Army Commander: Will Conduct Surgical Strikes Whenever Needed

The surgical strike was a point we wanted to drive home -- that the LoC is not a line that cannot be breached.

Indian Army representational photo.

(Photo: Reuters)

A top Army commander said on Thursday that the surgical strikes carried out last year at terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) can be breached and the country can be striked when needed.

Lt Gen Devraj Anbu, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Northern Command, also ruled out any Dokalam type stand-off between the armies of India and China in Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), saying a multi-tier mechanism is in place to resolve any issue that may arise due to differences in perception of the border.

After presenting gallantry and distinguished services medals to 103 army officers and jawans and certificates of appreciation to 31 units apart from 31 civilians at an investiture ceremony at the Northern Command headquarters, Anbu spoke at a press conference. He said:

The surgical strike was a point we wanted to drive home across -- that the Line of Control (LoC) is not a line that cannot be breached. When we want to, we will be able to breach it [LoC], go across and strike when we need. This was the message we wanted to convey and we did.

Replying to questions about the possibility of a Dokalam-type stand-off between the armies of India and China in Ladakh, Gen Anbu said, "I don't expect Dokalam-like situation to take place."

He said both countries have their own perception about the LAC and "therefore, we try to dominate these areas by patrolling. In the process, (if) you have certain faceoffs and issues arising out of difference of perception, we have mechanism in place."

Mechanism are “well-placed”, from the lowest to highest level and whatever the nature of the issue, we deal with them daily. Meetings take place and hotline communication is available to resolve differences.

To a question about China building huge infrastructure near 'finger 4' point along the LAC in Ladakh, he said, "They (China) are on the banks of Pangoso (Lake). There are 'finger' 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Finger 8 is the farthest one which PLA controls and finger 4 is in our control. "As far infrastructure on the Indian side is concerned, he said, "we have progressed in last 10 years in eastern Ladakh," he said.

Replying to a question about construction of a bridge by PLA on a stream after entering Indian territory in Dhamchok area of Ladakh, he said, "The bridge, you are mentioning, is not a bridge but a small log. It's the line of Actual Control where the perception defers. They have a different perception (of LAC) as do we.

We are totally in control of the area concerned but the issue related to Dhamchok is basically about taking cattle for grazing on both the sides — on our side as well as the PLA side. The issue has been raised and needs to be resolved. we are dealing it with in a manner available to us to take it up with the PLA.

“We are in full control," he added.