AUM
LOOKING BEYOND KARGIL
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Kargil War memorial at Drass is the centre of attraction. 537 names of Martyrs are inscribed there. They were the brave hearts who “gave their today for our tomorrow”. The Indian nation is proud of them. The Kargil Kalash is the centrepiece of the memorial and the temple architecture around lends a spiritually dignified look. The memory of our martyrs is sanctified by floral and emotional tributes of loved ones who come from far and near. Tears well up their eyes, roll down cheeks and mingle with the dust where soldiers lived, fought for and made the supreme sacrifice. They are gone forever but their presence can be felt by their loved ones who find solace and spiritual peace by just gazing at the war memorial and the Kargil Kalash. The living and the dead have an emotional bond of love that is etched in the hearts, never to be erased.
Drass, located at the exit of the formidable Zojila pass as one travels from Srinagar to Leh-Ladakh, is the second coldest inhabited place in the world. The shelling of Pakistan artillery had converted Drass into a ghost town in 1999. The Indian Army restored Peace and it is a tourist town now. Siachen hotel is a landmark and it never closed its doors to journalists even at the peak of artillery duels. Along with the memory of martyrs the stories of Drass have become a part of history. Tashi Namgyal, the shepherd who first discovered Pakistan soldiers of the Northern Light Infantry in black clothes, is mentioned in every war related story. The savagery and cruelty of Pakistan in mutilating the body, gouging out eyes and cutting private parts of Capt Saurabh Kalia, a patrol leader arouse hatred for Pakistan Army commanders including General Pervez Musharraf, villain of the piece. The bravery of Capt Vikram Batra, JAK Rif and Lt Manoj Pande, 11 GR gladdens hearts of compatriots and applies balm to the emotional wounds. Celebrations to mark the Tenth anniversary of Indian victory over Pakistan brought both sorrow and solace to loved ones who came all the way from Nagaland, the North-East, the Punjab, Rajasthan , Jammu and Kashmir and what have you to commemorate the war heroes who fought and fell but immortalised their saga of gallantry and sacrifice made above the call of duty. Many a touching and moving scene was witnessed and the Media made it a part of folklore to be narrated to children generation after generation so that India has a living string of brave hearts for ever.
NATION IS PROUD OF MEDIA
In 1999 the Media, especially the electronic media, brought battles to bedrooms in every nook and corner of the country. The Media helped Indians unite for a national cause against their arch-enemy – Pakistan. Every Indian, child and adult, did something or the other to promote war efforts. School children, both boys and girls, heard and felt proud of chivalry of Vikram Batra when he said “yeh dil mange more” and went into attack on enemy bunkers time and again. He was unwell and yet he volunteered to kill some more bandits from across the border. How many did he kill is just anybody’s guess. The number exceeded the guess. Lt Manoj Pande, ex-student of Sainik School, Lucknow did not ask for respite or evacuation despite serious wounds until the objective, Khalubar peak was captured and our Tricolour unfurled. On hearing saga of chivalry every child wanted to join the Armed forces and become a Batra or a Pande. What a pleasant surprise it was to see in person, face to face in Drass, some young officers of both the sexes who in their student days were inspired by the heroes of Kargil War and succeeded in their mission of earning the right of wearing army uniform. Indeed it was a national and everlasting gain beyond the immediate gains of beating back bandits from Pakistan. The Indian Media can rightfully claim a share of gains beyond Kargil in winning over the youth to the uniformed services.
WILL PAKISTAN PLAY PRANKS
Why is Pakistan so fond of hitting below the belt? It is because they do not possess courage or capability of hitting above the belt. War is a game of gentlemen. If one is not a gentleman one will not play the war game as per rules. In that case a”stab in the back” becomes a state policy. Pakistan has been doing that all along. However, to let the world know that they do not play foul, Pakistan takes recourse to spinning yarns and telling lies. Compulsive liars they are and must never ever be trusted – that is the line of thinking among those who know history and can read evil men’s minds. Pandavas failed to read Kaurava’s mind and paid for it dearly. Who wants to be a Pandav of today? Not the youth of India. Let us take a look at the peace proposals of the Vajpayee govt to Pakistan. Didn’t Musharraf answer peace in Lahore with war in Kargil? He sent into Kargil officers of Pakistan Army and said that they were freedom fighters. Now he admits facts but it is toolittle and too late.When the Indian Prime Minister was still in Lahore, the buzz of war preparations could be heard in Skardu, the central fort of erstwhile Gilgit Agency of Maharaja of Kashmir, for launching Pakistan officers and troops into Drass, Kargil, Batalik and Mushkoh valley. Despite warnings of the past, if any Indian leader is still planning peace with Pakistan, I am afraid he will be writing his last will and testament. One wonders why some peaceniks wish to commit Harakiri. If someone is bent upon doing so, let him make arrangements for his own funeral.
