New Delhi: A war has been thrust upon us, says Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. But a war where the military option has been ruled out, at least for the moment.
"Air power is not necessary at the moment. But if the situation warrants we can change that mandate," said Chidambaram on Wednesday.
It's a statement that won't go down well with service chiefs who have already outlined their concerns in being involved in anti-Naxal operations.
Air Chief Marshal Naik said Wednesday, "Army, Navy and Air Force are trained for lethal operations, maximum lethality. The weapons that we have are meant for the enemy across the border. Therefore use of air power in situations like the Naxal problem, I'm not in favour."
Part of the reluctance is the military firing or attacking Naxals who are Indian citizens fighting the state. Any use of hard force could bring with it collateral damage that the political leadership may not be ready to risk.
The rules of engagement also change once the military is drawn in. A positive identification of targets is necessary for an operation and experts say that even if the force was employed, it would need a minimum of six months to orientate itself to the Naxal grid.
"We can support and add to the constabulary," says the Army chief. So for the moment, counter Naxal operations rest with the para-military forces, supported by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The Dantewada massacre has shown that security forces will have to fight the guerilla like a guerilla.
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