We have proof, won't make it public': Centre on surgical strikes

New Delhi: As Union Minister Hansraj Ahir revealed on Wednesday that the Indian Army had handed over to the government, video clips of the cross-LoC surgical strikes, and a political slugfest erupted over surgical strikes, amid a growing chorus that evidence of the operation on terror launch pads in PoK be made public, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by PM concluded that the fallout, if edited portions of the evidence was released, would only help Pakistan decipher the Indian Army's modus operandi.

The report by the country’s two top intelligence agencies, Research and Analysis Wing and Intelligence Bureau, both “strongly” advised against releasing any form of evidence related to the surgical strikes. The intelligence agencies whose report was shared with the CCS, by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have categorically stated that releasing the evidence would hugely compromise the possibility of any such operations in future. In fact, top Government sources confirmed to this newspaper that the security establishment had enough evidence regarding the military operation both in terms of video footage as well as still photographs. One of the two intelligence agencies have also provided the Government with satellite images of the launch pads which were targeted at four different locations at Lipa, Kel, Tatapani (Hotspring), and Bhimber by Special Forces commandos. Through the satellite images the intelligence agency was closely monitoring developments at the launch pads and sharing it with the Army to help them plan their operation. The manner in which intelligence for the surgical strikes was developed was a critical component of the entire operation.

“Any evidence provided at this stage would be analysed by the Pakistani agencies and they will not only figure out our weak points but also nail the modus operandi of our security forces. It is for this reason that the intelligence agencies are strongly opposing releasing evidence in any form. Even the domestic constituency which is asking the Government for evidence needs to understand this,” a senior security official said. With the Army and key intelligence agencies submitting all the evidence in form of video footage, still photographs and satellite images to the Government, sources said the decision on releasing the evidence will have to be a political one now.