The Young Chronicle: For 4th Graders June 12th, 2014 | Page 2

Surgical Strike in Myanmar
You may have heard about the ‘Surgical Strike’ India launched on the Kachin Independence Army
or Kachin Rebels, in Myanmar after it obtained the
support of the Myanmarese Army. A surgical strike
is one, where in the enemy base is spotted and only that area is caused damage. Since such a strike
requires precision, it’s aptly termed a ‘Surgical
Strike’
Who are the Kachin People?
Kachin is a state in North Myanmar, which shares a
border with India and China, both. Burma gained
Here’s more News on the strike, courtesy IBN
independence in 1948 and became a multi-party
democracy, just like India. However, the political scenario was unstable and the Army Chief of Staff Ne Win,
was appointed as a caretaker to restore order and bring in stability, in 1958. Ne Win, deported many communist sympathisers and allowed a general election to take place. However, this lasted only till 1962, when Ne
Win staged a Coup d’état, stating that parliamentary democracy was not suitable for a country like Burma. It
is during this period that Kachin troops left the Burmese army, to form the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)
under the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
Kachin has virtually been an independent state since the mid 60’s till 1994, apart from the rail connectivity to
the rest of Myanmar and connections with major cities. The state thrives on smuggling, Jade trade with China,
and drugs.
It was in 1994, that the Myanmar Army seized Jade Mines from KIO and the Kachin Independence Army was
made to sign a truce, which resulted in an end to large-scale fighting and lasted until June 2011. All attempts
to bring about a truce have been futile since then.
It was during the discussions between India and Myanmar, keeping in mind the chill in Sino (China)- Myanmar
ties, during the East Asia and the India-ASEAN summits last November, that the military corporation between
the countries was agreed upon. This step by Narendra Modi has been widely appreciated.
Here’s how the operation spanned out. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhaag camped in Manipur and assessed the operation. "Cutting edge Intelligence" made it possible for India's
Special Forces to identify to the last detail the two militant camps that were to come under strike.
Assisted by Mi-17 helicopters of the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army's para commandos struck two camps of
militants and "inflicted significant casualties." The two camps are estimated to have had a total of about 150
militants and both were liquidated.
The operation is said to have started at 3 am on Tuesday, and went on until afternoon. It was only minutes
before the operation began, that India's military sent a communication to the Myanmar Army. Since India
and Myanmar have a treaty on such cross border operations since the 90’s, there is no scope of a controversy. In fact, the Myanmar government was only informed about the operation at about 9 am in the morning as
the government offices opened.
This operation was imperative as there had been frequent strkes by the Kachin military groups in the recent
past. In fact, the millitants had ambushed an Indian Army convoy in Manipur, killing 18 soldiers. This has been
termed as the deadliest attack in two decades.
This surgical strike should give all of India’s neighbours a strong signal, that India will not tolerate any cross border terrorism, any more.