Praising the Union Government’s decision of avenging the atrocious Pulwama attack and moreover assigning Indian Air Force (IAF) the task, Former Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy, wrote, “We congratulate the government for taking the decision to launch the IAF and trusting it with a formidable task, one where the chance of failure is next to none”.
Hailing the Modi Government for its political will and further congratulating IAF for successful completion of the mission, S Krishnaswamy, mentioned, “Bravo to the Indian Air Force, for it has done the nation proud. We salute you!”
Moreover, remembering the atrocious attacks of 26/11 in 2008 and Parliament attacks in 2001, he urged that unlike those times, the nefarious elements will not go ‘unpunished’. “I remember witnessing the rush of armed police and clatter of machine guns near the distant Parliament House during the December 13, 2001, attack from my office window as the vice chief of the IAF,” said Krishnaswamy. Speaking of the urge of avenging the attacks, he went on to add, “The terrorists had hit. Soon after the attack, the heads of all the three services were summoned by the Ministry of Defence and directed to plan a viable action plan. The Air Force planned a strike with Mirage-2000s against terrorist training camps in a manner similar to what was demonstrated during the Kargil conflict. We sought 72 hours to launch the operations.” However, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) at that time strongly felt that an attack by IAF would be devastating and will cause an immense amount of collateral damage, and plan was suspended, said former Air Chief Marshal.
Similarly in 2008, after the Mumbai attack, a plan for a surgical strike by the IAF was suggested, but once again the government resorted to caution and restraint, said S Krishnaswamy, who has held the office of Air Chief Marshal during the period of 2001 to 2004. In the article, he further wrote that while the Air Force has the ability to punish in a speedy and precise manner, the government remained ‘wary’.
In the wake of lethal air-strike, Former Air Chief Marshal continued, “Today, the stand of the IAF of being a quick reaction precision attack force is vindicated. An air strike has come to be recognized as a potent method of executing national will.” Again talking about the part of government in such précised military attack, he urged that while it was ‘relatively easy’ for the military to suggest a plan, the responsibility of the government is ‘far heavier’.
Speaking of the responsibility of the government, Krishnaswamy added that the exercise could even end in a disaster, loss of lives and a big hit on the economy of the country. It is not easy for a civilian government to predict and assimilate military operations and have total confidence to succeed. “Yet, they take the decision and responsibility. I do not envy the members of the Cabinet or the PM of their position,” said Krishnaswamy.
Former Air Chief Marshal made it very clear that the responsibility of government is none the less than the armed forces and a lot of things are needed to be considered. The air-strike is only possible because of the political will of the current government.