Ever since the Modi government came into power, there has been a set pattern when it comes to flare-ups along the LoC and beyond, between India and Pakistan. India has taken up the startegy of ‘Offensive Defensive’ and every time it inflicts military costs on Pakistan for harbouring terrorism against India, the Indian authorities come out making an explicit declaration about its operations. If we take a look at two of India’s biggest operations since 2014- the Surgical Strikes in 2016 across the LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and airstrikes on Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) terror training camps in Balakot, Pakistan, India came out with a declaration of its operations in both the cases.
Pakistani media, military and civilian establishment has denied casualties every single time and has indulged in sheer propaganda with an intention to malign India. This pattern was on display after both the Surgical Strikes and the Air strikes.
However, there have been unconfirmed social media and news reports of flare-ups along the LoC in the recent past. And no official declaration as such from India. Recently, Republic carried a story about retaliation by Indian Army in PoK’s Neelum valley following a ceasefire violation by Pakistan. The media outlet cited sources to suggest that the deployed site was a terror camp, and Pakistan had been violating ceasefire in the Gureh sector of Jammu-Kashmir.
Republic also reported that there were heavy casualties owing to India’s retaliation. Sources reported that ambulances were spotted carrying the casualties in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). As per Daily Excelsior, the Indian Army destroyed a terror launchpad of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish e Mohammed (JeM) outposts in the forward areas of Neelum Valley in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The leading daily reported that many terrorists were killed in Indian Army’s retaliation. At least 2 Pakistani soldiers have also been killed in the event- something that has been corroborated even by the Pakistani Army though it tried to manipulate the entire event by manufacturing a version of its own.
Indian CFVs along LOC during the last 36 hours. Responding to CFVs, in Haji Pir Sector Pakistan Army troops damaged Indian post killing 3 Indian soldiers including a Subedar, few injured too. In Dewa Sector Naib Subedar Kandero and Sepoy Ehsan of Pak Army embraced Shahadat. pic.twitter.com/yFuBqPgFVv
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) December 26, 2019
There are clear reports of Pakistan suffering heavy casualties. In fact, Pakistan has been manufacturing stories in order to cover up the massive damage that it has suffered. At around the same time when reports of the Indian Army retaliating in PoK’s Neelum Valley came out in India, the Pakistan Army also claimed that the Indian firing had resulted in civilian casualties, another attempt to cover up the humiliation that it suffered at the hands of the Indian Army. Pakistan is also compelled to gloss over its casualties because it can potentially expose the terror industry that it is running on its soil.
The fact remains that Pakistan always remained in denial mode, but with the Indian Army’s retaliation and its silence over infliction of damages on Pakistan has reduced the latter to acknowledging the fact that it suffered casualties. Reacting to the casualties, Pakistan also resorted to anti-India propaganda and started spreading falsehoods about the Indian Army occupying Keran village in PoK.
From reports about Indian retaliation and Pakistan’s meltdown, it can be easily concluded that a country which traditionally denies its casualties has been left embarrassed by the Indian Army, and today it is compelled to acknowledge that it has suffered casualties.