Army Chief Bipin Rawat said India has right to respond to terror activities that disrupt situation at LoC
The surgical strikes against Pakistan were meant to send out a message, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today said in an exclusive interview to NDTV. He added that further strikes can't be ruled out either.
Here are the highlights of the interview:
- The so-called surgical strikes was more of messaging. It was a messaging that was needed to communicated.
- If there are terrorist bases across and if they continue to disrupt the situation on our side of the LoC. Then we have a right to take action against the terrorists.
- The demonstration of the surgical strike was just one such means. We are working on other such methodologies.
- It's good to keep the adversary guessing. (These include) military means and non-military means.
- Leading up to surgical strikes - Lot of planning and preparation went into this. The secrecy had to be maintained. Not just for secrecy of the plans but also for the safety of the troops.
- The credit for this goes to my predecessor who had planned these operations very well, the northern Army commander and troops on the ground.
- It was very well planned. The plans were kept on a need to know basis. Extensive preparation was carried out and then it was executed
- And it was being monitored real time? - It was being monitored real time.
- And you could actually see the attack take place from where you were? - yes, we could.