New Delhi: In a shocking disclosure, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Fali Homi Major has revealed that the Indian Air Force was ready to take revenge for the devastating 2008 Mumbai terror attacks but the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government 'blocked' any further action on the surgical strike option that was meant to teach terror-sponsor Pakistan a lesson.
The former IAF chief, in conversation with Times Now's National Affairs Editor Srinjoy Chowdhury, revealed the IAF's surgical strike plan in 2008.
Nine years after the 26/11, the ex-IAF chief dropped a bombshell when he revealed that they had the plan as well as capability to hit the terror-training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2008, but the then UPA government never gave the necessary nod.
Talking to Times Now, the former IAF chief said that two days after the strike, the heads of the three services of Indian Armed Forces were called at the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence along with the then defence minister AK Antony and the defence secretary.
Before the meeting, the three chiefs had discussed amongst themselves what could be done and considered the possible options the government could ask them to take, said Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Fali Homi Major.
During the meeting, the IAF chief apprised the then PM that from logistics to weapons and planes, everything was ready to strike terror-training camps in PoK. But he never received a go-ahead from the government.
In the wake of an attack like 26/11, the window of opportunity to strike is 24 hours, said Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Fali Homi Major, adding that even a small tactical action by the Air Force has a strategic effect.
"Surgical strike was an opportunity lost and we didn't make use of it."
In a nutshell, here are the claims made by the former IAF chief:
Claims by former IAF chief Marshal Fali Homi Major #UPAPakClemencyhttp://pic.twitter.com/GcnLxRnGm8
The revelation tears apart the Congress' claims that the UPA has also conducted surgical strike during its tenure but never publicised it to gain the electoral advantage, 'unlike PM Narendra Modi'.
The sensational revelation raises the following questions:
Why did the UPA let go of an opportunity to teach Pakistan a lesson in the aftermath of 26/11 attack?
Why did the UPA not take up IAF’s proposal of surgical strike despite the IAF Chief's assurances of being prepared?
Was the Congress misleading India when it claimed to have carried out successful surgical strikes during its tenure?
The disclosure has sent political shockwaves. The Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed the then UPA government, saying the Congress lacked the courage to take on Pakistan.