Surgical Strike Overhyped And Politicised, Says Ex Army Officer

Gen Hooda was the Northern Army commander when the surgical strikes were carried out on September 29, 2016 across the LoC as a response to a terrorist attack in Uri.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 8 December 2018 11:46 am

Surgical Strike Overhyped And Politicised, Says Ex Army Officer

Lt Gen (retd) D S Hooda on Friday said it the?constant hype around the surgical?strikes?operation, which was carried two years back by the Indian Army across the Line of Control,?was unwarranted.

Gen Hooda was the Northern Army commander when the surgical strikes were carried out on September 29, 2016 across the LoC as a response to a terrorist attack in Uri.

#WATCH: Lt Gen (retd) DS Hooda, who was Chief of the Northern Command of the Army when surgical strike was executed in 2016, says "Surgical strike was overhyped & politicised."https://t.co/P8r8QBd3pL
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2018

The Army had said its special forces inflicted "significant casualties" on terrorists waiting there to cross into Indian territory.

Gen Hooda was speaking during a panel discussion on the topic, 'Role of Cross-Border Operations and Surgical Strikes,' on the first day of Military Literature Festival 2018 .

General (retired) D S Hooda: I do think there was too much hype over it (surgical strike). The strike was important & we had to do it. Now how much should it have been politicised, whether it was right or wrong is something that should be asked to the politicians. (7.12) pic.twitter.com/8v0QJ1tzK5
— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2018

The discussion was attended by Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore amongst a battery of former Generals and Army Commanders. Many war veterans cautioned against "politicisation" of?the military operations, as per a Punjab government release.

Lt Gen Hooda said it was natural?to have initial euphoria about the success but the constant?maintenance of hype around the military operations was?unwarranted, the release said.

Responding to a question from the audience, General Hooda?said in hindsight, it would have been better had we done it (surgical strikes) secretly.

The aim of any such offensive had to be not only tactical?but strategic too, which substantially hampers enemy morale,?he said.

Citing the example of the 1981 Israeli air strikes on?Iraqi nuclear sites, which had caused considerable damage, Lt?General (retd) N S Brar underscored the need to ensure?long-term impact on the enemy before undertaking any such?operation in the future.

Cautioning the political masters against being adventurists, General Brar asked if the political masters?would have taken responsibility had there been any causalities?in the strikes, the release said quoting him.

Earlier, a two minute silence was observed in the memory?of the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the service?of the nation.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator?V P Singh Badnore inaugurated the MLF.

Notably, MLF, which is into its second edition this year,?is organised to raise awareness among people about the legacy?of the armed forces, and rekindle among youth the motivating spirit to join the Indian Army.

(PTI)