WEBVTT 00:23.440 --> 00:27.440 I had during my time as corps commander flown over the place. 00:29.080 --> 00:33.120 My daughter had also recently spoken about Baisaran. 00:35.680 --> 00:36.840 It's a beautiful meadow 00:37.360 --> 00:39.320 and it's very popular with tourists. 00:39.720 --> 00:42.280 (SOMBER MUSIC) 00:51.960 --> 00:54.599 I was the Director General of Military Operations 00:54.600 --> 00:56.080 during Operation Sindoor. 00:57.600 --> 00:59.440 The DGMO is the fulcrum 00:59.560 --> 01:02.560 of all operational activity in the Indian Army. 01:03.080 --> 01:05.920 A key person within Army Headquarters 01:06.360 --> 01:09.800 to keep a 24/7-365 watch 01:10.240 --> 01:14.320 on all operational activity happening on any border 01:14.760 --> 01:16.400 or even within the country. 01:16.920 --> 01:20.440 And he is then in a position to actually crystal gaze 01:20.560 --> 01:22.960 and look ahead as to how operations will unfold. 01:28.960 --> 01:30.360 It was a routine day. 01:30.960 --> 01:37.080 The first call that I got was from the corps commander in Kashmir. 01:38.560 --> 01:46.720 He told me that there was something happening in Baisaran. 01:50.240 --> 01:53.080 Because you've been through incidents like that, 01:53.200 --> 01:54.840 I knew the ring was different. 01:55.280 --> 02:01.280 I knew that I had to walk up to the Chief of Army Staff and inform him. 02:02.680 --> 02:05.360 I have been in uniform for 40 years plus. 02:05.480 --> 02:08.800 So the decision making is concerned, it's part of my blood. 02:09.960 --> 02:11.719 On that fateful day of 22nd April, 02:11.720 --> 02:14.960 I was presiding over the Retiring Officer's Seminar. 02:18.800 --> 02:21.280 I remember taking that short walk 02:21.480 --> 02:23.800 from the Military Operations Directorate 02:30.920 --> 02:33.840 to where the Veteran Officer's Seminar was being held. 02:38.920 --> 02:41.000 So when I was giving the talk, I suddenly realized 02:41.120 --> 02:44.200 General Ghai, my DGMO, entered the room. 02:45.360 --> 02:48.440 He had a very serious face and he walked up to the podium, 02:48.880 --> 02:51.720 put the hand on the mic and whispered, 02:51.960 --> 02:54.200 Sir, there has been a terrorist attack. 03:05.680 --> 03:07.640 I received a call from the helpline. 03:08.200 --> 03:11.160 This lady was speaking on the other side. 03:11.720 --> 03:13.240 She said, I am Himanshi. 03:13.360 --> 03:16.839 And there was a lot of panic and anger 03:16.840 --> 03:20.680 mixed kind of tone that she was showing. 03:20.800 --> 03:23.120 She said that my husband has been shot. 03:24.000 --> 03:29.080 Himanshi is the wife of late Lieutenant Vinay Narwal of Navy 03:29.200 --> 03:31.520 who was there in Baisaran that day. 03:31.880 --> 03:33.680 (SCREAMS) 03:33.840 --> 03:35.680 (GUNSHOTS) 03:40.440 --> 03:43.480 We had asked the unit which was nearby to go to the incident site 03:43.600 --> 03:45.680 with the quick reaction teams that we have. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.520 (SIREN WAILING) 03:52.600 --> 03:54.640 So first one to react was my company commander. 03:54.760 --> 03:57.120 I told him, just rush to the location. 03:57.360 --> 03:59.960 Next five minutes, I was also out. 04:03.640 --> 04:06.680 I was in communication with the CO who was moving in. 04:07.360 --> 04:09.600 It was still 30 to 35 minutes away. 04:09.720 --> 04:11.559 That was a little frustrating moment. 04:11.560 --> 04:14.840 From Pahalgam reaching Baisaran, there is no metal road. 04:14.960 --> 04:16.400 So you just have to walk. 04:18.160 --> 04:21.920 It's a walk of somewhere around 30 to 40 minutes. 04:22.400 --> 04:25.040 And whatever the chatter we were picking, 04:25.160 --> 04:27.680 when we were climbing up by the porters and local guides, 04:27.800 --> 04:30.040 they were saying it was a cold-blooded murder. 04:31.160 --> 04:36.160 The ground situation was basically there were dead bodies all around. 04:47.200 --> 04:49.360 It wasn't a normal terror attack. 04:50.040 --> 04:53.560 In my opinion, it was a kind of an execution which was taking place 04:53.720 --> 04:55.480 where victims were segregated, 04:56.000 --> 04:57.280 they were taken apart, 04:57.400 --> 04:59.360 sorted on the base of their religion 04:59.960 --> 05:03.120 and mercilessly in cold blood executed 05:03.240 --> 05:04.760 right in front of their families. 05:05.760 --> 05:09.320 The first images and videos started trickling 05:09.920 --> 05:12.200 from the first responders who had reached there. 05:13.560 --> 05:19.640 In my life, I have never seen the kind of barbarity that was so gory. 05:28.200 --> 05:31.000 These civilians had been killed in cold blood 05:31.120 --> 05:34.360 with automatic weapons such as AK-47s. 05:35.360 --> 05:37.039 Earlier attacks were indiscriminate. 05:37.040 --> 05:39.160 They killed anybody who came in front of them. 05:39.280 --> 05:42.160 Here they segregated Hindus and Muslims, 05:42.400 --> 05:44.880 and killed Hindu men. 05:46.800 --> 05:47.800 I don't express it. 05:48.400 --> 05:50.200 I'm an emotional man at some level. 05:51.120 --> 05:52.280 I really felt very bad. 05:52.400 --> 05:56.320 I felt very sad that this young couple must have thought, 05:56.520 --> 05:58.320 must have planned, packed their things, 05:58.440 --> 06:00.080 will go to Pahalgam, come back, 06:00.320 --> 06:02.480 and the wife is sitting, and they are telling, 06:02.600 --> 06:04.160 KI JAKE MODI KO BOL DO, (Go tell Modi...) 06:04.280 --> 06:05.960 JO KAR KAR SAKTA HAI KAR LE. (Do whatever you can) 06:06.720 --> 06:08.560 So like I think all citizens of the country, 06:08.680 --> 06:11.120 we were actually hit by the brutality of this attack. 