BACKGROUND
On 14th february 2019 a SUV carrying IDE rammed into CRPF convoy in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir. The convoy was moving towards Srinagar and consisted of around 100 vehicles. Due to this attack 40 CRPF soldiers were martyred and is considered to be the most lethal attack on security forces in Kashmir. The responsibility of the attack was claimed by Jaish -e-Mohammad and the militant who executed the operation was the area commander of Jaish Adil ahmed dar alias waqas commando. However the fact which was ascertained by intelligence agencies was the fact that it was impossible for a civilian to have such logistical and technical capability to carry out this attack . The attack was too sophisticated hence it was stimulated by ISI and Pakistan Army. After the attack there was a wave of rage across the country and one thing which was made categorically clear by the political leadership that this attack has to be avenged anyhow and a stern message has to be given to the deep state that if they continue to propagate the policy of bleeding India with 1000 cuts. India will eliminate the threat from where it emanates.
OPERATION BANDAR
The political leadership made the decision of retaliating through airstrikes and the primary reason was that IAF had crossed International border last in 1971 hence there was an element of uncertainty and surprise and at the same time airstrikes were more accurate and less risk driven. Balakot was chosen specifically as target due to presence of a major facility comprising of training and accommodation of fidayeen’s. The other targets had dense civilian population while these targets were desolate in a forest. On 26th February late midnight the mirages were scrambled from gwalior after heading towards Kashmir they moved 270 towards Balakot. Using hilly terrain as a cover they ingressed into the international border at the same point of time CAP comprising of AWACS was already in air in Kashmir. As soon as the F16’s detected the movement of mirages SU-30’s were launched at East-West Badin axis towards Bahawalpur. Creating a diversion for mirages. The Mirage dropped SPYDER laser guided bombs on the given co-ordinates and then turned back hastily accelerating towards IB. By 3:20 pm the aircrafts landed back to the home base successfully carrying out the operation . Bandar was the codeword to be used after the culmination of the operation and was relayed to PM and COAS. Op bandar was a tactical masterstroke backed by ingenious planning making the enemy completely oblivious of the Op.
“OPERATION SWIFT RETORT”
On 27th February at 0928 hours. IAF radars detected movement of enemy aircraft . A strike package of 26 aircrafts comprising of JF-17, MIRAGE-5 and F-16 violated Indian airspace by entering through primary area Rajouri. There objective was to bomb Indian Army strategic forward assets including oil depos, logistical centres and Army brigade headquarters in Nagrota. Yet as soon as they were detected CAP were activated and Migs were scrambled from Ambala airbase. IAF’s timely action ensured that the strike package was pushed back. During this the enemy engaged Indian aircrafts specifically Su-30 mki . F-16 launched barrages of AMMRAM’s on SU-30’s yet due to it’s super maneuverability it deflected them easily. During this engagement one Mig-21 piloted by wing Commander Abhinandan locked upon an F-16 and launched an R-73 which stuck the aircraft leading to an historic shoot down of an higher generation and better avionics aircraft. However the pilot in the heat of movement had crossed Line of control. By the time he could maneuver back to India he was shot down by a SAM. 2 days later he returned home.
LIES, DECEIT AND THE PROPAGANDA OF SO CALLED SURPRISE
After the engagement Pakistan termed swift retort as an extremely successful operation saying that there strategic objectives was to drop empty payloads to display it’s capabilities however in reality there objectives were thwarted by timely action of IAF leading to dropping empty payloads and hurriedly escaping. It is hilarious for any professional force to declare that just dropping payloads in forests is there strategic objectives.
Pakistan claimed that two aircrafts were shot down and two pilots were taken into custody . Wing Commander Abhinandan was taken into custody from mirpur in POK so the question arises who was the second pilot. Even though Pakistan claimed later that there was only one pilot in there custody however two questions which arise. First being how can be there such a massive miscommunication by forces on ground to the PR of the Pakistan armed forces. It is not possible. Second being why did the locals claim the fact that there was a second pilot landing across the hill to the location of Abhi. No answers have been given till now by Pakistan about the same. Pakistan claimed initially that no F-16 was used for this op however months later it accepted the fact in Sargodha. India provided the piece of AMMRAM recovered in Mamalkot. Yet it was categorically denied by Pakistan. On ground interceptions also describe the fact that the rangers deployed in pok had a conversation about a second guy in there custody. Pakistan further claimed a Su-30 was shot down whose wreckage felled in Kashmir. On Airforce day the Avenger formation was seen blazing in the sky thus proving Pakistan wrong. Also the PM of Pakistan claimed that 2 migs ingressed into Pakistan and were shot down thus contradicting the claim of military. AMMRAM’s are lethal and have homing abilities inspite of jamming. There speeds reach to mach 4 yet inspite of all of this they are not invincible and it was due to the Meneauvrability of Su-30 mki which prevented any damage.
The so called surprise is built on a bunch of lies which nobody really questions in Pakistan due to superiority of military.
Geopolitical Matrix 