Bharat is trying to come to grips with the shocking terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, 2025. Pakistan’s diabolic hand in the attack is suspected. Agencies are conducting investigations on a war footing.
In the meantime, the Government of Bharat, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken firm diplomatic and punitive measures to pressurise Pakistan. These include visa restrictions, expelling diplomats from the High Commission of Pakistan in Bharat and most of all, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. All action will have serious consequences for Pakistan.
The people of Bharat seem to have lost all patience with Pakistan’s shenanigans. A cursory study of media, social media and the public sentiment on the streets points towards a deep desire for revenge in the form of a tit-for-tat action.
Mature Handling
The Modi Government is rightly not allowing emotions to overrun logical decision making. Meetings are being held with all departments like Defence, Home, NSA, External Affairs, Finance etc. It is apparent that the Government will move in a mature manner, keeping the highest principles of justice and righteousness primary in its decision making spectrum.
The incumbent Government has always demonstrated a nation first approach and has a declared policy of zero tolerance to terrorism. The people of the nation need to maintain complete and unrelenting faith in the capacity and capability of the Government to maintain the sovereignty, security and pride of the country.
Message of Sri Guruji during Bharat-Pakistan War 1965
The war imposed on our country as a result of Pakistan’s attack is taking the form of a serious conflict. We all have to accept the challenge of the situation and achieve complete success with determination and patience. With the expansion of the war-torn area, new problems will arise before us and we will have to take on new responsibilities. The government will definitely try to fulfill them but it will be a huge burden. Therefore, it is the duty of all the citizens of the country to contribute in fulfilling these responsibilities keeping in mind the general policies of the country’s interest. Therefore, I appeal to all the countrymen and especially the swayamsevak brothers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to fully cooperate with the government in solving the problems that arise. Help the displaced, the injured and the sick, maintain peace and order, civil security, a lot of which can be done on a non-governmental basis. Special attention will have to be paid to maintaining the morale of the people, awakening intense national pride and creating a resolve to fight firmly till the final victory. We are fighting for the truth and for the integrity and honor of our motherland. Our victory is certain.
(‘Yuddhasva Bharat’, Part 2, Chapter 1: Bharat-Pak Yuddha (1965), Sri Guruji Samagra, Vol. 10)
In the present scenario not only has the number of enemies of Bharat increased, they are also more powerful and diabolic. It is time for Bharatiyas to pay attention to the iconic vision of Atal Bihari Vajapayeeji that has cautioned us to the need for unity to meet the challenge of aggressors.
National Approach
In the modern world, particularly in the wake of the two World Wars, and later due to the increased connectivity provided by technology, the concept of a whole of nation approach for meeting challenges has gained traction.
The primary element of Israeli military doctrine is that it cannot afford to lose a war despite having to go through routine civilian activity with its small population. The Israeli’s realised that their defence was possible only if all citizens played a role. So, they maintain a well-trained reserve force. Military training, therefore, is compulsory for all Jews. It is this policy and national attitude that is helping them hold their own in a conflict ridden and vitiated environment.
During World War II, when Germans occupied France its people immediately organised themselves into resistance groups. These small groups of armed men and women conducted guerrilla warfare and published underground newspapers. Interestingly, they came from all classes to include aristocrats, businessmen students and academicians among others. The resistance effort also cut across religious lines with Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Communists etc. joining hands for the common cause of national security.
During World War I and World War II, British civilians made a considerable effort towards the war effort. The entire nation went through food rationing, black outs and other inconveniences stoically. With many men joining the military, women entered the workforce in large numbers, filling jobs in factories and other industries. Civilians participated in the war effort through organisations like Home Guard, Air Raid Precautions, and the Auxiliary Fire Service. Even Queen Elizabeth, then a princess, joined the war effort and served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a mechanic and driver.
Bharat’s Nationalist Tradition
The Bharatiya tradition of civilians fighting for the country is laudable and noble. We have so many freedom fighters who took to arms against the British during the freedom struggle and lost their lives in the bargain.
The Indian National Army (INA) created by Subash Chandra Bose attracted people from all walks of life. Those too old to join gave away their entire properties for the war effort. It played a sterling role in the freedom struggle.
Govt gives full freedom to armed forces
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 29 gave the Indian armed forces complete freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
During the high-level meeting, which Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan and chiefs of all three armed forces attended, PM Modi affirmed that “it is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism”.
PM Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the abilities of the Indian armed forces. The Prime Minister said that they have complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of our response. Amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, Union home secretary Govind Mohan also chaired a high-level meeting.
The meeting was attended by the heads of key paramilitary forces and senior officials from other security agencies.
Among those present were Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Daljit Singh Chaudhary, Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG) Brighu Srinivasan, and Director General of Assam Rifles Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera. Additional Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Anupama Nilekar Chandra also participated in the discussions.
During the Indo-China War 1965, many families decided to send at least one son into the Army apart from making huge contributions. It is estimated that more than $220 million were collected in cash for the defence of Bharat.