06:11.240 --> 06:13.080 I think it was most barbaric. 06:16.960 --> 06:18.240 We will go after them. 06:18.360 --> 06:19.800 Whether on the ground, in the sky, 06:19.920 --> 06:21.560 or deep underground, wherever they are. 06:21.920 --> 06:23.120 We will not forgive. 06:28.480 --> 06:32.840 Any act of terror will be considered as an act of war. 06:37.800 --> 06:40.960 If there is even escalation to this particular conflict, so be it. 06:42.760 --> 06:46.080 And then we went into full-fledged war mode I would say. 06:49.440 --> 06:54.160 Prime Minister told me that we should call it Operation Sindoor. 06:59.000 --> 07:01.960 We were ready and our fingers were on the trigger. 07:04.360 --> 07:06.719 And nothing stopped us and we were no holds barred. 07:06.720 --> 07:09.000 All the officers and men were fully motivated. 07:09.120 --> 07:10.880 (GUNSHOTS) 07:11.240 --> 07:13.760 The entire nation's hope rested on us. 07:16.800 --> 07:19.320 We will unfold it like a good movie. 07:21.280 --> 07:22.440 So, the Prime Minister said, 07:22.560 --> 07:23.840 waha se goli... (if they'll fire bullets...) 07:23.960 --> 07:25.520 yaha se gola. (...we will drop bombs) 07:46.160 --> 07:47.959 Fortnight before the Pahalgam attack, 07:47.960 --> 07:52.760 Asim Munir was actually provoking kind of terrorist organizations 07:52.880 --> 07:56.000 into attacking India or carrying out some terrorist attack. 07:56.400 --> 08:00.399 During his speech to non-resident Pakistanis and investors, 08:00.400 --> 08:02.520 he said that we are two different people; 08:02.640 --> 08:03.719 we are not one people. 08:03.720 --> 08:07.360 We have a different culture, we have a different tradition 08:07.480 --> 08:10.360 and India and Pakistan have nothing in common 08:10.480 --> 08:13.280 and we come from two different religions, 08:13.560 --> 08:16.080 and a very provocative speech basically, 08:16.200 --> 08:18.479 which was like a dog whistle 08:18.480 --> 08:22.039 to the terrorist groups and the elements in ISI. 08:22.040 --> 08:27.320 This was a very well planned, well thought out and deliberate attack 08:27.440 --> 08:31.799 designed for two or three intentions or outcomes from that. 08:31.800 --> 08:35.040 And they were one, create communal divide in India. 08:35.160 --> 08:40.040 Two, hit the booming tourism economy in Jammu and Kashmir. 08:40.160 --> 08:42.280 And three, by doing that 08:42.720 --> 08:46.240 try and get more local recruits from Jammu and Kashmir. 08:49.960 --> 08:53.880 Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Saudi Arabia on a visit. 08:56.920 --> 08:57.960 He had left that morning. 08:58.280 --> 09:00.720 And the attack actually simultaneously happened 09:00.840 --> 09:03.520 as he was about to land in Riyadh. 09:03.640 --> 09:05.359 The moment the Prime Minister landed, 09:05.360 --> 09:07.480 somebody from the SPG 09:07.600 --> 09:10.479 went up to him and whispered into his ear something. 09:10.480 --> 09:12.639 So the Prime Minister vanished from public view. 09:12.640 --> 09:14.240 When I went to the Prime Minister, 09:14.360 --> 09:16.480 actually he had already known about it, 09:16.720 --> 09:18.680 and I found him quite serious. 09:18.960 --> 09:20.600 Normally he has got a lot of calm, 09:21.240 --> 09:24.480 and under difficult circumstances, I have never seen him ruffled up. 09:24.880 --> 09:25.840 But he said 09:26.600 --> 09:27.480 YE BURA HUA HAI... (What has happened is terrible) 09:29.080 --> 09:30.399 ISKA PRATIKAR KARNA PADEGA. (this cannot go unanswered). 09:30.400 --> 09:35.280 We will have to take suitable and proportionate actions. 09:36.040 --> 09:40.280 So he had his meeting with the Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Salman. 09:40.560 --> 09:43.719 And immediately the Prime Minister and his delegation 09:43.720 --> 09:45.160 headed back to Delhi. 09:52.800 --> 09:54.160 Prime Minister returned. 09:55.200 --> 09:57.040 Foreign Secretary had come to receive him. 09:57.520 --> 09:59.720 Then at the airport itself we had a meeting. 10:00.360 --> 10:02.400 First he wanted to know all the facts. 10:02.920 --> 10:04.840 And then his first question to me is, 10:05.400 --> 10:06.240 who has done it? 10:06.640 --> 10:07.640 Who is responsible? 10:08.080 --> 10:11.200 We should be very clear who the perpetrators are. 10:11.320 --> 10:12.560 I wanted immediately, 10:12.960 --> 10:15.000 thanks to our intelligence agencies, 10:15.160 --> 10:17.080 I think they did a brilliant job, 10:17.360 --> 10:18.920 and within a very short time, 10:19.920 --> 10:23.199 we were able to arrive at the conclusion, 10:23.200 --> 10:27.160 mainly because of the equipment that they had left at the site, 10:27.640 --> 10:29.399 which was the communication equipment, 10:29.400 --> 10:31.960 which carried the route that they had tracked, 10:32.240 --> 10:35.880 also carried their communications with their mentors in Pakistan, 10:36.080 --> 10:38.520 and also their communications amongst themselves. 10:38.720 --> 10:41.840 So it was very clear that they were Pakistanis. 10:41.960 --> 10:46.040 So, I thought that we must go for proactive deterrence. 10:46.160 --> 10:48.520 And I could make out that the Prime Minister's mind 10:48.640 --> 10:52.200 was also that we have got to go for a proactive deterrence. 10:52.320 --> 10:54.200 90% of the fog was over with that. 10:54.680 --> 10:57.520 After that, it's a question of what is that we can do. 10:58.160 --> 11:00.120 On this matter, when you decide, 11:00.400 --> 11:05.720 you first decide that what are the enemy's expectations from you. 11:06.400 --> 11:08.120 So, my way of thinking has always been, 11:08.240 --> 11:11.080 never do what the enemy expects you to do. 11:11.320 --> 11:13.120 That is the element of surprise. 