Rudyard Kipling wrote: East is East, West is West; the twain shall never meet. I have no inclination to comment on that but with an apology to the poet, I shall say “India is India, Pakistan is Pakistan; the twain shall never meet. I have no intention of undermining the efforts of pro-peace with Pakistan elements this side of Ravi, but I may venture to write with a sense of responsibility of a septuagenarian that what the peaceniks are doing is an exercise in futility. Peace and friendship should have two partners equally keen to make friends. If one side is keen on friendship and the other is either lukewarm or hostile by word and deed, the ship of peace will be on the rocks like a non-consummated marriage. The top echelon of both civil and military in Pakistan have a mindset that is India hater and India baiter. Pakistan had launched as many as four attacks on India since 1947 and was badly beaten in all four. So, they have an axe to grind. Some one or the other in Pakistan wants to avenge something or the other and place India at the receiving end. They always fail because their attempts to bring India to her knees have been at best Quixotic. And how silly on their part that they continue charging at the windmill! Let the Spaniards rejoice that their Don Quixote has found a permanent residence in a country called Pakistan.
When the Islamic terrorists were prevailing on the Pakistan establishment to grant one concession or the other and the govt did not muster courage to say No, Americans toyed with the idea of having a tight control on the nukes there. General Mirza Aslam Beg, the then Army Chief was asked what would he do if the Americans take away all the nukes, the General said with aplomb “I shall bomb India with a nuke before surrendering them to America.”It certainly shows the hate-India mindset of Pakistan’s top brass. The Peace Proposals may now be thrown to the wind, if you like. I hope someone is listening in the MEA in the South Block so that the Prime Minister is spared the trouble of travelling to his home village in Pakistan for a back-slapping get-together.
A CRY FOR MODERNISATION
Thinking beyond Kargil, modernisation of our Armed Forces is the crying need of the hour. Admittedly, the much maligned Bofors guns won the war for us in Kargil. Of course, it is Man behind the gun who matters more than the gun. In India’s case both have to be modernised. The Bofors howitzers ( gun is a misnomer) are 22 years old and outdated. Spares are rarely available. Man behind the gun has to undergo new training in tactics and his personal weapon, rifles, has to be new with a lot of fire power and easy on assault. Bunker busters are needed too so that precious lives of trained soldiers are not squandered in busting bunkers. Well, the list is long. Let us proceed step by step and buy or make at home world class weapon system and equipment so that another misadventure by Pakistan costs her dearly.
Strategically speaking, a unified command of the three services is urgently needed. However, vested interests stall the process before it begins. An officer in the rank of a Field Marshal or an equivalent rank to head the CDS may be appropriate but the mythical ghost of a military coup sends shivers down the spine of those who matter. Thus the proposal of a Combined Defence staff and its Chief is back to square one. The snake and ladder game between the services and the bureaucrats is a never ending one and the political head just is an onlooker from the outskirts. He comes and goes – that is the political scenario with which Services are not concerned. What about the nuke in India? Who controls the Command? Who will say: Push the button and fire the Nuke? Not the Army, nor the Navy nor the Air Force. The three Chiefs of Staffs are not even on the periphery of the decision making process. What happens if there is an Emergency? God alone knows, not the services. Let us pray: God is in His heaven and all is well with the world. Aum Shantih Shantih Shantih.
Address : UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303 INDIA
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mobile : 0091-9811173590.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
SOLAR ECLIPSE OF A LIFETIME
AUM
SOLAR ECLIPSE OF A LIFETIME
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
AMAZING, FANTASTIC, BREATHTAKING, UNBELIEVABLE – these are some of the many expressions of men, women and children of many ethnic and religious backgrounds who saw the total solar eclipse this morning. On 22 July 2009, the day dawned with a promise to let us see one of the biggest celestial spectacles of our galaxy that won’t be repeated in the next 123 years. Understandably there was a lot of excitement in the air. The Media, both electronic and print, had kept the people informed and had also apprised them of do’s and don’ts minus the superstitious beliefs. Some channels that were out to grab TRPs as grab you can, did dish out superstitious stories. The intelligentsia did not appreciate it, though. All said and done, by the time the total solar eclipse was over in India, people have had their fill of this event of the century, not to be repeated in our lifetime. Everybody enjoyed every moment of it.
MANY EYES IN THE SKY
Generally speaking, we reserve the epithet “Eye in the sky” for the satellites that can read your car’s number plate while you are driving in the Connaught Place in New Delhi. This morning these eyes were in the sky to catch the best glimpses of the solar eclipse in more than a dozen places in India, not mentioning China, Japan and beyond in the Pacific Ocean where the solar eclipse was TOTAL. What walks away with the cake is the successful project of Cox and King to launch a special flight of star watchers who were keen to see the biggest of the celestial body in our part of the galaxy . It was not everyone’s cup of tea. One had to loosen the purse string and shell out Rs80,000/- per seat. Those who were really keen to see the solar eclipse from a height of 41,000 feet above sea level boarded the ECLIPSE FLIGHT and had real good time of a life time. What was the difference between the ground level watch and the high level watch in the sky, one may ask. Tremendous and indeed a breath taking experience, so said those who experienced it. The high price that the individuals had paid gave the expected returns. So, no complaints. The large number of cameras inside the aeroplane and the ecstasy writ large on viewers faces inside the aircraft made one believe that they were having as good a celestial experience as a pious soul has on attaining the Moksha. Of course, the Captain of the flight had the best view from the cockpit and it more than compensated for the pain of leaving the cosy bed at an unearthly hour to pilot the plane at an angle and at an appropriate height so that the special flight passengers have the best view of the last total eclipse of a century plus. The cameras worked well despite the air turbulence that could be termed as minimal. The TV channels transmitted live pictures and commentaries that the viewers back home enjoyed in the cool climes of their air-conditioned bedrooms. The superstitious pregnant housewives did not have to stir out of the house for fear of a miscarriage. The enlightened TV channels, however, kept on underscoring the educational point that a total or even a partial solar or lunar eclipse and a miscarriage have nothing in common. And yet expectant mothers and educated fathers-to be did not want to take a chance.
