The army has produced a 45-page terror-fighting bible for its soldiers, complete with its set of ten commandments.
NEW DELHI: The army has produced a terror-fighting bible for its soldiers, complete with its set of ten commandments.
The 45-page handbook, titled ‘Doctrine for Sub-conventional Operations’, lays down the rules for soldiers operating in counter-insurgency scenarios in the Northeast and in Jammu & Kashmir.
“The most pertinent aspect, which has influenced the evolution of the doctrine, is the philosophy of ‘Iron Fist with Velvet Glove’ enunciated in 2005,” the document says. “It emphasises a humane and people-centric approach, underscores the need for scrupulous upholding of the laws of the land, deep respect for human rights, and minimum use of kinetic means to create a secure environment without causing any collateral damage.”
The doctrine stresses the need for closer collaboration with local civilian dispensations: “In the conflict zone, all actions of the security forces must have a civil face and be directed towards strengthening the hands of the civil authorities.” Military campaigns must factor in local aspirations and political dialogue.
It calls on soldiers to carry out people-friendly operations and provides a detailed brief on the battlefield turnout: “Proper uniform and equipment, hands-free profile of weapon carriage, alertness and positive body language, facial expression and stance to convey ‘friendly yet no messing around’ message.”
The doctrine offers advice on conflict-zone deportment: “Learn to read body language of locals; break own patterns of activity and avoid predictability; never blindly trust even your best source; where walking is feasible, avoid vehicles.”
It also offers guidelines to interact with the media, urging soldiers to be factually correct in all reports. The doctrine acknowledges that the success of operations cannot be gauged from terrorists killed, but it lists that factor among the top measures. It also suggests that soldiers aim low and shoot for effect with personal weapons on specific orders, not get involved in hand-to-hand struggle with mobs, and not resort to indiscriminate firing.
It also provides many an annexure, including a chief of army staff’s ‘ten commandments’ promulgated in 1993 and supplemented in 2005. The caveats include: “No rape, no molestation, no torture resulting in death or maiming, no military disgrace, and no meddling in civil administration”. The supplementary issued in 2005 has another 10 points, among them a reminder that “people you are dealing with are your own countrymen”.
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