Surgical strikes: Constant hype around military operations

Press Trust of India  |  Chandigarh 

Gen Hooda was the when the surgical strikes were carried out on September 29, 2016 across the LoC as a response to a terrorist attack in Uri earlier that month.

The had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross into Indian territory.

Gen Hooda was speaking during a panel discussion on the topic, 'Role of Cross-Border Operations and Surgical Strikes,' on the first day of Military Literature Festival 2018 here.

The discussion was attended by Governor V P Singh Badnore amongst a battery of former Generals and Army Commanders. Many war veterans cautioned against "politicisation" ofthe military operations, as per a government release.

Lt Gen Hooda said it was naturalto have initial about the success but the constantmaintenance of hype around the military operations wasunwarranted, the release said.

Responding to a question from the audience, Hoodasaid in hindsight, it would have been better had we done it (surgical strikes) secretly.

The aim of any such offensive had to be not only tacticalbut strategic too, which substantially hampers enemy morale,he said.

Citing the example of the 1981 Israeli air strikes onIraqi nuclear sites, which had caused considerable damage, LtGeneral (retd) N S Brar underscored the need to ensurelong-term impact on the enemy before undertaking any suchoperation in the future.

Cautioning the political masters against being adventurists, Brar asked if the political masterswould have taken responsibility had there been any causalitiesin the strikes, the release said quoting him.

Earlier, a two minute silence was observed in the memoryof the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the serviceof the nation.

Governor and Chandigarh AdministratorV P Singh Badnore inaugurated the MLF.

Notably, MLF, which is into its second edition this year,is organised to raise awareness among people about the legacyof the armed forces, and rekindle among youth the motivating spirit to join the

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First Published: Fri, December 07 2018. 19:20 IST