The Naked Eye gave the best view, better than what a camera lens could, that was everyone’s opinion. Precautions had to be observed lest an eye was damaged for good. Superstitious beliefs pursued men and women all over the world, especially in Asia where the total solar eclipse was visible this time. In China the common man believes that the Sun is eaten away by the Dragon and that causes the eclipse. In India the dragon is substituted by Rahu and Ketu who cause this turmoil at fixed intervals. Imagine, Bharat gave learned scholars like Arya Bhatta to the world and he could calculate the movement of celestial bodies accurately and common man in Arya Bhatta’s motherland believes in Rahu and ketu causing the eclipse. It was at a place called “TARAGNA” in modern Bihar where Arya Bhatta calculated movement of stars and, therefore, a large number of scientists had gathered there to study all about eclipse and turbulence on Sun’s surface, if any. They were disappointed as the cloud cover hanging heavy over the place spoiled the show.
PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE
Haridwar, Prayagraj, Varanasi – these ancient towns along the river Ganges attracted maximum number of pilgrims who flocked there to take a dip in mother Ganga and wash away all sins. Unfortunately, there was a stampede at the Dashaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi where some lives were lost. The eye witness accounts blamed poor administration and poor crowd management. In an ancient country where large crowds of devotees has been congregating on the banks of sacred rivers since time immemorial, crowd management should be a part of the standard operating procedure. Perhaps, it is lack of attention to details on the part of senior crowd managers and top echelon administrators that cause loss of life. It is preventable. The non-Ganges- bank place that attracted almost a million and a half devotees is Kurukshetra in Haryana. Everyone was keen to take a dip in the Brahma Sarovar to help the Sun god defeat the demon, Rahu. The devotees came out with flying colours as the Sun was shining bright in a little over three minutes. The birds that had gone to sleep again during the total eclipse returned to life and chirped again as the period of eclipse was over.
The Indian Air Force flew its own Jaguar fighter planes from Gwalior to Arunachal Pradesh to record on camera the solar eclipse as visible there. IAF has been doing these studies for quite some time and the results help them in gaining authentic knowledge about the celestial bodies, our firmament and the unknown stars of the galaxy. Commendable, indeed. Our Air Force has kept the Arya Bhatta tradition of gaining scientific knowledge alive. True Knowledge is worth acquiring for national use. Never mind, if it turns out to be against the age-old beliefs that are not scientific. The total solar eclipse in Asia has once again aroused the instinct for quest of knowledge in young and old alike in Bharat and elsewhere. A good step forward for the benefit of Mankind!
Address: UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA-201303. INDIA. Mob. 0091-9811173590. Phone : 0091-120-2454622. Email. Sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com
SOLAR ECLIPSE OF A LIFETIME
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
AMAZING, FANTASTIC, BREATHTAKING, UNBELIEVABLE – these are some of the many expressions of men, women and children of many ethnic and religious backgrounds who saw the total solar eclipse this morning. On 22 July 2009, the day dawned with a promise to let us see one of the biggest celestial spectacles of our galaxy that won’t be repeated in the next 123 years. Understandably there was a lot of excitement in the air. The Media, both electronic and print, had kept the people informed and had also apprised them of do’s and don’ts minus the superstitious beliefs. Some channels that were out to grab TRPs as grab you can, did dish out superstitious stories. The intelligentsia did not appreciate it, though. All said and done, by the time the total solar eclipse was over in India, people have had their fill of this event of the century, not to be repeated in our lifetime. Everybody enjoyed every moment of it.
