On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary (FS) S Jaishankar said only the military will know if cross-LoC surgical strikes were undertaken by the army in the past as no “message” about such assaults were conveyed.
However, in an earlier reply to Congress member Satyavat Chaturvedi’s question on whether or not the latest surgical strike was the first one to be carried out in Pakistan, Jaishankar had said that the army had carried out “target specific, limited-calibre, counter-terrorist operations” across the LoC in the past too but this is the first time the government has gone public about it.
The top diplomat’s comments assume significance in the context of claims by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar last week rejecting Congress’s claims that surgical strikes were undertaken during the UPA government too.
In remarks that appear to contradict the Defence Minister’s claim, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar gave this information to the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs headed by Shashi Tharoor.
He had asserted that it was the first time that surgical strikes had taken place in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack and what was undertaken previously were operations locally executed by commanders without involving the government.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened the army's anti-terror surgical strikes to Israel's exploits and said the Indian forces have shown they are no less than anybody.
Our army’s valour is being discussed across the country these days. We used to hear earlier that Israel has done this. The nation has seen that Indian army is no less than anybody.PM Modi at Himachal Pradesh rally,inaugurating three hydro-power project
Israel is known for its targeted military strikes against enemy countries and militant outfits.
Jaishankar also told the Committee that while India has been engaging with Pakistan post the 29 September surgical strikes, no “calendar” has so far been prepared regarding future engagement and its level with Islamabad, members told PTI on condition of anonymity.
He said soon after the operations had ended, the Director General Military Operations of the Pakistan Army was informed about the strikes.
During the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Bipin Rawat also gave details of the strikes targeting terrorist launch pads across the LoC.
Government representatives told the panel that the strikes have fulfilled the purpose as of now and there will always be a nagging doubt in the Pakistani establishment whether India will carry out similar operations in the future.
A Congress member also wanted to know whether similar operations were likely in the future.
The government representatives said the strikes were carried out after a "lot has been suffered".
When asked about the casualties they could inflict on the terrorists, the officials said the army had crossed the LoC to carry out strikes and not to collect evidence.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the Committee, attended the meet but did not ask questions, a member said.
(With PTI inputs.)
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