Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
The Atlantique event, being about 20 years old, is a bit long in the tooth to be relevant to this clash. (What/when was the last "surgical strike" that probably wasn't that you refer to?) Is that the same as the Atlantique, or something else?
As to "there must be a better way to test the reaction": must there be? You give the political leadership far too much credit.
I spent over two decades in the military. I will say without reservation that it is not uncommon for orders from on high (at the political level) to come down. Once received and digested, one looks at one's colleagues and asks "what are those idiots in the capital thinking? What were they drinking, or smoking, just before they came up with this cunning plan?"
If the Indian leadership figured they could slip in, deliver some ordnance, and then slip out, they discovered otherwise. That means "Goodonya Pakistan's Air Force, you were on task when you needed to be."
As to "going nuclear" ... my guess is that it would take a lot more than a border incursion in Kashmir to evoke that kind of response.
Surgical strike part 1
Link
Yup the Atlantique shoot down probably isnt relevant anymore
completely agree about the political leadership