‘Hats off to the US Army for the well-executed Osama operation’

Lt Gen (retd) BT Pandit, Vir Chakra awardee in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, corps commander of Punjab (1989-90) and adjutant general at army headquarters (1991-92) has fought many a battle during his career. In this conversation with DNA, the war hero tells us why he feels that the US forces strike to kill Osama bin Laden was of the highest calibre.

What are your comments on the US’ armed action against Osama bin Laden?
Hats off to the US armed forces for a well-planned and well-executed operation. It was a complex and difficult operation carried out in the middle of the night in an alien country. The Americans conducted a surgical strike, which took 40 minutes to execute and pull out. It is a symbolic strike, which has crushed the central command of the al-Qaeda. The only international anti-terrorist strike that comes close is the operation of Israeli commandos at the Entebbe airport in Kampala (Uganda) to rescue hostages from Palestinian guerillas on July 4, 1976.

Allegations are being made against the Pakistan Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) for having shielded Osama in Abbotabad. Your reactions…
The duplicity of the Pakistan Army has been laid bare. Osama was
clearly being shielded by the Pakistan Army or the ISI or both.
Otherwise, there was no way he could have lived with his entire entourage in a palatial mansion so close to a military cantonment.

The US forces seems to have carried the operation without any Pakistan Army support. Do you think this was a conscious decision?
Yes, given the Pakistan Army’s track record, the Americans would have kept them at bay either by using threat or inducements. This is an all-out US strike considering that it was done with high degree of control and precision. It took just 40 minutes to shoot the enemy and pull out in helicopters.

Any examples of similar strikes by the Indian Army in the recent past?
The Indian Army may not have carried out an international anti-terrorist strike, however, it conducts several precise, counter-insurgency strikes on a regular basis in Jammu and Kashmir. Many years ago, the Indian Army had performed a very quick operation to neutralise the rebel Naga army chief.