MANY EYES IN THE SKY
Generally speaking, we reserve the epithet “Eye in the sky” for the satellites that can read your car’s number plate while you are driving in the Connaught Place in New Delhi. This morning these eyes were in the sky to catch the best glimpses of the solar eclipse in more than a dozen places in India, not mentioning China, Japan and beyond in the Pacific Ocean where the solar eclipse was TOTAL. What walks away with the cake is the successful project of Cox and King to launch a special flight of star watchers who were keen to see the biggest of the celestial body in our part of the galaxy . It was not everyone’s cup of tea. One had to loosen the purse string and shell out Rs80,000/- per seat. Those who were really keen to see the solar eclipse from a height of 41,000 feet above sea level boarded the ECLIPSE FLIGHT and had real good time of a life time. What was the difference between the ground level watch and the high level watch in the sky, one may ask. Tremendous and indeed a breath taking experience, so said those who experienced it. The high price that the individuals had paid gave the expected returns. So, no complaints. The large number of cameras inside the aeroplane and the ecstasy writ large on viewers faces inside the aircraft made one believe that they were having as good a celestial experience as a pious soul has on attaining the Moksha. Of course, the Captain of the flight had the best view from the cockpit and it more than compensated for the pain of leaving the cosy bed at an unearthly hour to pilot the plane at an angle and at an appropriate height so that the special flight passengers have the best view of the last total eclipse of a century plus. The cameras worked well despite the air turbulence that could be termed as minimal. The TV channels transmitted live pictures and commentaries that the viewers back home enjoyed in the cool climes of their air-conditioned bedrooms. The superstitious pregnant housewives did not have to stir out of the house for fear of a miscarriage. The enlightened TV channels, however, kept on underscoring the educational point that a total or even a partial solar or lunar eclipse and a miscarriage have nothing in common. And yet expectant mothers and educated fathers-to be did not want to take a chance.
The Naked Eye gave the best view, better than what a camera lens could, that was everyone’s opinion. Precautions had to be observed lest an eye was damaged for good. Superstitious beliefs pursued men and women all over the world, especially in Asia where the total solar eclipse was visible this time. In China the common man believes that the Sun is eaten away by the Dragon and that causes the eclipse. In India the dragon is substituted by Rahu and Ketu who cause this turmoil at fixed intervals. Imagine, Bharat gave learned scholars like Arya Bhatta to the world and he could calculate the movement of celestial bodies accurately and common man in Arya Bhatta’s motherland believes in Rahu and ketu causing the eclipse. It was at a place called “TARAGNA” in modern Bihar where Arya Bhatta calculated movement of stars and, therefore, a large number of scientists had gathered there to study all about eclipse and turbulence on Sun’s surface, if any. They were disappointed as the cloud cover hanging heavy over the place spoiled the show.
PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE
Haridwar, Prayagraj, Varanasi – these ancient towns along the river Ganges attracted maximum number of pilgrims who flocked there to take a dip in mother Ganga and wash away all sins. Unfortunately, there was a stampede at the Dashaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi where some lives were lost. The eye witness accounts blamed poor administration and poor crowd management. In an ancient country where large crowds of devotees has been congregating on the banks of sacred rivers since time immemorial, crowd management should be a part of the standard operating procedure. Perhaps, it is lack of attention to details on the part of senior crowd managers and top echelon administrators that cause loss of life. It is preventable. The non-Ganges- bank place that attracted almost a million and a half devotees is Kurukshetra in Haryana. Everyone was keen to take a dip in the Brahma Sarovar to help the Sun god defeat the demon, Rahu. The devotees came out with flying colours as the Sun was shining bright in a little over three minutes. The birds that had gone to sleep again during the total eclipse returned to life and chirped again as the period of eclipse was over.
The Indian Air Force flew its own Jaguar fighter planes from Gwalior to Arunachal Pradesh to record on camera the solar eclipse as visible there. IAF has been doing these studies for quite some time and the results help them in gaining authentic knowledge about the celestial bodies, our firmament and the unknown stars of the galaxy. Commendable, indeed. Our Air Force has kept the Arya Bhatta tradition of gaining scientific knowledge alive. True Knowledge is worth acquiring for national use. Never mind, if it turns out to be against the age-old beliefs that are not scientific. The total solar eclipse in Asia has once again aroused the instinct for quest of knowledge in young and old alike in Bharat and elsewhere. A good step forward for the benefit of Mankind!
Address: UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA-201303. INDIA. Mob. 0091-9811173590. Phone : 0091-120-2454622. Email. Sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com
Monday, July 20, 2009
SOLDIERING ON IN KARGIL
AUM
SOLDIERING ON IN KARGIL
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Driving out the Pakistan Army soldiers of the Northern Light Infantry from the Indian territory in Kargil in the last year of the last century, the Indian Army’s officers and men won the fourth and the last of the four India-Pakistan Wars fought between the years 1947 and 1999.Every time it was Pakistan that committed an aggression and every time it was she who got beaten and turned tail. After wars, invariably negotiations for peace followed where Pakistan promised to behave as a good boy but never kept the word. The Pakistan Generals who always over-estimated their prowess and fighting skill and under-estimated that of the Indian Army, would return to war games before ink on joint peace declarations had dried up. A silly scenario of a multi-pronged attack on India on land, sea and air was as delightful hobby horse as drinking single malt Scotch whiskey on the house. As is well known a drunken general may be enchanting while spinning yarns but is always a bad strategist for a real war. Generals of the Pakistan Army have proved that statement as gospel truth time and again.
