Kargil Inside Out

PHASE 1: Indian Air Force (IAF) using MiG-23, MiG 21 ground attack jets and Mirage-2000 multirole fighters launches attacks on all Pakistan military installations in Skardu with a diversionary offensive at Gilgit.

PHASE 2: Simultaneously, the Indian artillery opens up with 155 mm Bofors guns targeting Pakistani troop bunkers across the LoC along the Dras-Kargil-Batalik axis. The objective is to keep the enemy troops engaged and allow Indian troops to advance towards the LoC from their positions undetected. Key peaks under Pakistani control are also fired upon.

PHASE 3: IAF's heavy transport aircraft such as IL-76 and AN-32 drop para-commandos, jeeps and armoured personnel carriers deep inside enemy territory. They wreak havoc on the Pakistani troops and destroy fortifications. While MiG-29 air defence fighters take control of the Skardu skies, Mi-17 helicopters drop troops along the Indus river.

PHASE 4: Indian troops cross the LoC and intrude into PoK, occupying dominant heights along the Indus River axis right up to Skardu. Playing a Kargil on Pakistan, the troops have a huge finger of territory to bargain with.

Pakistan's Counter

# With India attacking Pakistan air bases and Skardu brigade headquarters, Islamabad may launch offensive in the chicken-neck area of Jammu.

# Pakistan could initiate full-scale hostilities against India by opening a front in the Punjab or Rajasthan sectors and attacking IAF's bases.

# It could approach the UN Security Council for mediation in the Kashmir issue under resolution 1172.

# If Pakistan faces serious reverses on the war front and loses territory to India, it may go for nuclear escalation.