Asserting that repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan are “unacceptable”, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne today warned that India may have to look at “some other options for compliance” if such incidents continue.
“We have a Line of Control, we have a ceasefire agreement, we have certain structures and mechanisms which are sacrosanct and any violation of these with impunity, especially what has been happening in the last few months, is totally unacceptable.
“We are monitoring the situation carefully because if these things continue to be the way they are and these violations continue to take place, then perhaps we may have to look at some other options for compliance,” he told presspersons here on the sidelines of an NCC function.
The IAF chief, who is the senior-most armed forces officer in the country, was asked about the suggestions he has given to the political leadership on the brutal killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan Army.
Refusing to divulge the options being looked at by the Government, he said, “Options are options. We do not discuss these options openly. If the violations continue, we may have to look at the whole issue all over again.”
Asked how the military leadership would uphold the honour of soldiers such as the two jawans killed by the Pakistan Army, he said, “When you join the armed forces, you hold certain ethos, values and certain traditions of the country which you have to uphold.”
On January 8, Pakistan Army regulars infiltrated Indian territory in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and killed and mutilated the bodies of Lance Naiks Sudhakar Singh and Hemraj there.
India has also been raising the issue of the rising number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the last one year.
Keywords: IAF chief N.A.K. Browne on ceasefire violations, Browne on considering other options if ceasefire violations continue, killing and mutilation of bodies of two army jawans by Pakistan Army regulars
Comments:
Whenever strong measures by our armed forces are suggested by our citizen’s forum or an individual against terror-outfits or their support actors from across the border, immediately a grave warning comes from our internal sources advising us against any such action. Same thing happened when I suggested that if our military is given a free hand, without political interference, our forces will surely act positively and ensure that there is no border infiltration which will effectively reduce the support base of the indigenous terror outfits. One reader went to the extent of stating that if we act against Pak.interests, even US and China will come to Pak’s rescue because of its strategic importance and hence we cannot act “hot-headed”.
Let me analyze this point carefully.
1]. Firstly I have only suggested that we act firmly with infiltrators –our border level aggressors- and against our indigenous terror outfits who receive active support from anti-national elements. Military can have a free hand in curbing these menaces.
2] Secondly china did not interfere to help Pakistan when US raided inside their territory repeatedly since they knew US was not attacking Pakistan.
3] Thirdly When China acted firmly against “demonstrators in favor of democracy” within their territory, neither US nor India-greatest democracies in the world- raised any objections but treated it as their internal matter.
In the same way neither US nor China will interfere if we act firmly in our national interest against indigenous terror outfits who receive assistance from abroad. Even Pakistan will not dare to interfere in this act of ours overtly.
4] Fourthly India’s threat is actually internal and not external. Presence of innumerable number of elected representatives with criminal records is a major stumbling block for our government to act tough against terror outfits and anti-nationals. Acting tough against these elements can never be equated to attacking another nation. No external force will interfere in this operation since we are only solving our internal problem.
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