TEN YEARS ON
Much water has flown down the Indus river and tributaries since our victory in Kargil a decade ago. It was on 26 July 09 that the Indian soil was declared clear of the invaders and intruders from across the border and Kargil Vijay Divas was celebrated. The military situation in the area on our side has undergone a thorough change for the better.”There will NOT be a Second Kargil by Pakistan Army” is the proud declaration of our Army strategists. We are proud of them. Let us see what changes have taken place that prompts our compatriots to make a bold declaration nullifying future sinister designs-in-making in the war rooms of Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The day-to-day activity of the common citizen mirrors the state of wellness of a society. Are they going about the daily chores in a normal manner or there is discernible tension because of the enemy activity across the border. Ten years ago, every house in Kargil town had a bunker where civilians could take shelter when the enemy shelling started. Every outer wall of every house had shell marks as a result of enemy bombardment. Kargil was a ghost town after a few days of commencement of war. Men, women and children had left their home and hearth for safer shelters elsewhere. Ten years on, Kargil looks different. There is hustle and bustle of a tourist town. Now, every house has a guest room where tourists are welcome for bed and breakfast on a nominal payment. The old dilapidated hotels have been renovated and feel happy in displaying a notice of one hundred per cent occupation. The economy of Kargil is booming under the patronage of the 8 Mountain Division. General officer Commanding of the Army formation said that they pump Rs two crores every month in the local economy in the form of wages for labour, hire charges for ponies and buying knick-knacks and what have you. In a nutshell, Peace Prevails all over, thanks to the Indian Army. A full- fledged golf course of 18 holes in the green Mushkoh valley is on the cards. Now white golf balls will fly at tee off” in the area where ten years ago big guns of our artillery had boomed and shells whistled past to destroy Pakistan Army’s bunkers “.
“NEVER TRUST PAKISTAN”, that is the first lesson the Indian Army has learnt. Alas our top politicians and bureaucrats still believe in the worn out adage : keep talking to both friend and foe until a result is achieved. There is no light at the end of the tunnel and yet some diplomats love to loiter around in that tunnel aimlessly. The combat treachery of Pakistan is etched in the heart of every Jawan. How can one forget the mutilated bodies of Captain Kalia and his jawans that Pakistan had returned. It was a deliberate devilish act of Pakistan that can never be condoned. In any case they did not have the courtesy to apologise for the heinous offence of mutilating bodies of soldiers of another country. In naked contrast to this the Indian Army showed respect to the enemy war dead and buried their bodies with military honours and Islamic rites because Pakistan had refused to accept them for burial in Pakistan. Of course, the enemy made an exception in the case of their officers who belonged to influential families of Pakistan who pressurised their govt to get bodies back for burial in family burial grounds. Double Speak; Double Standards: thy name is Pakistan.
MODERNISATION ALL OVER
A complete make- over of arms and equipment, clothing and boots, tactics and strategy had been the crying need of our Armed Forces since independence. How unfortunate, little attention was paid to these aspects of defence by the powers that be. This deficiency came to light in the First Kashmir war, Goa operations, the Chinese debacle in NEFA(now Arunachal Pradesh), wars against Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and in 1999. In the 1971 war, the situation was a wee bit better because the then Army Chief made it plain that going to war with major deficiencies in weapon and equipment would mean courting defeat and disaster. Our Finance Ministry mandarins loosened their purse for the first time and the Soviet Union had made up our deficiencies. In Kargil too, Jawans had sad tales to tell. However, thereafter the Army was given wide financial powers and red tapism was done away with in case of essential purchases for war. Now the Jawans are well clad, well fed and well connected with their loved ones on phone. However, the big guns need replacement. The good old Bofors that won war in kargil along with Man behind the gun, is now 22 years old. The infantryman’s rifle needs be replaced by a modern assault and rapid firing rifle to instil confidence in infanteers’ heart. A bunker-buster weapon system is the crying need of the hour.
Unless the most modern weapon system with accurate and effective fire power is made available to the Army, our war machine cannot be expected to win laurels. A weak weapon system continues to be the Achilles’ heel of the Indian Army. Strategically speaking, more coordination is needed between the Government of India and the Armed Forces. India is a nuclear power. Fine. However, the Service Chiefs are not a part of the war mechanism that controls the nuclear button. The Armed Forces are not aware of the future targets of our nuclear weapon system and also our defence mechanism to safeguard the nation from a nuclear attack. In a case of emergency, it would take time to coordinate the present mechanism of a nuclear war. It would be in the fitness of things to streamline the mechanism for use of nuclear deterrent for both attack and defence.
As far as Kargil is concerned the Army is happy with the man power situation. Ten years ago, only 2,000 uniformed personnel were guarding the Line of Control (LOC), now as many as 20,000 officers and soldiers are keeping a watch on the enemy movement across the Line. No doubt the expenditure on their upkeep and maintenance of weapon and equipment has gone up many times. It is estimated to be Rs 8 to 10 crores per day in that area. No one should feel bad about it because the defence of the country is our supreme concern. The motto of the Indian Army is: NATION ABOVE ALL.
Let us all Rejoice and make merry as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our
KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS.
Address – UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303. Mob. 9811173590.