11:13.560 --> 11:16.800 If you have to win, you have to take risks in life. 11:17.400 --> 11:19.680 Without taking a risk, you will never win. 11:21.160 --> 11:23.480 NSA called me very early in the morning. 11:23.800 --> 11:26.520 He had just returned from Saudi Arabia 11:26.640 --> 11:29.200 and he said that you know we need to plan things. 11:29.360 --> 11:31.200 And by that time, honourable Raksha Mantri 11:31.320 --> 11:32.720 had also called for a meeting. 11:36.000 --> 11:39.080 So clearly the ball had been set rolling. 11:39.200 --> 11:44.320 The most important meeting was held by the honourable Prime Minister 11:47.120 --> 11:48.959 in which Raksha Mantri, NSA, 11:48.960 --> 11:51.360 the three service chiefs and myself were present. 11:55.320 --> 11:58.080 We met the PM when he called for a meeting 11:58.200 --> 12:01.560 and he decided that this time, whatever we do, 12:01.800 --> 12:06.440 it has to be big and impactful and it must teach them their lessons. 12:06.560 --> 12:08.240 You know for any military man, 12:08.720 --> 12:10.360 when the time comes and you know that 12:10.480 --> 12:12.640 this is the time to prove our worth, 12:13.280 --> 12:16.840 you suddenly start getting that adrenaline rush 12:17.360 --> 12:19.400 and you start feeling, you know, 12:19.520 --> 12:22.200 maybe this was the time you wore your uniform for. 12:22.400 --> 12:24.280 Immediately, that evening 12:24.400 --> 12:26.720 after the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, 12:27.440 --> 12:29.679 it was decided by India to scrap 12:29.680 --> 12:33.440 the long-standing Indus Water Treaty of 1960. 12:34.920 --> 12:36.760 Terror and talks, 12:38.000 --> 12:40.280 cannot go together. 12:41.080 --> 12:43.360 Terror and trade 12:44.560 --> 12:46.840 cannot go hand in hand, 12:47.840 --> 12:52.040 and water and blood 12:53.200 --> 12:55.760 cannot flow together. 12:56.280 --> 12:58.800 And withdrawing the Indus water treaty, 12:59.080 --> 13:01.040 which had survived three wars 13:01.160 --> 13:05.000 and had never been discussed or considered as an option 13:05.440 --> 13:08.120 despite the fact that it was a one-sided treaty 13:08.240 --> 13:10.120 completely in favour of Pakistan. 13:12.560 --> 13:15.040 I say to the whole world. 13:15.240 --> 13:21.440 India will identify, trace 13:22.320 --> 13:29.440 and punish every terrorist and their backer. 13:30.520 --> 13:32.560 We will pursue them 13:34.160 --> 13:36.080 to the ends of the earth. 13:37.920 --> 13:41.840 India s spirit will never be broken by terrorism. 13:43.640 --> 13:48.200 Terrorism will not go unpunished. 13:48.560 --> 13:54.640 Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. 13:55.080 --> 13:59.120 The entire nation is firm in this resolve. 14:00.440 --> 14:06.560 Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. 14:07.600 --> 14:10.520 I thank the people of various countries 14:11.520 --> 14:17.680 and their leaders who have stood with us in these times. 14:19.920 --> 14:22.280 Honourable Prime Minister has made it very clear, 14:23.720 --> 14:28.360 any act of terror will be considered as an act of war. 14:36.760 --> 14:39.640 I flew down to the Western Naval Command Headquarters. 14:43.400 --> 14:46.000 The Eastern Naval Command units which were combat ready, 14:46.120 --> 14:48.760 they were just pushed out from Vishakhapatnam. 14:49.160 --> 14:51.520 (DRAMATIC MUSIC) 14:54.720 --> 14:56.600 Then they joined on the Western seaboard 14:56.720 --> 14:58.920 and they became a part of this force. 15:01.600 --> 15:04.079 Within the 96 hours of that terrorist attack, 15:04.080 --> 15:07.400 we had carried out a large number of weapon firings. 15:18.200 --> 15:19.920 I called for a conference of 15:20.040 --> 15:22.800 Vice-Chief, DGMO, DGMI and ADG STRATCOM. 15:22.960 --> 15:24.840 What next? And what range? 15:25.160 --> 15:26.879 These are the two things we wanted to discuss. 15:26.880 --> 15:30.480 I had no doubt that we were in a situation 15:30.960 --> 15:35.480 where we would have to respond differently from times gone by 15:39.880 --> 15:44.719 and we would need to make sure that we responded in a manner 15:44.720 --> 15:49.360 which very unambiguously gave out our intent 15:53.880 --> 15:57.680 that we were not going to tolerate this or any form of terrorism. 16:02.640 --> 16:05.600 Around 26th, we generally honed down 16:05.720 --> 16:08.960 to various terrorist targets which we can neutralise. 16:13.000 --> 16:15.040 What the Prime Minister wanted was, 16:15.320 --> 16:18.840 it should not lead to any collateral damages to the civilian casualties. 16:19.640 --> 16:22.320 Number two, we are not declaring a war against Pakistan. 16:22.920 --> 16:28.920 Number three, we have got terrorists as the main culprits. 16:29.200 --> 16:33.920 Especially in the initial few days selection of targets etc. 16:34.120 --> 16:35.840 the accuracy of information 16:36.200 --> 16:38.800 was provided by the intelligence agencies. 16:39.440 --> 16:42.760 Largely done through the Office of National Security Advisor. 16:44.040 --> 16:46.639 So objectives that were decided were terrorist camps, 16:46.640 --> 16:48.240 nothing more, nothing less. 16:49.240 --> 16:53.080 They came up with a rough list of about 34 targets. 16:54.320 --> 16:57.240 The numbers were many but the important thing 16:58.000 --> 17:00.600 to decide was that how many would be enough 17:01.760 --> 17:03.600 to send a stern message across. 