Surgical Strikes Against Pakistan Was A Necessary Message, Says Army Chief Bipin Rawat: Highlights

New Delhi: 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.