It was “long overdue”, said Colonel Utkarsh Rathore (Retd.) when asked about a first reaction to Operation Sindoor. “I learnt about the strikes very early on May 7 and immediately thought, “We have taken the proxy war that has been launched on India into Pakistan
Terrorists will be hunted down, says Lt. Col (Retd.) MK Choudhury
It was “long overdue”, said Colonel Utkarsh Rathore (Retd.) when asked about a first reaction to Operation Sindoor. “I learnt about the strikes very early on May 7 and immediately thought, “We have taken the proxy war that has been launched on India into Pakistan. We have suffered for three-and-a-half decades due to terrorism, Pahalgam, of course, being the latest.”
Entrenched
Asked about the continual conjecture and conversation that has followed Pahalgam, from when and if India will strike, to whether now that the country has done so, whether this is just one strike and action will dial down, Rathore said, “Terrorism is well-entrenched in the Pakistan Army/society. It is a state tool and cannot be removed in one strike. Yet, what this action does is send a very strong message to Pakistan. We struck three places that are the strongholds of at least three terror outfits — the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur and the Hizbul Mujahideen in Muzaffarabad. Terror outfits have their ‘franchisees’, if one could call it that, in the Sialkot sector and elsewhere.”
Message is fierce, says Col (Retd.) Utkarsh Rathore
Asked whether the Indian government came under pressure, Rathore said, “An elected government owes responsibility and an explanation. More than what triggered the response, we must focus on the modus operandi: while Pakistan may have expected a reaction, it was still a very fine design by deception. It was announced that civil defence drills were being conducted across the nation. It may have lulled Pakistan into thinking that India is preparing for an attack from there. Instead, India attacked. (And I) Appreciate, too, that we have used precision, coordination and finesse,” he stated proudly.
Enablers
Asked about local enablers, Rathore said, “We cannot wish away local terrorism. Along with strikes, action must continue to root out those who have guided these terrorists, local enablers, those who provided food and shelter for the terrorists, armed them, and political and human rights activists who speak on their behalf. Remember, the Pahalgam attack happened while we were very happy counting our tourist numbers, elated about a ‘record number’ of tourists who had entered the Valley. We can never let our guard down.”
As for the ‘noises’ from Pakistan regarding a retaliation for Operation Sindoor, he said, “Pakistan will feel it has to do something. It cannot take this insult lying down. Operation Sindoor has stung very sharply right from the name itself: highly emotive and apt, conveying widows, revenge, sentiment, all in one and a tribute to the sisters and daughters of India. Pahalgam was the final straw that broke the camel’s back, and these strikes should break terror hideouts in Pakistan.”
‘Sindoor’
For Mumbai-based Lt. Col. MK Choudhury (Retd.), it is “unlike the Shakespearean ‘What’s in a name?’ There are ‘lots in a name’ when it comes to missions like these, and Operation Sindoor is such a moving and fantastic label for this campaign. It is hugely emotional, reminding people that the ‘sindoor’ has been wiped out from women… they are now widows because of the Pahalgam attack, which has now been avenged. It is a motivational phrase and I compliment Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this.”
Choudhury added, “The Pahalgam attack, wherein people were asked about their religion and then killed, is something that is unprecedented in India. The strikes send a message to the terrorists that no matter where they hide, they will be put into their graves.”
Precision
Of the operation itself, Choudhury urged people, saying, “Look at our precision. This is pinpoint bombing. We have awesome fliers, fighter pilots. The aim of the mission was to destroy terror hideouts, not to kill innocents. We have achieved that.”
However, there are those who still ask if this is enough. Choudhury, who has seen action in 1971, said, “We have had four wars against Pakistan: 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999. There are those who will simply not change, so we have to calibrate our response and show them — we are there to wipe you out.”
Cowardice
Choudhury recalled in earlier action, “We had captured a Pakistani soldier who told us: ‘In action, India has its officers leading and the jawans (junior ranks) follow. When it is Pakistan, we have the jawans who lead in the war and our officers follow’. That is the kind of cowardice we have in the Pakistan ranks.”
In the end, Col. Choudhury said, “The Indian Army, our pride, does not forgive. It does not forget. No matter how many times the cowards strike, we will rise stronger. Terrorism thrives on fear. But India has answered with courage, unity and action. Our eyes remain open, our fists remain clenched, and our hearts remain unbroken.”
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