17:08.520 --> 17:11.720 And I was an integral part of that engine room. 17:12.240 --> 17:13.840 Which was planning this operation. 17:13.960 --> 17:18.080 We were doing a daily 24-hour research 17:19.320 --> 17:23.680 and evolving the intelligence that we had available on these targets. 17:25.240 --> 17:27.960 They evolved a matrix, 17:28.360 --> 17:34.560 tabulated the whole target list into ease of targeting, 17:34.840 --> 17:37.160 line of sight, whether it is there, 17:37.360 --> 17:39.560 how many people are there, 17:39.680 --> 17:42.920 important people or important terrorist functionaries are there. 17:43.400 --> 17:47.960 And they had a scale from 0 to 5 for different parameters. 17:48.160 --> 17:51.079 After evaluating their success possibility, 17:51.080 --> 17:54.000 after evaluating the deterrence effect 17:54.320 --> 17:55.760 that the Prime Minister wanted, 17:55.880 --> 17:59.120 after ensuring that it will not lead to any collateral damage, 17:59.240 --> 18:02.760 after ensuring that the message is loud and clear to the terrorists, 18:02.880 --> 18:04.959 as also their mentors and supporters. 18:04.960 --> 18:07.560 Thereafter, we homed on to the 9 targets. 18:11.000 --> 18:13.200 There were 5 targets in POJK 18:14.240 --> 18:16.200 and 4 targets in Pakistan. 18:20.720 --> 18:25.320 The NSA went with the targets and the intention to the Prime Minister 18:25.440 --> 18:29.520 saying there are these risks of retaliation from Pakistan 18:29.640 --> 18:32.200 because you are hitting the Pakistan-Punjab province 18:32.320 --> 18:37.000 which was always seen or projected by Pakistan as a no-go area. 18:37.120 --> 18:39.000 A red line, if crossed, 18:39.120 --> 18:43.040 would invite nuclear retaliation or something catastrophic. 18:44.320 --> 18:45.920 Now it's for you to sign off 18:46.040 --> 18:49.480 whether we should do this or do something else. 18:49.840 --> 18:54.400 And the Prime Minister apparently said give me 10 to 12 hours. 18:58.800 --> 19:03.160 And so on 30th, the Prime Minister signed off on this plan. 19:03.280 --> 19:05.720 I was again called in the evening by the Prime Minister. 19:05.840 --> 19:09.640 He asked me "what is the name which has been given to the operation." 19:11.160 --> 19:13.760 I replied that it is Tulip Garden as of now 19:13.880 --> 19:15.160 because it has happened in valley. 19:18.120 --> 19:21.760 He told me that we should call it Operation Sindhu. 19:22.440 --> 19:23.920 I said, sir, that's a very good name 19:24.040 --> 19:26.200 because the Indus Water Treaty has been frozen. 19:26.360 --> 19:27.600 So it relates to that. 19:27.720 --> 19:30.840 He said, no, it is Operation Sindoor. 19:32.680 --> 19:34.680 KYUNKI UNHONE HUMARI MAHILON... (because they have widowed...) 19:34.800 --> 19:36.679 KI MAANG KA SINDOOR UJADA HAI... (...our women,) 19:36.680 --> 19:38.800 AUR HUME USKA BADLA LENA HAI. (...and we have to avenge it.) 19:42.200 --> 19:43.560 Spontaneously came to my mind, 19:43.680 --> 19:45.680 this will unite the complete of India 19:45.800 --> 19:48.519 and this is the first time all the three services 19:48.520 --> 19:50.760 will be having a common operational name. 19:55.720 --> 19:58.440 We identified 9 targets finally. 19:59.120 --> 20:02.480 Starting from the north, across the line of control, 20:06.960 --> 20:08.120 Syedna Bilal, 20:13.080 --> 20:14.000 Sawai Nala, 20:22.760 --> 20:23.520 Kotli, 20:27.560 --> 20:28.560 Gulpur, 20:31.240 --> 20:32.000 Bhimber, 20:34.400 --> 20:35.600 Mehmoona Joya, 20:37.680 --> 20:38.360 Sarjal, 20:41.520 --> 20:43.320 and of course, Bahawalpur 20:43.960 --> 20:45.000 and Muridke. 20:46.120 --> 20:49.520 These were all located at varying distances 20:49.960 --> 20:53.120 from the line of control or the international boundary. 20:54.720 --> 20:55.720 This was different. 20:56.280 --> 20:58.840 You were taking the fight to the enemy. 20:59.160 --> 21:02.360 Each building had to be studied in detail. 21:03.800 --> 21:05.240 The composition of the building, 21:05.360 --> 21:06.880 the construction of the building 21:07.080 --> 21:09.960 was to be matched with the weaponry which we are going to use. 21:10.320 --> 21:13.640 Then, depending on the distance at which they were located 21:13.960 --> 21:19.440 and the weapon platform that was being utilized to eliminate those, 21:19.640 --> 21:22.280 it was decided that seven of the targets 21:23.040 --> 21:24.920 would be engaged by the Indian Army 21:25.560 --> 21:29.160 and the remaining two at Bahawalpur and Muridke 21:29.440 --> 21:31.440 would be engaged by the Indian Air Force. 21:35.120 --> 21:37.280 Air power is something we look at, you know, 21:37.400 --> 21:39.880 we will be likely the first responders. 21:40.280 --> 21:42.360 And we were very sure about two things 21:42.480 --> 21:46.279 that the damage we would like to cause should be enough 21:46.280 --> 21:48.240 to, you know, leave no ambiguity. 21:48.360 --> 21:50.880 The two targets we were given was Muridke 21:51.080 --> 21:54.840 which is about 30 kilometers from the border closer to Lahore. 21:55.360 --> 21:57.320 One was Bahawalpur 21:57.560 --> 22:00.240 which is almost about 100 kilometers from the border. 22:01.200 --> 22:03.160 Both targets were symbolically very important 22:03.280 --> 22:05.280 because this is the fountainhead of terrorism. 22:05.400 --> 22:07.440 Muridke was the headquarter of the LeT. 22:07.800 --> 22:09.600 and Bahawalpur of Jaish-e-Mohammed. 