Former Army Commander Lieutenant General AK Singh, who has also served as the governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry, said that with the air strikes, India has sent a message to Pakistan that they will have to “pay a heavy price.”
In an interview with The Quint, Singh said that while the response could have been anticipated, the difference, this time around is their “acceptance and resolve.” Singh also added that the air strike was a “comprehensive response.”
“This response could have been anticipated. It is a comprehensive response. We were responding action for action. Then things would roll back. Both in the internal and external domain. This time, the government has decided for a sustained last time response. After all, India has always advocated that we want to live in peace. But it takes two to tango. Pakistan has been made to understand that they will pay a very heavy price,” said Lt Gen Singh.
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‘Right to Self Defence Used by Other Nations’
Elaborating on how India has used the philosophy of self defence through pre-emptive strike, Singh said that it has also been used by many countries in the past.
“This is the philosophy that has been used by many nations. Quite recently by the Americans both in Afghanistan and in Iraq,” Singh said.
He added that India specifically chose the particular target to avoid “all collateral damage.”
“It is to be noted that that facility lies deep in the Pakistan and not just in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. So, the scope has been enhanced that India will respond in self-defence wherever and whenever to deal with it. One of the factors that went in choosing this target was that we wanted to avoid all collateral damage,” said Singh.
‘Ball in Pakistan’s Court’
The former Army commander said that the ball was now in Pakistan’s court.
“The first is that they retaliate, and I am sure that Indian Armed Forces would be ready for any escalation. The second option and the more sensible option for Pakistan would be to acknowledge that India has responded but in a very restrained manner. We could have gone for a larger damage on Pakistan and its facility,” said Singh.
However, he said that there is a window of opportunity for them to not escalate, but India would expect them to take action against the terrorists.
“Now, India has gone into a long term mode where we want to resolve this problem. We cannot live with this status quo which can suit Pakistan's alleged proxies. India is a rising power,” said Singh.
“Obviously after the air strike, the fact that Pakistan moved a very major asset of its jihadi elements to safe houses suggests that they were party to this. If Pakistan is able to exercise so much on Jaish-e-Mohammad, and we all know that ISIS also controls them, then why taking action against JeM is a problem?” Singh asked.
‘Massive Diplomatic Action to India’s Advantage’
Singh said that India has a “massive diplomatic action” to its advantage.
“There is no lesser place than United Nations. Then there are countries like USA, Russia, France. Even China which hasn’t changed its total stance, but I hope that they will. But this diplomatic exercise has contributed in. We have also clamped down internally –– made our internal security grid stricter. Externally, like today, we have conveyed our resolve to take action against the terror groups that target India or who pose a threat,” Singh said.
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