Reacting to the synchronised blasts in Lebanon and Syria involving handheld pagers and walkie-talkies, orchestrated by Israel targetting members of the militant group Hezbollah, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi called it a "masterstroke". He also spoke about ways to avoid such incidents in India.
Speaking at the curtain raiser to the Chanakya Defence Dialogue-2024, conducted by the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), he said, "The pager that you are talking about, it is a Taiwanese company being supplied to a Hungarian company. The Hungarian company thereafter giving it to them. The shell company that had been created is something that is a masterstroke by the Israelis."
ALSO READ: Situation along Line of Actual Control in Ladakh stable but not normal: Army Chief
He observed that for such an attack, it requires years and years of preparation. "So it means they were prepared for it."
The pagers that exploded were primarily the AR924 model manufactured by a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo, through a Hungarian intermediary, BAC Consulting Kft. These devices were modified to contain explosives. General Dwivedi said it is important to remain vigilant over supply chains to ensure such incidents do not happen in India.
Supply chain interruption and interception is something we have to be very watchful of, he said and added that India needs to have several levels of inspection, including technical and manual, to ensure such incidents do not happen in India.
READ MORE: Sidelined by India, Tata-made Wheeled Armoured Platform combat vehicles find a taker in Morocco
Further, General Dwivedi highlighted the importance of planning in battle saying warfare does not start with physical fighting but with planning phase.
The second Chanakya Defence Dialogue is expected to facilitate detailed discussions, foster strategic partnerships, and contribute to the formulation of actionable insights for improving national security and development. It will be a platform for national and international leaders, policymakers, and experts to share their views and expertise and contribute to the discussions on security through development.