Kargil War, 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: Look Back

Salute to the War Heroes

Social media was abuzz with Kargil Vijay Diwas. On 26th July, 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistan. The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days that resulted in the loss of life on both sides.

Naik Deepchand, who went
to Kargil in 1999as a strapping 
six feet tall, returned without
both legs and a hand

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on 26 July every year in honour of the the Kargil War Heroes. We salute the martyrs and to our brave soldiers for their supreme sacrifice for the nation!

Kargil War Technologies

The Kargil War saw India witnessing two major technological advancements:

1. Iridium Handheld Phones: Communicating from remote and inaccessible areas via Iridium handheld phones, which work through a network of low Earth orbiting satellites owned and operated by a Canadian firm.

2. Live Broadcast Journalism: The luxury of live broadcast journalism in Indian television facilitated uplinking of signals directly to satellites from remote locations, making the content publicly available for viewing.

These two technologies kept citizens glued to their television sets while many broadcast journalists became overnight heroes for broadcasting live from the battlefield.

What did we learn from the Kargil war?

Broadcasting live from the battlefield and forward posts gave an advantage to our opponent, as they were closely monitoring such live feeds from Indian TV satellite channels.

1. Victory for the Indian Army which could had been 

2. 

   Iridium handheld phone

   achieved  much earlier, was delayed as strategic changes had to be made frequently due to leaked information from live broadcasts and voiceover reports through Iridium handheld phones. The Pakistan Army was having a field day since every bit of information about Indian troop movements was freely available, courtesy of Indian television.

3. Many recall an episode where two young Indian army officers were interviewed live at their bunkers in the forward post. This made it easy for the Pakistan Army to track their location, bombard the bunker, and kill both officers the next day. Had there been no live broadcast coverage, these soldiers might have lived.

A Repeat During the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack 

Outdoor Broadcast Van:
Representational Image 

In 2008, heavily armed Pakistan-based terrorists sneaked into India’s financial capital in a trawler boat, causing mayhem that left more than 166 civilians and armed forces dead. Here too, the courtesy of Indian live broadcast television proved to be aiding the terrorists.

File Photo: Taj Mumbai 

Hotel Terror Attack

Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the Taj Hotel, infamous for killing scores of people, was continuously receiving instructions and feedback on his mobile phone from his handlers based in Pakistan, as they were also tuned to the same Indian TV satellite channels.

It is strongly argued that had there were no live broadcast, then the casualties may had been much less though.

Where did we go wrong? 

There are several opinions and observations on both the Kargil War and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. 

During the Kargil conflict, it was the Government of India seeking publicity that allowed live broadcast coverage by news channels. There is no way that the broadcasting crew could have ever reached such places with their heavy equipment without being vetted by the Ministry of Defence.

Nor could they have ever boarded a Mirage aircraft or reached remote places where firing was ongoing without the Ministry of Defence sanctioning it. 

The bottom line

It was an expensive lesson learned in hindsight. While blaming the journalists would be irrational, it would be prudent for the armed forces to be extremely strict in giving access for live broadcasts in such sensitive operations. 

In light of the above, there is also a call for Indian TV news channels to show restraint on their own and act responsibly. They should avoid the TRP game and shun the desire for a shortcut to the limelight or becoming an overnight hero, especially in such sensitive situations. 

Moving Forward

There needs to be a concerted effort to balance the public's right to know with the operational security of our armed forces. Implementing stringent guidelines for live broadcasts during military operations can help mitigate the risks involved. It is crucial for media outlets to prioritize national security over sensationalism, ensuring that their coverage does not inadvertently aid the enemy.

By learning from past mistakes and implementing robust protocols, we can honor the sacrifices of our soldiers and ensure that such oversights do not occur in the future.

Jai Hind!

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