22:09.760 --> 22:12.000 So, it is like going into their house and hitting them. 22:12.280 --> 22:16.080 And it is located within the city. 22:16.320 --> 22:19.000 So, the challenge was firstly, to strike deep 22:19.320 --> 22:23.519 and also to ensure that there is no collateral damage. 22:23.520 --> 22:25.640 There are a lot of people, a lot of families 22:25.760 --> 22:27.200 who were staying around them 22:27.400 --> 22:30.280 because that's how the terrorists thrive. 22:30.400 --> 22:32.760 I think they choose their places accordingly 22:32.880 --> 22:36.439 so that they get this kind of first line of defense. 22:36.440 --> 22:38.440 And since the targets were big, 22:38.880 --> 22:42.560 that is why we decided together that Air Force will take on this target 22:42.680 --> 22:45.200 because we had to have the requisite weight of attack 22:45.320 --> 22:48.640 which Air Force could deliver at that distance 22:48.760 --> 22:51.040 into the enemy territory with precision. 22:51.440 --> 22:55.760 And then we set about putting our minds together to make the plan. 22:56.680 --> 23:00.440 Some of us are born to be in crisis always. 23:00.760 --> 23:06.040 I have dealt with multiple crises in these scenarios 23:06.160 --> 23:08.560 being posted in Northern Command so many times. 23:08.880 --> 23:11.880 Northern Command motto is that it's forever in combat 23:12.240 --> 23:16.760 and you are always waiting for that adrenaline to be there flowing 23:16.920 --> 23:17.760 all the time. 23:18.720 --> 23:21.120 When this entire planning process was happening, 23:21.240 --> 23:23.200 indication to me was there from the Chief 23:23.320 --> 23:27.040 that whenever it happens you will be taking over Northern Army. 23:27.960 --> 23:31.280 When this intense planning phase was on in the Army Headquarters 23:31.400 --> 23:33.040 and in the corridors of Delhi, 23:35.240 --> 23:37.000 I was fully integrated into that. 23:37.320 --> 23:39.280 And I knew that I have to go. 23:39.400 --> 23:43.640 I was waiting for MS Branch to quickly issue this posting order 23:43.760 --> 23:47.080 in black and white so that I can just grab that order and fly off. 23:48.440 --> 23:52.360 And I remember that particular day Chief had called everybody 23:52.480 --> 23:53.520 in the MO Ops room 23:54.120 --> 23:57.800 and I as Deputy Chief strat everything was happening in my mind. 23:58.000 --> 24:00.280 I was waiting for that thing to happen 24:00.400 --> 24:02.800 and suddenly somebody came from behind 24:03.120 --> 24:08.160 "Sir, your posting order in black and white is already out." 24:08.680 --> 24:12.120 I just got up from the chair and whatever conversation was happening 24:12.240 --> 24:14.560 I could not even register what was happening. 24:14.760 --> 24:16.920 I got up and I requested Chief Sir 24:17.200 --> 24:20.120 can I be excused I want to take a flight within an hour, 24:20.240 --> 24:22.080 and he said go. 24:22.320 --> 24:24.520 (SIRENS WAILING) 24:25.920 --> 24:27.360 When I reached Udhampur, 24:28.400 --> 24:31.600 I had to take care of what is the targeting matrix 24:31.880 --> 24:35.520 that if I have these seven camps to be targeted, 24:35.680 --> 24:37.120 how exactly will I do it, 24:37.240 --> 24:39.440 what are the vectors I will use 24:40.040 --> 24:44.360 and also which are the areas within those targets 24:44.480 --> 24:48.720 which should come what may the precision strike must go there. 24:52.400 --> 24:55.320 I was to take over from first of May as the Vice Chief. 24:55.680 --> 24:57.520 So when I came in here 24:57.640 --> 25:00.640 of course some of the planning had already started 25:00.760 --> 25:04.600 in terms of putting the forces up in the requisite places, 25:07.200 --> 25:09.760 upping our air defence alert levels. 25:13.320 --> 25:16.840 And I was to move out as AOC-in-C South Western Air Command. 25:16.960 --> 25:19.200 I mean I hit the ground running I would say, 25:19.640 --> 25:22.840 and I was good to go from the day I landed there. 25:23.200 --> 25:25.879 So all that was required to be done was 25:25.880 --> 25:28.960 give a call to every station, 25:32.560 --> 25:37.160 and tell them to now keep the powder dry. 25:39.440 --> 25:42.120 So the preparatory phase if I have to talk about, 25:43.000 --> 25:45.200 one was not sure how many days will I get 25:46.200 --> 25:47.640 because targeting had to happen, 25:47.760 --> 25:50.960 one was not sure it was going to be within two days, within a day, 25:51.120 --> 25:53.440 within three days, one was not very sure. 25:55.640 --> 25:58.280 So in this preparatory phase each, and every minute 25:58.400 --> 26:01.680 which was there with me I was utilizing it very judiciously. 26:07.320 --> 26:11.560 I wanted to ensure that the plans on the LoC are in place 26:13.440 --> 26:18.480 for all that entire steps of escalation I have my people in place 26:23.160 --> 26:27.280 I have my weapon, ammunition all stocked up, 26:30.000 --> 26:32.640 I had to cater for surprise. 26:36.760 --> 26:39.600 People should not come to know that in what domain 26:39.720 --> 26:41.280 India is going to respond. 26:52.520 --> 26:54.160 There were rehearsals happening, 26:57.360 --> 27:00.520 people were rehearsing on their platforms 27:04.480 --> 27:05.560 or the vector 27:07.080 --> 27:10.560 or any particular ammunition that was going to be utilized. 27:11.560 --> 27:13.000 They were in the training areas, 27:13.120 --> 27:14.840 they were on the field firing ranges. 27:20.880 --> 27:23.960 They knew that they would at some point in time 27:24.440 --> 27:26.200 be asked to get into action, 27:29.520 --> 27:31.520 but they necessarily did not know 27:31.640 --> 27:33.480 as to where exactly they would be firing. 