There are many ways to look at a certain development. It is also important to know the details of that development, past and present. If one is lucky enough, some first hand information from the ground also helps. To see from the eyes of a viewer is different than from the eyes of a soldier or an officer who is present at that location. The point of views in the planning rooms of both Govt and Military high officials are entirely different from all others.
Whenever a thread is posted based on some news of conflict or skirmish, the pages started filling from both sides, everybody becoming a spokesperson of their respective country, some disgruntled ones cursing their own country at times for not doing enough, though majority will be defending their forces and country as they justify the actions through past and present. Lastly, there will be hijackers of the thread who would want the thread to be derailed according to their agenda. Then there are a few who like to keep their views reserved or dont care at all. Somewhat similar happens in real life too.
Media has a certain role to play and media is used, can be bought or has to follow directives of the government. It is one of the best weapons of war to create confusion and mayhem among general public.
Weather is the biggest enemy of any army deployed in any terrain, whether it be mountain or desert. Troops have to survive and fight the weather everyday - the human enemy maybe not that much or not everyday. Weather is also a friend for some, weather limits mobility, weather has the audacity to limit the operational capability of a military, it puts a strain on resources by demanding more or using double than usual. Weather is the best friend of any Guerrilla force - harsh weather like the approaching winter season in kashmir now. Indian Army has been experienced since decades that freedom fighters will become more active in winters than in summers. The freedom fighters will find a ally in the harsh weather especially in hit and run tactics.
Now take it as fictional story what im going to write, although it could very well be real too. A week back from now, there was a report of some freedom fighters present in an area of Kashmir. Indian Military sent troops in the area who suffered some causalities as dead and many as wounded, the freedom fighters escaped unharmed. I am not aware if this has been reported in Indian media. If it has then that's good. however shouldn't this call for another surgical strike by Indian Army or another IAF attempt to enter LOC like Feb 2019 since its alleged that Pakistan sends men and equipment across the LOC - The incredibly heavily defended and continuously monitored LOC. If everybody sees the amount of surveillance equipment that Indian military has installed on LOC, questions would arise that how can even an ant go undetected through those systems, but here dozens and dozens of armed insurgents are crossing from so called launch pads from Pakistan like there is a picnic going on LOC. Indian Army having suffered at hands of freedom fighters turned towards Pakistani forces on LOC since the lost prestige had to be gained, after all its a numbers game. If 10 x Indian soldiers die, then 100 or 1000 x freedom fighters or Pakistani troops or Pakistani civilians have to die to maintain the numbers game in the Indian media. So how can the numbers be maintained to appease the Govt of India, Indian high command and most importantly the Indian public. The effect of loss of 10 x troops evaporates when 1000s of Pakistani troops or civilian casualties show up in media.
So where to strike to successfully get the wanted numbers ? The Pakistani troops on LOC are positioned in well defended bunkers and have the capability to fire back when provoked. So who is an easy target ? The Pakistan civilians of AJK. The civilian infrastructure catches fire easily since majority cannot afford brick houses, they mostly use wooden structures where as Pakistan Army's ordinance and ammo is stored in well protected encampments and structures. Targeting weak civilian infrastructure proves more destructive and flaming images are powerful images on media. It means media can show that massive damage has been to done to Pakistan and that Pakistani Army has allowed such massive damage to be done by indian military from right under their noses, which shows what ? That Pakistani Army is incapable, ineffective and incompetent to protect its civilians. There is already an internal war waged through PML(N) and PDM against Pakistan Army, so a great opportunity to jump onto the next step to defame Pakistan Army.
Next, to show that Pakistani Army is a brutal force, Indian military placed its heavy weapons around populated areas so that there are high chances that J&K civilians are hit in the counter battery fire. This serves two purposes: firstly that Indian Military gives a damn about lives of J&K kashmiris, so doesnt matter to them if they die at hands of Indian military or through Pakistani fire. Secondly, lets prove to the J&K kashmiris that Pakistan Army doesnt care for their lives and property. This will help in brainwashing the population against freedom fighters also who are allegedly supported by Pakistan Army currently.
I will come back to weather again. I mentioned in one of my previous posts about "weather gear/kits" for troops. This weather gear/kit is useful in snowy and harsh conditions. These kits have been ordered by Indian Army for LAC, but there is a difference between ordering 15,000 and ordering 50,000. Its easy to support 15,000 troops than its is to support 50,000 troops. The gear is not only warm uniform, it includes tents, blankets, lamps, heating equipment etc which has the capability to operate in snowy condition and also keep soldiers warm and healthy. If India deploys massive amount of troops on LAC in winters, it will need to cater for all their needs and that is economically draining. So turning the attention towards Pakistan on LOC is an easier option and sniping Pakistani soldiers as well as hitting Pakistani civilians is more convenient, however, many intel reports had already suggested that India will create tension on LOC every year. This year it had yet to come since LAC was already hot and India had been embarrassed thoroughly by Chinese troops. LAC has become a thorn for India which it didnt expect and now India is stuck in LAC after giving up thousands of Sqm of land to China. The Chinese Army can sustain itself comfortably, while the Indian Army is still finding ways and means to deploy and sustain troops on LAC in winters. Driving attention towards LOC and grabbing quick but huge causality numbers on LOC is what India is trying to achieve.
Pakistan Army's retaliatory fire has caused more causalities to Indian soldiers than what's being reported. This happened because intel had reported already what India Army will be trying to achieve before end of 2020, so Pakistani troops were already prepared to retaliate. Indian Army is now itself stuck in a war of attrition that it wanted to start against Pakistan - and now China has joined hands with Pakistan too on LAC.
If you put all the dots together, you will see what Indian Army, Indian Govt and the Indian media are trying to achieve for face saving from all the situations that India has got knees deep in and is still using horrendous tactics to satisfy its appetite and its population.
