Indian Army chief terms surgical strikes feasible

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, February 09, 2009

News Desk

NEW DELHI: Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor on Sunday said the option of surgical strikes against ‘the terror infrastructure’ in Pakistan was “very much feasible” militarily.

“Surgical strikes are definitely feasible but whether you wish to take that decision or not is a separate issue,” he said when asked by PTI whether such strikes were feasible. “Definitely, yes. Whether you would like to look at doing it (carrying out such strikes) by air or artillery or by another means or physically there,” he said in reply to questions.

Asked if the Indian armed forces were ready for such strikes if the political leadership gave the go-ahead, Kapoor said: “We are an army which has been involved in operations in Kashmir and the Northern Command on a perpetual basis and on an ongoing basis.”

During the wide-ranging interview, the Indian Army chief also sought to dispel the impression that there was no clarity about the nuclear command when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was hospitalised for heart surgery last month.

Also, Indian ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi warned Pakistan against aiding

terrorists, saying those supporting terror elements should not mistake India’s patience as its weakness.

Addressing the Congress Convention here, Sonia Gandhi said India will give those supporting terror a befitting reply. ‘’We have resolved to fight terrorism till the end, those supporting terror elements from across the border will be given a befitting reply,” Sonia added. She said Mumbai and Assam attacks had been a painful reminder of the problem the country was facing.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=20188