27:38.080 --> 27:40.959 I had selected each and every commander 27:40.960 --> 27:43.160 for targeting of these camps. 27:44.280 --> 27:48.000 I got them together we discussed that these are the targets, 27:48.320 --> 27:49.320 this is the planning. 27:49.440 --> 27:52.680 These are the vectors to be used within the target 27:52.800 --> 27:59.440 which building, which area has to be struck, all that planning was done. 28:03.440 --> 28:07.720 And from 1st of May onwards these rehearsals intensified. 28:14.040 --> 28:16.840 Routine activities at unit level were underway 28:16.960 --> 28:19.160 when I received the call from my commanding officer. 28:19.560 --> 28:21.440 He was already in the operational area. 28:22.680 --> 28:25.240 He asked me to move to command headquarters 28:26.600 --> 28:29.120 and got an initial brief of an impending task: 28:31.960 --> 28:34.800 battalion battle procedures were activated 28:36.760 --> 28:39.160 and all special strike teams 28:39.280 --> 28:41.880 they went on to carrying out their rehearsals. 28:51.120 --> 28:54.360 In these kind of operations, terrain plays a major role. 28:55.760 --> 28:59.320 So you need to study the terrain in that short time 28:59.440 --> 29:02.640 and as the terrain we see here is mountainous. 29:04.160 --> 29:09.080 So for the planning phase we did a lot of recce on and off the map. 29:13.240 --> 29:14.440 Commanding officer of my regiment 29:14.560 --> 29:16.280 he has called all the officers in his office, 29:16.520 --> 29:18.639 and told that he has received the orders 29:18.640 --> 29:22.920 and one of our subunit has to air mobilise to an unspecified location. 29:30.080 --> 29:33.560 The moment we reached airfield it is near about 2400 hours. 29:41.680 --> 29:44.360 Next day in the morning we landed at the valley. 29:51.600 --> 29:54.000 We mobilised and reached our location 29:54.120 --> 29:56.160 from where we have finally carried out our mission. 29:57.160 --> 30:01.560 For the next 4-5 days we have rehearsed improved our drills, 30:04.120 --> 30:06.920 and increasing our force protection measures. 30:09.320 --> 30:12.520 All the directions were given for them to prepare. 30:12.640 --> 30:13.480 Be ready. 30:19.000 --> 30:21.480 There are very few people in the Air Force 30:21.680 --> 30:23.960 who were aware of specific information. 30:26.120 --> 30:28.920 The units which had to do the planning were informed. 30:30.600 --> 30:32.800 So for that you need immense amount of planning 30:32.920 --> 30:35.360 because carrying out a strike into another nation 30:35.480 --> 30:36.920 is not a very easy job. 30:38.160 --> 30:41.120 So I personally started planning missions. 30:41.680 --> 30:45.880 I knew that whatever platform or whatever happens eventually 30:46.200 --> 30:48.040 we will always have to plan a strike. 30:51.120 --> 30:53.160 We have simulated targets 30:53.280 --> 30:55.200 and we practice these missions regularly 30:55.320 --> 30:56.880 in our routine training sorties. 30:58.520 --> 31:01.879 So as a military aviator I think we had already started preparing 31:01.880 --> 31:02.960 from our side. 31:03.840 --> 31:07.160 Because we knew that it might be a possibility 31:07.280 --> 31:09.440 that some operation might have to be conducted. 31:11.520 --> 31:14.920 So we knew that once we carry out the neutralisation of targets 31:15.280 --> 31:18.640 Pakistan will also respond and they will respond heavily. 31:20.280 --> 31:22.400 And we had to take that into consideration 31:22.520 --> 31:25.720 because I knew for sure that come what may, 31:25.840 --> 31:29.640 the moment this retaliation starts it is going to start from the LoC. 31:30.280 --> 31:33.320 (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC) 31:39.640 --> 31:41.480 We had already war-gamed that 31:47.080 --> 31:48.800 three, four levels beyond. 31:49.240 --> 31:50.680 So we were prepared for that. 31:53.840 --> 31:56.400 I also wanted to ensure that my air defence 31:56.520 --> 31:59.960 and electronic warfare grid is also in place. 32:00.160 --> 32:03.520 Just in case it's getting into drone warfare, 32:03.720 --> 32:05.239 I should have my grid in place. 32:05.240 --> 32:07.920 And for this I couldn't have done it on my own. 32:10.120 --> 32:12.880 I'm the Director General of Army Air Defence. 32:13.480 --> 32:17.720 The Army Air Defence looks after strategic and tactically important 32:17.840 --> 32:19.920 installations in India. 32:20.040 --> 32:22.480 The Air Force has something called the IACCS. 32:25.200 --> 32:28.240 And the Army Air Defence has something called 32:28.360 --> 32:29.840 the Akashteer system. 32:32.040 --> 32:33.480 It's a totally indigenous system. 32:35.080 --> 32:38.520 It's an outstanding control and reporting system. 32:39.080 --> 32:41.960 It reports air threat and controls your weapon systems. 32:44.440 --> 32:48.000 All our radars are networked into an integrated system. 32:50.720 --> 32:54.839 And the weapons which are also networked with this radar, 32:54.840 --> 32:57.280 they are also integrated into this entire network. 33:03.880 --> 33:08.440 So it becomes like a giant mesh which covers the entire country. 33:11.200 --> 33:14.600 The latency of the Akashteer system from the IACCS 33:15.120 --> 33:18.640 to the weapon end is two to three milliseconds. 33:18.760 --> 33:20.480 I mean that's the capability that we have. 33:20.600 --> 33:25.480 Because an air threat manifests in 18, 20, 30, 40 seconds. 