Telephone : 0091-120-2454622. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
SOLDIERING ON IN KARGIL
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
Driving out the Pakistan Army soldiers of the Northern Light Infantry from the Indian territory in Kargil in the last year of the last century, the Indian Army’s officers and men won the fourth and the last of the four India-Pakistan Wars fought between the years 1947 and 1999.Every time it was Pakistan that committed an aggression and every time it was she who got beaten and turned tail. After wars, invariably negotiations for peace followed where Pakistan promised to behave as a good boy but never kept the word. The Pakistan Generals who always over-estimated their prowess and fighting skill and under-estimated that of the Indian Army, would return to war games before ink on joint peace declarations had dried up. A silly scenario of a multi-pronged attack on India on land, sea and air was as delightful hobby horse as drinking single malt Scotch whiskey on the house. As is well known a drunken general may be enchanting while spinning yarns but is always a bad strategist for a real war. Generals of the Pakistan Army have proved that statement as gospel truth time and again.
TEN YEARS ON
Much water has flown down the Indus river and tributaries since our victory in Kargil a decade ago. It was on 26 July 09 that the Indian soil was declared clear of the invaders and intruders from across the border and Kargil Vijay Divas was celebrated. The military situation in the area on our side has undergone a thorough change for the better.”There will NOT be a Second Kargil by Pakistan Army” is the proud declaration of our Army strategists. We are proud of them. Let us see what changes have taken place that prompts our compatriots to make a bold declaration nullifying future sinister designs-in-making in the war rooms of Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
The day-to-day activity of the common citizen mirrors the state of wellness of a society. Are they going about the daily chores in a normal manner or there is discernible tension because of the enemy activity across the border. Ten years ago, every house in Kargil town had a bunker where civilians could take shelter when the enemy shelling started. Every outer wall of every house had shell marks as a result of enemy bombardment. Kargil was a ghost town after a few days of commencement of war. Men, women and children had left their home and hearth for safer shelters elsewhere. Ten years on, Kargil looks different. There is hustle and bustle of a tourist town. Now, every house has a guest room where tourists are welcome for bed and breakfast on a nominal payment. The old dilapidated hotels have been renovated and feel happy in displaying a notice of one hundred per cent occupation. The economy of Kargil is booming under the patronage of the 8 Mountain Division. General officer Commanding of the Army formation said that they pump Rs two crores every month in the local economy in the form of wages for labour, hire charges for ponies and buying knick-knacks and what have you. In a nutshell, Peace Prevails all over, thanks to the Indian Army. A full- fledged golf course of 18 holes in the green Mushkoh valley is on the cards. Now white golf balls will fly at tee off” in the area where ten years ago big guns of our artillery had boomed and shells whistled past to destroy Pakistan Army’s bunkers “.
“NEVER TRUST PAKISTAN”, that is the first lesson the Indian Army has learnt. Alas our top politicians and bureaucrats still believe in the worn out adage : keep talking to both friend and foe until a result is achieved. There is no light at the end of the tunnel and yet some diplomats love to loiter around in that tunnel aimlessly. The combat treachery of Pakistan is etched in the heart of every Jawan. How can one forget the mutilated bodies of Captain Kalia and his jawans that Pakistan had returned. It was a deliberate devilish act of Pakistan that can never be condoned. In any case they did not have the courtesy to apologise for the heinous offence of mutilating bodies of soldiers of another country. In naked contrast to this the Indian Army showed respect to the enemy war dead and buried their bodies with military honours and Islamic rites because Pakistan had refused to accept them for burial in Pakistan. Of course, the enemy made an exception in the case of their officers who belonged to influential families of Pakistan who pressurised their govt to get bodies back for burial in family burial grounds. Double Speak; Double Standards: thy name is Pakistan.
MODERNISATION ALL OVER
A complete make- over of arms and equipment, clothing and boots, tactics and strategy had been the crying need of our Armed Forces since independence. How unfortunate, little attention was paid to these aspects of defence by the powers that be. This deficiency came to light in the First Kashmir war, Goa operations, the Chinese debacle in NEFA(now Arunachal Pradesh), wars against Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and in 1999. In the 1971 war, the situation was a wee bit better because the then Army Chief made it plain that going to war with major deficiencies in weapon and equipment would mean courting defeat and disaster. Our Finance Ministry mandarins loosened their purse for the first time and the Soviet Union had made up our deficiencies. In Kargil too, Jawans had sad tales to tell. However, thereafter the Army was given wide financial powers and red tapism was done away with in case of essential purchases for war. Now the Jawans are well clad, well fed and well connected with their loved ones on phone. However, the big guns need replacement. The good old Bofors that won war in kargil along with Man behind the gun, is now 22 years old. The infantryman’s rifle needs be replaced by a modern assault and rapid firing rifle to instil confidence in infanteers’ heart. A bunker-buster weapon system is the crying need of the hour.
