U r a senior member here...so I assume u have the capacity to set aside the normal bravado and chest thumping and look at the facts and logic for a moment. The reasoning u give as proof of surgical strikes..."bcuz Pakistanis are denying it still...so it must have happened" is nothing but u gripping at straws. A simpler explanation could be that Pakistanis/Pakistan is denying it bcuz it didn't happen.
Please read my post carefully, for two reasons: first, I, too assume that I have the capacity to set aside the normal bravado and chest thumping, and look at the facts and the logic, but not because I am a 'senior' member, whatever that animal is; I assume that is true because I am a rational person, and also an exceptionally well-informed person.
@hellfire 's original reconstruction within eight hours of the incident were exaggerated and wrong in several vital details (these were in private conversations, none of which came into PDF), but later the full picture emerged, and it is utterly factual.
I do not feel the need to seek certificates by adducing concrete evidence; one of us has already faced censure from the authorities for what he revealed in his enthusiasm.
The burden of proof lies on the one who makes claims. India claimed to carry out "surgical strikes" and then at first didn't provide any proof citing "national security"...then later conflicting statements came out. Then everyone started chiming in about using shit and piss as camouflage and invisible Hanuman soldiers. Some more time passed and then a picture showing a destroyed "terrorist launchpad"(whatever that is) came out...which was even more puzzling bcuz the picture was taken during daytime, which contradicts the claim of surgical strikes being carried out at night. As opposed to this drama on Indian side...Pakistan invited journalists in the areas India had supposedly targeted.
So if the shoe was on the other foot and Pakistan had made such tall claims about carrying out a "surgical strike" inside Indian territory. Then failed to provide proof...made comical statements like "invisible soldiers" and way later released a picture that contradicted initial claims. India on the other hand had invited in journalists in the areas where Pak had claimed to carry out the strikes...and they found no such evidence...who would u believe?
I know whom I would not believe. I would not believe imbecile Sanghis who make such absurd claims. And further, I would not cite their maunderings as evidence that what was real and made public officially was also as ephemereal. There has never been any effort on my part to conceal my contempt for these bigots and totalitarians, and what you have cited is part of the syndrome that a Sanghi displays.
As for Pakistani evidence and parading journalists around, I do not wish to waste time on it. Pakistan is a military dictatorship, and rigs events as it wishes; a state that can make the discovered parents of a captured terrorist disappear within twenty-four hours of discovery can perform any Potemkin manouevre. I had sincere hopes for Pakistan, and genuine regard for Pakistanis; after the disturbing actions of the Barelvis in recent times, only the regard for individual Pakistanis remains.
If u want me to believe that a sizeable number of Indian soldiers were able to sneak in on one of the most heavily guarded borders on earth and go about blowing stuff up while Pak Army slept...I would need proof...until then a claim is just a claim.
Entirely up to you. I made no tall claims earlier, and I emphasised that cross-border raids have happened before; the totally politically motivated publicity was deplorable, but has no reflection on the reality of those incidents having taken place.
Until then I think it was nothing more than shelling and firing across LoC that both sides do from time to time, which doesn't qualify as crossing into enemy territory and carrying out a "surgical strike". IMO(unless proof provided to show otherwise) BJP/Modi exaggerated something like shelling of Pakistani border posts as "surgical strike" to gain more popularity and strengthen his "strong man Modi" image.
Three things: there was shelling and firing but at a completely different location; the crossing over was in unprecedented strength and is unlikely to be repeated, as levels of vigilance have been considerably strengthened; and the role of the BJP has been clearly seen and noted, and requires no further comment.
Regrettably, I am unable to log into the forum for various reasons, one at least being the increasingly toxic atmosphere in real life in India and in digital life on the forum. I miss the interactions of several years ago, but have reconciled myself to the situation.
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