In this photograph taken on June 4, 2015, Indian security personnel stand alongside the smouldering vehicle wreckage at the scene of an attack on a military convoy in a remote area of Chandel district, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) southwest of northeastern Manipur's state capital Imphal. PHOTO: AFP
Indian army’s operation in Myanmar Tuesday morning should be construed as a clear message to all countries, including Pakistan, which are harbouring terrorist groups seeking to destabilise India, Rajyavardhan Rathore, minister of state for information and broadcasting, said on Wednesday. He said his country would strike whenever and wherever it wanted.
After an ambush in India’s north-eastern Manipur state that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers, the Indian army’s special forces undertook an across-the-border hot pursuit into Myanmar and killed 20 militants.
“It was a much-needed decision that was taken by the prime minister,” said Rathore. “This decision was extremely bold in nature. And it involved our special forces crossing the border and going deep into another country.”
Quoting intelligence reports, the minister said two camps were preparing another strike on India and these two camps were geographically distant from each other. “Both camps were struck and were completely annihilated. The special forces returned without a single casualty,” he claimed.
Earlier, using the #ManipurRevenge and #56InchRocks hashtags on the micro-blogging website Twitter, Rathore said: “A salute to Indian army for #ManipurRevenge strike. Massive political will displayed by our strong @PMOIndia @narendramodi @manoharparrikar.”
In another tweet, he said: “Indian army strikes into the heart of militants. Desh ke dushmano ko karara jawab. Kushal netritva, mazboot sarkar PM @narendramodi #56inchRocks.” The term ‘56 inch’ is a reference to Indian Premier Narendra Modi, who is seen as a man with a 56-inch chest (‘Chhappan inch ki chhaati’).
“We will not tolerate any strikes on India or Indians. We’ll always wield the initiative on either being friendly or engaging in aggressive action. We will strike at a place and at a time of our choosing,” Rathore said, underlining this as the ‘essence of warfare’.
Asked if India could engage in similar surgical strikes on terror groups in Pakistan, the minister said: “This is a message for all countries, including Pakistan, and groups harbouring terror intent towards India. A terrorist is a terrorist and has no other identity. We will strike when we want to.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2015.
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