Unless the most modern weapon system with accurate and effective fire power is made available to the Army, our war machine cannot be expected to win laurels. A weak weapon system continues to be the Achilles’ heel of the Indian Army. Strategically speaking, more coordination is needed between the Government of India and the Armed Forces. India is a nuclear power. Fine. However, the Service Chiefs are not a part of the war mechanism that controls the nuclear button. The Armed Forces are not aware of the future targets of our nuclear weapon system and also our defence mechanism to safeguard the nation from a nuclear attack. In a case of emergency, it would take time to coordinate the present mechanism of a nuclear war. It would be in the fitness of things to streamline the mechanism for use of nuclear deterrent for both attack and defence.
As far as Kargil is concerned the Army is happy with the man power situation. Ten years ago, only 2,000 uniformed personnel were guarding the Line of Control (LOC), now as many as 20,000 officers and soldiers are keeping a watch on the enemy movement across the Line. No doubt the expenditure on their upkeep and maintenance of weapon and equipment has gone up many times. It is estimated to be Rs 8 to 10 crores per day in that area. No one should feel bad about it because the defence of the country is our supreme concern. The motto of the Indian Army is: NATION ABOVE ALL.
Let us all Rejoice and make merry as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of our
KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS.
Address – UPVAN 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303. Mob. 9811173590.
Telephone : 0091-120-2454622. Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
WE WON OUR KARGIL TEN YEARS AGO
AUM
WE WON OUR KARGIL A DECADE AGO
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Indian Army officers and Jawans, along with their Indian Air Force comrades-in-arms, won a war in Kargil against Pakistan a decade ago. It was 26 July 1999 when the last of the Pakistan Army intruders beat a retreat leaving their fallen compatriots in uniform on the Indian soil unhonoured,unwept, unsung and unburied. Indians rejoiced their victory from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and Kamrup to Kutch and named it Kargil Vijay Divas. A decade has gone by, much water has flown down the Ganges but nefarious designs of the treacherous neighbour go on unabated. Never mind what the defeated do, as always we are magnanimous in our victory.
The Indian Army pays homage to our martyrs and celebrates the glorious victory of a hard-fought war. Those who fell for the cause of the country shall always be honoured in the Hall of Fame because they gave their today for our tomorrow. It is for patriotic martyrs that the poet sung these lines:
How else can a man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods.
PARAM VIR CHAKRA VIJETA
Let us, at the outset, recall the gallantry of those officers and jawans who displayed gallantry of the highest order in the face of the enemy and beyond the call of duty. Of the fighting four who were honoured by the Nation with Param Vir Chakra, our highest gallantry award, the two officers had made the supreme sacrifice and the two Jawans are still on the rolls of their regiments. It would be appropriate to chronicle their brave deeds and how they beat the Pakistani soldiers hollow and made them realise in the heart of their hearts that their surreptitious intrusion into India that was masterminded by none other than General Pervez Musharraf, the then Pakistan Army Chief , was against the tenets of their own religion. What an unsoldierly behaviour the Pakistani planners displayed when they left their dead comrades-in-arms to be buried by Indian soldiers on the Indian soil. How humane our Army is had become the talk of the town all over. We now return to our heroes of Kargil war, recalling just the four highest gallantry medal winners for now.
Capt Vikram Batra, PVC
“Personally leading an assault, Captain Vikram Batra engaged the enemy in a fierce hand to hand fight and killed five enemy soldiers at point blank range.During the assault he rallied his men, pressed home the attack and finally succeeded what seemed to be a militarily impossible task.
For his unparalleled feats of conspicuous personal gallantry, exemplaryleadership and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.”
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey,PVC
This young officer led his platoon of Gorkha soldiers on the high hills of Khalubar and assaulted sangar after sangar dislodging the enemy soldiers from the high ground. Unmindful of his injuries sustained from the enemy fire, lt Manoj led his men from the front. At the fourth enemy sangar, he was grievously injured by the enemy machine gun fire but still threw a hand grenade killing many Pakistani soldiers. Thus his platoon could gain a foothold at Khalubar enabling his fellow soldiers advance further and recapture the Indian territory. Lt Pandey made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of the country and was posthumously awarded Param Vir Chakra.
Rifleman Sanjoy Kumar, PVC
He was the leading scout of a column detailed to recapture our territory from Pakistan Army. When the Indian soldiers came under enemy fire, Sanjoy , unmindful of his personal safety, charged at the well fortified enemy position in the Mushkoh valley.”In the ensuing hand to hand combat, he killed three Pakistani soldiers and was himself grievously injured. Unmindful of his wounds, he charged at another enemy sangar and the enemy fled leaving behind a machine gun.His bravery motivated his fellow soldiers who captured the entire area.
For his most conspicuous gallantry against heavy odds leading to the capture of an important objective, Rifleman Sanjoy Kumar was awarded Param Vir Chakra.
