Uri Attack: Did Fire Delay Offensive Ops Against Terrorists?

The fire set off by the attackers resulted in army men rushing to rescue their colleagues, says Surya Gangadharan.

The Uri attack throws up a lot of vital points that need considering. Let’s get some insights first:

• This was the first attack of its kind in J&K where incendiary ammunition was used.
  
• It was brutally effective, accounting for 13 to 14 of the 17 jawans who have died so far.
  
• It underscored the vulnerability of the Army unit deployed in the Uri bowl with regards to Pakistani-held Haji Pir directly above.

Security Lapses

The army’s immediate task is to figure out what happened at the camp: Were there lapses, and if so, of what kind? Were the guards not alert enough, or was supervision inadequate?

Usually, when a camp is under attack, every officer and man is required to move to a certain location in the camp (it could be a trench or bunker), the idea being that from a covered position they can take on the terrorists.  In the present case, the use of incendiary ammunition and the fires it set off resulted in men rushing to rescue their people. As a result, there may have been an element of panic and delay in tackling the terrorists. 

The Army must draw lessons from this.  It may also have to post guards further up the hillsides that surround the camp.

Also Read: Uri Attack: How the Events That Martyred 17 Soldiers Unfolded

Well-Strategised Attacks Ahead of UNGA Session

Now, the larger picture. The attack in Uri may have been part of a two-target strike, the first being Poonch on 12 September, where an army brigade headquarters is located. It was pre-empted by the army and four terrorists were killed.

Senior Indian diplomats and armed forces officers say the date of the Poonch attack is interesting, for the very next day the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session began.  The fact that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to address the UNGA on Kashmir on Wednesday (20 September) is also intriguing.

Retired army commanders who have served in Kashmir have little doubt that the Poonch and Uri attacks, “while of a tactical, low-level nature, do serve a larger geo-strategic purpose for Islamabad.”

In their opinion, such attacks help renew the focus on Kashmir.

Options Before India

So what does India do now? Politicians’ have made their predictable (and inflated) statements. Those with no accountability have been the most vociferous. But one can take comfort from what the prime minister tweeted: “I assure the nation that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished.”

What are India’s options? A diplomatic offensive must be unleashed at the UNGA, and it must be done bilaterally with India’s key partners.

The aim must be to underscore Pakistan’s role, not only in sponsoring terrorism in south Asia (India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan), but its role in encouraging Jihadi groups in other parts of the world. Evidence for this will not be lacking.

Also Read: If Pak’s Chosen War, Let’s Go for It: Vijender Singh on Uri Attack

Vulnerabilities Exposed after Uri Terror Attack

• Incendiary ammunition used by terrorists, that led to fires, may have caused panic among soldiers, resulting in a delay in combative action.
  
• The Uri attack highlights the need to provide further protection to soldiers by posting guards on the hillsides that surround the Army camps.
  
• The attack shows Pakistan’s desperation to draw international attention to Kashmir ahead of the UNGA session.
  
• India should retaliate by launching a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.
  

Taking China On-board

India must reach out to China, underscoring that its Pakistan policy of ‘running with the hares and hunting with the hounds’, cannot work indefinitely. Beijing is unlikely to be moved, but recent media reports from there do suggest some re-thinking about the wisdom of investing $40 billion in building the ‘Belt and Road’ project in unstable, conflict-prone Pakistan.

There are suggestions China could do better by investing that money in more tranquil areas like Vietnam. In that sense, the visit of the Vietnamese Prime Minister to Beijing last week could throw up interesting possibilities.

How Should the Indian Army Respond?

Army officers say any military action by India against Pakistan should ideally be timed after the UNGA winds up on 26 September.

“There are a range of options the Army could exercise,” a senior retired officer said. “These could include punishing artillery strikes on Pakistani army posts on the Line of Control that are used as launch pads for sending terrorists into India.”

This will hurt the Pakistani soldier, it will hurt his family. The Pakistani Army brass doesn’t care if terrorists die, but the sorrow of a soldier’s family cannot be ignored.

In short, the Pakistani Army must pay the price not only on the Line of Control, but elsewhere, such as in Balochistan.

Also Read: Those Responsible for Uri Attack Will Be Punished: PM Modi

Hard-Headed Approach

Lastly, India must bite the bullet. It must plan and execute attacks on Pakistani terrorist leaders like Hafiz Saeed of the Lashkar-e-Toiba or Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e-Mohammad. Taking them out shouldn’t be difficult. They are public figures in Pakistan; they move around freely and hold large conclaves.

Again, much depends on how India acts on the diplomatic stage and how it plays its cards.  Appealing to sentiment and principles will not work. This is about national interest – India’s and other countries, and South Block needs to calibrate a hard-headed approach... and our wool-gathering politicians need to keep their hair on.  

Also Read: Pakistan Army Asks for ‘Actionable Intelligence’ on Uri Attack

(The writer is former international affairs editor, CNN-IBN and NDTV. He can be reached at @suryagang)

Also read
To Pressure Pak, India’s Reaction to Uri Must Be Sober, Not Shrill
Defensive and In Denial: How Pakistanis Reacted to the Uri Attack