Army gives signal for release of surgical strike video footage

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ India’s armed forces have given the green signal to the government to use the video footage of the surgical strikes against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in any manner it sees fit to make New Delhi’s case. The final decision on this rests with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Top army officers, speaking off record, that the army is keen that India release evidence that will answer those alleging the strikes never happened. This recommendation was made in the wake of Pakistan’s military establishment persistently claiming that the September 29 predawn strikes never happened.

Top government officials, also speaking off record, that the decision on whether or not to release the strike footage will depend on the larger call on likely Pakistani response. One possibility being considered is whether making the video evidence public may escalate Indo-Pak tensions by forcing the Pakistani establishment into a corner.

The army, its top strategists said, has ample evidence to show the cross-border strikes were highly effective. There’s video footage as well as photographs, shot by both ground troops and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that were deployed to monitor the operation.  “There is no doubt at all that the strikes inflicted heavy damage. Proof is available with the government that clearly shows our troops engaging the targets effectively,” a senior government official said.