Surgical Strike Day: Facts About A Surgical Strike And 2016 Indian Line Of Control Strike

Between 28-29 September 2016, Indian Armed Forces conducted a surgical strike against the terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, across the Line of Control. The surgical strike was launched in response to the Uri attack. On 18 September 2019, four militants attacked an army base near the Jammu and Kashmir town Uri, killing 19 Indian soldiers. India accused Jaish-e-Muhammad, a Pakistan-based terrorist organization for the attack. A 2019 film Uri: The Surgical Strike starring Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam, Paresh Rawal, Kirti Kulhari and Mohit Raina offers an insight into one of the worst attacks in the state in over two decades.

On 29 September 2016, 11 days after the dreadful attack in Uri, the Indian Army made an announcement that it has successfully conducted surgical strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), declared that it had received “very credible and specific information” about “terrorist teams” planning to carry out infiltration and attacks in metro cities of J&K. A day after the surgical strikes, then-I&B Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore mentioned that the entire operation had been conducted on the ground without any aerial support. The Government of Pakistan, however, denied any such occurrence and dismissed it just a cross-border firing.

The operation began with Indian forces firing artillery across the border front – this was done to provide a cover for three to four troops of about 70-80 soldiers belonging to the 4th and 9th Battalions of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) to cross the Line of Control, all at distinct points. In the early hours of September 29, 2016, forces crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara District and Poonch district and attacked militant launch pads. Thus, September 29 is observed as ‘Surgical Strike Day.’ Last year, on the second anniversary of the 2016 Indian Line of Control Strike, the government had released fresh footage which showed a terror launchpad being destroyed.

Here are a five facts about a surgical strike you should know:

1. A surgical strike is a swift military attack which is intended to damage only a legitimate military target.

2. A surgical strike is carried out with no or minimal collateral damage.

3. No damage to surrounding structures, vehicles, buildings, or the general public infrastructure and utilities is intended.

4. Surgical strikes can be carried out via airstrike, airdropping special operations teams or a swift ground operation or by sending special troops.

5. Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) support from the commanders is required in a surgical strike.

Last year, PM Modi had inaugurated Parakram Parv exhibition at the Jodhpur military station, celebrating the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army.

Watch Yami Gautam, Vicky Kaushal talk about their prep for Uri: The Surgical Strike on ZEE5!