33:28.040 --> 33:31.559 I knew that this air defence is going to play a huge role 33:31.560 --> 33:33.960 in deterring Pakistan from undertaking 33:34.080 --> 33:35.600 one aspect of the retaliation 33:35.840 --> 33:37.840 which is dealing with the airspace. 33:40.520 --> 33:43.000 And I also wanted to ensure that there should be some kind of 33:43.120 --> 33:45.360 an escalation matrix also should be worked out 33:45.520 --> 33:48.560 in such a manner that firstly we should be dominating 33:48.680 --> 33:50.520 each and every ladder of escalation 33:50.640 --> 33:52.600 and secondly at every ladder, 33:52.720 --> 33:56.480 Pakistan must get an exit window in case he wants to take. 33:56.600 --> 34:01.400 Pakistan carries out misinformation at industrial scale. 34:02.880 --> 34:05.880 Denial, distortion, fabrication of facts 34:06.000 --> 34:10.280 is something which they have honed over a period of time. 34:12.320 --> 34:14.840 I came up with the idea that we require 34:14.960 --> 34:19.679 credible real time visual imagery of the strikes taking place 34:19.680 --> 34:24.440 and our quickly being able to put them out at the world stage 34:24.560 --> 34:27.960 will destroy any scope for Pakistan to carry out 34:28.080 --> 34:30.280 any kind of misinformation on that account. 34:30.760 --> 34:33.479 The troops in ground will execute the task that has to be done, 34:33.480 --> 34:36.760 and it will be left for us the information warriors to be able to 34:36.880 --> 34:38.440 justify their actions to the world. 34:38.560 --> 34:42.720 As part of our planning to be able to execute this in real time, 34:43.000 --> 34:45.800 I had nominated one officer per live screen, 34:45.920 --> 34:50.480 whose job was to record the exact time of impact 34:50.680 --> 34:51.880 at that particular target. 34:53.320 --> 34:57.880 While nobody was saying that it has to be done tomorrow or day after, 34:58.080 --> 35:02.440 but in our minds, we knew that we had selected the targets, 35:04.080 --> 35:06.160 we had put the wherewithal into place 35:09.240 --> 35:11.400 we had carried out operational rehearsals, 35:11.760 --> 35:15.479 now we needed to hone on to the time and the date. 35:15.480 --> 35:17.600 To my people it was very clear that 35:17.720 --> 35:20.440 every day they are getting is a day bonus, 35:20.640 --> 35:21.520 keep preparing. 35:21.640 --> 35:24.240 When the time comes you need only that much time 35:24.720 --> 35:26.960 so they were quite confident, quite relaxed, 35:27.080 --> 35:29.400 calm, composed and very clear. 35:33.800 --> 35:36.560 So on 1st of May when I met Raksha Mantri 35:36.680 --> 35:39.160 and thereafter he decided that it should be done 35:39.280 --> 35:41.040 on 7th of May early morning 35:41.160 --> 35:44.000 between 0100 hours to 0200 hours. 35:44.360 --> 35:46.320 So my complete narrative was looking at 35:46.440 --> 35:51.680 that we should have rehearsals on 6th, 8th, 10th and final go on 12th. 35:51.880 --> 35:54.960 This way we were trying to make sure that nobody gets to know 35:55.080 --> 35:57.079 that 7th is the date which has been chosen. 35:57.080 --> 36:00.920 So surprise is a very big part of the whole game 36:01.040 --> 36:02.840 while there is rhetoric also going on, 36:03.000 --> 36:04.760 but they don't know what is going to happen 36:04.880 --> 36:06.440 or what is the exact time, 36:07.000 --> 36:09.240 what is the exact targets that have been chosen 36:09.400 --> 36:10.920 that is the major surprise. 36:11.320 --> 36:14.080 So it was not communicated to me on telephone that 36:14.200 --> 36:17.400 listen Pratik this is the day or this is the time 36:17.520 --> 36:19.000 when targeting had to be done. 36:19.120 --> 36:22.440 So a high state of surprise was to be maintained, 36:22.680 --> 36:24.120 I had to send an officer, 36:24.240 --> 36:26.440 a brigadier level officer he went to Delhi. 36:26.840 --> 36:28.759 Chief personally gave him a small paper. 36:28.760 --> 36:30.360 He told him don't open it, 36:30.640 --> 36:33.000 you go and hand it over to the Army Commander, 36:34.960 --> 36:37.400 and he will open it by himself. 36:39.000 --> 36:40.840 So 6th afternoon I got the time 36:40.960 --> 36:42.640 I had to keep it close to my heart. 36:51.440 --> 36:54.080 By the 6th morning, 36:54.400 --> 36:57.519 it was clear to us that we were going to engage 36:57.520 --> 37:00.120 the targets that night. 37:05.560 --> 37:10.320 And we homed on to the time as 01:05 in the early hours of the morning, 37:12.960 --> 37:14.880 Because that's the time when 37:15.240 --> 37:18.080 the chances of you achieving surprise are the maximum. 37:18.360 --> 37:21.200 Because if you were to do, it let's say during the day, 37:21.600 --> 37:25.880 you might find the people in those terror camps that you are hitting 37:26.120 --> 37:27.360 or they could be out, 37:27.800 --> 37:29.240 they could well be training, 37:29.640 --> 37:31.720 and as we were getting closer to the strike 37:32.360 --> 37:34.800 the military operations directorate itself 37:35.400 --> 37:37.280 was not aware that that was the night. 37:37.800 --> 37:41.440 There was only one person there who was aware and that was me. 37:42.400 --> 37:46.120 At a certain point in time after I had informed the army commanders, 37:46.520 --> 37:49.880 I informed my own officers and staff 37:50.200 --> 37:52.240 in the military operations directorate 37:52.360 --> 37:53.680 that tonight was the night. 37:53.800 --> 38:02.160 The exact indication came not more than 7 hours prior to when we hit. 38:02.560 --> 38:05.200 In the afternoon our commanding officer 38:05.320 --> 38:06.680 and flight commander had called us; 38:09.040 --> 38:10.360 only the required number of people 38:10.480 --> 38:12.360 that were supposed to be there were present. 