Only 18 people knew: Army veteran recalls planning, execution of surgical strikes
Lieutenant General Rajendra Ramrao Nimbhorkar (Retd), who played a key role in the 2016 surgical strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control, on Monday said the operation was possible only because of the "steely resolve" shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
Recalling the operation, Nimbhorkar said only 18 people in India knew of the decision to launch the strikes, including the three senior Army commanders handling key operational commands.
He said the Army had the capability to carry out the strikes, but political clearance was crucial. Recalling the operation, Nimbhorkar said the action after the Uri attack was approved at the highest level and was executed with detailed planning, with soldiers returning to Indian territory by around 5 am the next day.
"We had the capability, but somebody had to give the go-ahead. Till then, there was a lot of talk of avenging the death of our soldiers, but no action had been taken," Nimbhorkar told news agency PTI. "They were willing to take responsibility for the fallout of their action," he said of Modi and Parrikar.
Nimbhorkar was one of the three senior Army commanders handling key operational commands during the surgical strikes. As the General Officer Commanding of the Nagrota-based 16 Corps, also known as the White Knight Corps, he played a central role in operational preparedness and tactical execution in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
"On the night of September 28, 2016, our soldiers went across the border and killed 82 terrorists across Uri, Poonch and Bhimber sectors," he said. "It must be noted that our strike was so meticulously planned and executed that there was no collateral damage," he added.
The two units chosen for the mission were Special Forces soldiers from the Udhampur-based 9 Para (SF) and 4 Para (SF). "We showed Pakistan that we can hit them hard. This was further carried forward in the Balakot strikes and Operation Sindoor," Nimbhorkar said.
He said the September 18, 2016 attack on the administrative area of the Uri brigade headquarters, in which 19 soldiers were killed, prompted India to act.
"The then army chief asked us for the plans. We gave him the plans but were not sure of their approval. We were pleasantly surprised when Parrikar conveyed the go-ahead decision to Lt Gen Deependra Singh Hooda, the Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Satish Kumar Dua, then the GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps (Chinar Corps) and me," he said.
"When we launched the surgical strikes, only 18 people in India knew of the launch decision. The three of us were the junior most," he said in a lighter vein.
"Our soldiers were back on Indian terrain around 5 am the next day after accomplishing their mission and hitting the targets. We got whatever equipment we asked for, and also air support requirements," he said.
"It was the steely resolve of PM Modi and Parrikar that helped accomplish this unprecedented mission," Nimbhorkar said.
On Sunday, Modi said the surgical strikes were India's decisive response to the pain of terror attacks and set a new example in the country's counter-terrorism policy.- Ends
