backed by the power of the media.

The impact of such a course of action will be greatly enhanced if it is accompanied by offensive action across the LoC. For years, minor skirmishes have taken place at the LoC, and artillery, rocket, mortar and small arms fire has been exchanged across the line. The same targets could also be attacked with greater accuracy by aircraft. Indeed, organic weapons with our Army have limited range and hence yield limited options. The use of aircraft will permit better selection of targets at considerable distances with more effective weapons. In other words, we could plan and launch a campaign based on what and how we would like to attack as opposed to exercising a markedly limited choice of targets and use of weapons of somewhat lower accuracy.

The use of the air force across the LoC is certainly escalatory, but it has possibly become inescapable. There are a number of precedents in the use of air power in enemy held territory to combat terrorism in the home country. Israel has been doing this almost since it was created. India certainly has grounds to escalate the conflict, given the fact that our efforts so far have met with only limited success.

We should be able to get other countries to see our point of view at least to the point of non-interference. Moreover, the use of air power does not involve any desire to gain territory and, therefore, is not escalatory in that sense. Use of air power on both sides of the LoC backed by action by our Army and paramilitary forces at the LoC and in the hinterland could also enhance the morale of our armed forces personnel.

Sceptics will say that such escalatory plans could lead to an all out conventional war and could even involve the possible use of nuclear weapons. It is true that some escalation is unavoidable, but it’s debatable whether a limited war will result. What is envisaged is the use of air power in small numbers for well-defined actions that will yield better dividends than merely the use of ground forces on the Indian side; that too against militants and terrorists who enjoy some degree of local support. Moreover, we also need to remember—and remind Pakistan if necessary—that we have military strength and resolve on our side. No military endeavour is without risk, but calculated risks are called for. What’s needed is a careful but speedy and time bound approach.

(The writer, a former vice chief of air staff, was the Air Officer Commanding Chief of the Western Command during the Kargil operations)