I take everything that politicians say with a pinch of salt. The reference was provided when you asked for links for BJP's poll claims.
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That's actually BS. Go ask any Army commander there. Will he tolerate his jawan being killed in Pakistani fire and not kill theirs in return ?
Do you think the Dogras, Marathas, Punjabis, Sikhs, Jaats, Rajpus, Garwahlis, Gorkhas, Kumaonis etc. are pussies ? They will take the death of their brother soldiers lying down ?
Indian security forces there are far better equipped and resources than Pakistani soldiers across LoC. For the last many years we have been given them a dispropotionate response for every firing incident.
This time Indian Govt decided to publicise it. Many sr officers were against publicising our response as it could give impetus to infiltration.
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Security policies are not drafted in isolation. They are drafted taking everyone on board.
Nobody will tolerate their own buddies being killed, let alone a soldier.
It is immaterial as to what community or Regt one belongs to. They are all same in valour and sacrifice and there are no community or Regt braver than the other.
This must is true that with the change in Govt, there is a change in attitude and the morale is higher and decision making is without holding any punches. That is a great departure from the earlier days, when the Pak soldiers ambushed our patrols or beheaded them and the Def Min passed such issues as 'terrorists in Pak Army uniform'. For the last few years we have not really given any disproportionate reply. It has always been measured so as to not escalate. It is most surprising that of late, the response has been heavy and costly for the Pakistanis. It is too early to assess which of the response is better for Indian policy. It is only the troops who feel that the current mode appeals to their sensitivity at being at the receiving end and with meagre and controlled retaliation. The peaceniks and second channel folks are not too happy with the current mode of addressing the issue.
If
'Many sr officers were against publicising our response as it could give impetus to infiltration', then it would not be because of it giving impetus to infiltration, but because of the defensive mindset they were ingrained in because of the moribund and supine policy in vogue.
I will hasten to add that an correct retaliation policy that has no fetters on the military, is good, but then India should be ready to take it on if it escalate. That is the million dollar question, given the 10 years of Rip Van Winkle attitude that made the military a cow past its prime and ready to be put to pasture.
Security policies are taken by consulting the three Chiefs, the Intelligence agencies, and the Cabinet Committee for Security.
The Army and BSF retaliation has been heavy in TNT payload and volume, way more that ever before. There is no doubt about that and that can be corroborated from the ground level.