38:12.840 --> 38:14.280 We were told our targets, 38:15.160 --> 38:17.600 the formation was decided instantly, 38:17.720 --> 38:21.360 the package was selected and we were told to get on to mission planning. 38:21.680 --> 38:24.760 So they were ready just waiting for a go ahead. 38:24.880 --> 38:28.000 We let them know with just sufficient time 38:28.520 --> 38:30.280 to execute those missions. 38:30.480 --> 38:31.640 It is all live now, 38:31.760 --> 38:33.520 there is no training anymore in that. 38:34.400 --> 38:36.440 The mindset was very clear through and through 38:36.560 --> 38:38.160 that yes we are going for the missions 38:38.280 --> 38:40.800 and I think we have prepared ourselves mentally. 38:41.080 --> 38:43.520 Fortunately Air force strains the way we fight. 38:43.640 --> 38:46.280 The final day is final day nobody can take that away. 38:49.600 --> 38:54.920 In the days leading up to the 6th and the 7th without exception, 38:55.440 --> 38:58.879 I was in the military operations directorate 38:58.880 --> 39:00.400 for very very long hours, 39:02.800 --> 39:04.440 but on that particular day, 39:05.120 --> 39:08.920 I made a conscious effort to leave the directorate 39:09.560 --> 39:12.040 at about 7 in the evening, 39:15.680 --> 39:18.800 to suggest to everybody that it was business as usual. 39:22.360 --> 39:26.680 We didn't want anyone to get to know that today is the D-day. 39:37.360 --> 39:40.280 In the evening at about 6 o'clock I told everybody 39:40.400 --> 39:44.400 let's pack up, and only let's leave the duty officer here, 39:46.520 --> 39:50.120 and we will get meet at about 10.30 or so. 39:58.400 --> 40:03.160 And quietly at that time which was for me to go 40:03.280 --> 40:05.960 I had asked for only one vehicle, 40:08.520 --> 40:10.120 and I just quietly moved out. 40:10.440 --> 40:12.560 Nobody in the house came to know 40:12.720 --> 40:15.120 other than the guard who shouted Jai Hind. 40:20.160 --> 40:22.200 At approximately 10 o'clock at night, 40:22.680 --> 40:25.360 my daughter and son-in-law coincidentally 40:25.760 --> 40:27.240 happened to walk into the house, 40:27.360 --> 40:30.040 and when they found out that I was headed to work 40:30.160 --> 40:31.560 they said we will drop you. 40:32.720 --> 40:34.880 They dropped me at South Block. 40:36.520 --> 40:39.560 I had planned my move out of Delhi that particular evening. 40:43.800 --> 40:46.120 As for everybody else AP Singh was airborne 40:46.240 --> 40:48.040 to go to some place in Baroda, 40:52.480 --> 40:55.520 got into an aircraft but actually it never went to Baroda, 40:55.640 --> 40:57.000 we did one local sortie 40:57.520 --> 41:00.760 came back and landed nobody knew that chief had landed back. 41:04.160 --> 41:06.440 I remember telling my household 41:06.960 --> 41:12.040 that I have got some work I am going out so don't wait for me. 41:12.160 --> 41:14.120 Obviously nobody knew where I was going. 41:18.560 --> 41:21.200 Short of midnight I asked my ADC 41:21.680 --> 41:23.400 to take out his personal car. 41:23.760 --> 41:26.480 I used the rear gate which was never used by me. 41:30.520 --> 41:33.920 So we took different routes to arrive at the operations room 41:36.800 --> 41:40.160 and in the joint operations room all the service chiefs were present 41:43.800 --> 41:47.440 and we could see whatever was happening live. 41:49.160 --> 41:51.760 I think it was about 11.30 at night 41:52.280 --> 41:55.240 when we started watching the leadership of the army, 41:55.800 --> 41:58.640 the three services walking inside the operations room 41:59.040 --> 42:03.160 that I suddenly realised that the strikes would take place today. 42:08.720 --> 42:11.800 There were live feeds coming in on multiple screens 42:12.360 --> 42:16.920 and we could clearly see the targets in each of these feeds. 42:17.440 --> 42:19.800 It was a moment of great focus. 42:19.960 --> 42:23.520 I realised that we were at a historic moment. 42:26.720 --> 42:30.160 What was also extremely reassuring for me 42:30.520 --> 42:33.520 was to see the calmness in each and every one of them. 42:35.520 --> 42:38.840 From the junior most officer right up to the senior most leadership 42:40.880 --> 42:42.880 they were all united in a sense of purpose. 42:45.280 --> 42:48.160 In the entire northern command at that point of time 42:48.280 --> 42:52.160 everybody was very sure that what they are expected to do, 42:53.800 --> 42:55.640 how it has to be executed, 42:57.840 --> 42:59.400 everything was in place. 42:59.520 --> 43:03.360 Everybody was just waiting that when is the time to deliver. 43:06.440 --> 43:08.679 At that point in time I was very confident 43:08.680 --> 43:12.360 having spent very very long hours in the operation, 43:14.360 --> 43:16.000 putting everything into place. 43:16.280 --> 43:18.880 We had worked out all the contingencies. 43:20.520 --> 43:24.680 So I felt that we had done enough for the operation to succeed. 43:25.000 --> 43:26.240 But invariably, 43:27.400 --> 43:29.880 before any important event 43:30.720 --> 43:33.840 and this time was no exception, 43:34.320 --> 43:36.680 I did have some butterflies in my stomach 43:38.960 --> 43:43.319 and as I stood in front of a large number of screens, 43:43.320 --> 43:48.760 I suddenly had the sense that what if the vectors don't hit, 43:49.160 --> 43:51.840 what if these cameras 43:51.960 --> 43:55.320 that are sending me these images were to have a snag, 43:56.480 --> 43:58.800 what if everybody comes and sits down here 43:59.840 --> 44:01.680 and there is no show.