Is India ready for a covert operation to nab Dawood and Hafiz Saeed?

For India, neutralising Dawood Ibrahim has been a long-standing goal. Now, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, has indicated that there may be a possibility of carrying out a covert operation within Pakistan, to do the same.

According to him, a covert operation is the call of the hour to eliminate the twin threats of Dawood Ibrahim and LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. His latest statement, although is "Incorrect version of my statements allegedly on Dawood attributed to me."

However, Rathore's statement begs two questions. Firstly, is India prepared for a covert operation? Secondly, a covert operation implies secrecy. With Rathore's open statement, the secrecy has all but flown out if the window. So how prepared are we?

Though India is capable of conducting a covert operation in Pakistan, it will have to ensure that the operation is precise, with no scope for mistakes. Plus, India needs to bear in mind that Pakistan is a nuclear state. A retaliation is not something that we, or the world, can afford.

Can India go the US way?

• For a successful covert operation, the best example that comes to mind is Operation Neptune Spear, which was carried out by the US to eliminate Osama Bin Laden. For eliminating or arresting Ibrahim and Saeed, a covert operation will need to be backed by concrete and real time intelligence.
• The forces conducting the operation will need real time intelligence, specially if the targets are mobile, which in this case, they may well be.

Will the forces get political backing?

• If the Indian forces want to conduct a covert operation, then political backing is very important. In the event of Ibrahim and Saeed being captured by Indian forces, Pakistan is sure to start a hue and cry, and it's then that the government needs to stand by its officers.
• According to Rathore, India will use every option available to neutralise the duo.