From Punjab, then Chief Minister Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, persuaded his Ministers and MLAs below the age of 50, to sign up for active service; those above 50 offered to do whatever work could be found. Deputy Commissioners were ordered to take special care of family members of soldiers. General Mohan Singh, a veteran from INA, organised military training for students to prepare them to defend the country. The people of Punjab donated so many ornaments that 130 kg of gold was handed over to the Government of Bharat from Punjab.
Support to Kargil Martyrs
During the Kargil war, the National Defence Fund witnessed a surge of public donations to support the war effort and the welfare of Armed Forces personnel. The Government provided financial assistance to the families of Kargil martyrs. The collected amount was so much that one-time financial assistance of Rs. 50,000 was provided to the eligible NOK of all fatal battle casualties w.e.f. August 15, 1947 to April 30, 1999 from the National Defence Fund.
Role of Civil Society
Bharat has every reason to be proud of its defence forces. There is no dearth of volunteers to join the Army. They also come from all castes and walks of life. The Indian soldiers are well trained, well equipped and motivated. They know that the nation stands behind them like a wall.
Bravehearts Given Complete Freedom
What better example can be given about the confidence of the nation in its soldiers than the recent free hand given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the forces for response against Pakistan. This does not imply that the forces can trigger a war against the neighbouring country. It implies that they can, without looking over their shoulders, do whatever is necessary to contain misadventures by the enemy. Military professionals will agree that this is the ultimate in confidence that a political leader can repose on the military. It also puts an immense responsibility on the shoulders of the forces.
Unlike the times that Atalji referred to, modern Bharat has adequate boots on ground. Paramilitary, other police and vibrant reservist’s veterans are a force multiplier. Hence, civilians may not be called upon to augment the security effort unless there is an extreme emergency.
Challenges of New Age Warfare
Modern times witness several kinds of warfare other than the conventional wars. There are kinetic, proxy, asymmetric, guerrilla, insurgency terrorism and other types of operations. The psychological warfare of the old times (propaganda) is now in a different dimension classified as the information and perception warfare. Associated with this is network centric, cyber, electronic and other warfares that are the product of technology.
Be responsible while reporting in media
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) issued an advisory on April 25 for all the media channels (news) to refrain from showing live coverage of defence operations and movement of security forces in the interest of national security. The advisory comes in the wake of reporting on defence matters following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 innocent Hindu tourists.
“In the interest of national security, all media platforms, news agencies, and social media users are advised to exercise utmost responsibility and adhere strictly to existing laws and regulations while reporting on matters concerning defence and other security-related operations,” said the advisory by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“Specifically: No real-time coverage, dissemination of visuals, or reporting based on ‘sources-based’ information related to defence operations or movement should be undertaken,” it stated.
The advisory also said that premature disclosure of sensitive information may inadvertently assist hostile elements and endanger operational effectiveness and the safety of personnel. The advisory cited past incidents such as the Kargil war, the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, and the Kandahar hijacking, when “unrestricted coverage had unintended adverse consequences on national interests”.
It is in this spectrum that civilians have a big role to play. Insurgency and terrorism cannot thrive without local support. Enemy nations cannot plan covert operation till there is a chink in the political environment of the targeted area. The role of political parties and other institutions is crucial in projecting nation power of the type that leaves the enemy powerless.
Braveheart Threatened in Bengal
The required convergence of political thought on matters of security seems to be lacking in modern India. I will narrate just one example. A threatening poster has been found outside the West Bengal residence of an Indian Army Para in West Bengal. The soldier is presently deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The note in Bengali carried threats against his family and warning of consequences for “saving Hindus.” Any countrymen who think like this and any country that allows such incidents can easily be termed as most vulnerable to foreign forces.
Bharat has every reason to be proud of its defence forces. There is no dearth of volunteers to join the Army. They also come from all castes and walks of life. The Indian soldiers are well trained, well equipped and motivated
Civil society has an important and sensitive role to play in the psychological domain, especially so, against the background of unfettered social media, wherein, “influencers” rule the roost. For militaries across the world “rumour mongering” is an important subject. Today, rumour mongering is unchecked with facts and truth taking a dangerous hit.
The new age influencers need to understand the difference between political comments in favour of the party of their choice and politically loaded comments being made on national security issues. While addressing national security, politics have to be set aside for a nation first policy. This does not seem to be happening. The academicians, role models and leaders of civil society need to educate the masses on this sensitive domain.
While curbing rumours, the civil society can also contribute in giving a message of national strength and will power. The all-important aspect of integration that Atalji was referring to needs to be fine-tuned into a well-established national policy. For example, the forces may not need recruitment but if all able bodied youngsters of the nation throng to the military recruitment centres and demand recruitment, imagine what effect it will have on the enemy. Only civilians can invoke such mobilisation.
Civil society has an important and sensitive role to play in the psychological domain, especially so, against the background of unfettered social media, wherein, “influencers” rule the roost. For militaries across the world “rumour mongering” is an important subject
The adage “survival of the fittest” is more relevant today than it was ever before. National strength lies only in unity of thought and purpose especially when it comes to national security. All nations continue to remain vulnerable to internal dissension, Bharat is no exception. In fact, if not handled with care, Bharat’s diversity can become a threat rather than being the strength that it is. Every citizen has a big and responsible role to play in the security of the nation.
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