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, PVC
He was a part of the leading element of the Ghatak platoon tasked to capture the Tiger Hill Top.The approach to the 16,500ft top was rocky and snowy. Yogendra volunteered to climb up, fix a rope there to enable others to climb up. The enemy was surprised but reacted violently opening fire from every weapon they had. Three Grenadiers, including the team leader, were killed and advance stalled. Grenadier Yadav , unmindful of his personal safety, crawled to the enemy sangar, lobbed grenades while firing from his rifle and killed four Pakistani soldiers silencing their automatic fire.Notwithstanding injuries received in his arm and leg, grenadier yadav attacked another enemy sangar with success. Inspired by Yadav, the Ghatak platoon fought fiercely dislodging the enemy from the most important Tiger Hill Top.
For most conspicuous courage well beyond the call of duty, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was awarded Param Vir Chakra.
SONS OF THE BRAVE
There were many more officers and men of the Indian Army who fought bravely to recover the lost Indian territory. Some sons of the brave did not return home. They made the supreme sacrifice. Those who returned told the saga of valour and their narration was heard with rapt attention by the new generation. How many went to war, how many were killed in action and how many survived is a matter of military history. What is of primary importance is that the entire Indian nation was ONE in India’s fight against a treacherous enemy. It is of importance that the Indian Army, supported by our Air Force, fought and won against Pakistan – our second victory against the enemy, including the one in the 1971 war. Since our independence in 1947, Pakistan has thrust four wars on us. The Indian Army was victorious in all four, notwithstanding the evil designs, imported arms and tacit, sometimes open, support of the United States that scheming Pakistan had had.
Where did Pakistan go wrong in Kargil? In their overconfidence and relying on their forward planning, they had the initial advantage of the element of Surprise in War and occupied a vast chunk of Indian territory – 160 km long and ten km in width or depth –but they did not take into account bravery of young officers of the Indian Army and Air Force as well as the unity of people of India. The whole of India stood by our Jawans and provided them both moral and material support. General Musharraf had miscalculated the resolve of the Vajpayee government in not only defending the motherland but also launching a counter offensive to free entire Kargil of Pakistani elements. In 1965 general Ayub of Pakistan had made a similar miscalculation in assessing the firm resolve and determination of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri of India. Pakistan was stunned when Shastri Ji ordered the Indian Army to cross the international border and attack Pakistan’s Punjab. Likewise General Yahya Khan failed to read the mind of Smt Indira Gandhi who succeeded in dismembering Pakistan and giving birth to Bangla Desh. The Kargil misadventure of our hostile neighbour was a link in the chain of anti-India design aimed at destabilising our country. The moral of the story for India is: Never trust Pakistan and their leadership, both civil and military.
CELEBRATE VICTORY OVER PAKISTAN
Rejoicings and celebrations after a well deserved victory in war is a must. It is a morale raising factor for the combatants, both serving and retired. The victory parades all over cantonments and non-cantonment towns make the new generation aware of the valour and wisdom of our armed forces. When the nation is threatened by an enemy, it can trust its armed forces who will deliver the goods. The young boys and girls make a resolution to follow the high ideals of the forefathers and the generation gone by and prepare themselves mentally to make the supreme sacrifice, if need be.
Perhaps there is a school of thought that believes that past should be buried and a base be made for economic cooperation. The votaries of this school for scandal are bureaucrats who had once advised the Government of India not to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of our victory on Pakistan in 1971. It is good that the political leadership turned a deaf ear to the advice of the chicken-hearted gentlemen. I am afraid they are misreading the mind of the wily enemy who is preparing to wage a thousand year war against India. Let us not lower our guard and get caught napping. Celebration of victory denotes a nation pulsating with life, inaction in victory may pave the path to defeat. Who wants to face defeat? Not the patriots in India.
It would be a good idea to win the minds and hearts of young Indians and motivate them to join the Armed Forces. DVDs, films, CDs and what have you, of the Kargil War may be screened for the young boys and girls so that they are motivated to emulate those who defended our motherland with all their might a decade ago. Let us sign off with the patriotic fervour and raise the slogan:
VANDE MATARAM ; VANDE MAATRAM.
Address – UPVAN 609, Sector 29 , NOIDA – 201303 INDIA
Mobile – 0091-9811173590. Phone : 0091-120-2454622
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com and upvanom@yahoo.com
WE WON OUR KARGIL A DECADE AGO
By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Indian Army officers and Jawans, along with their Indian Air Force comrades-in-arms, won a war in Kargil against Pakistan a decade ago. It was 26 July 1999 when the last of the Pakistan Army intruders beat a retreat leaving their fallen compatriots in uniform on the Indian soil unhonoured,unwept, unsung and unburied. Indians rejoiced their victory from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and Kamrup to Kutch and named it Kargil Vijay Divas. A decade has gone by, much water has flown down the Ganges but nefarious designs of the treacherous neighbour go on unabated. Never mind what the defeated do, as always we are magnanimous in our victory.
The Indian Army pays homage to our martyrs and celebrates the glorious victory of a hard-fought war. Those who fell for the cause of the country shall always be honoured in the Hall of Fame because they gave their today for our tomorrow. It is for patriotic martyrs that the poet sung these lines:
How else can a man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods.
PARAM VIR CHAKRA VIJETA
Let us, at the outset, recall the gallantry of those officers and jawans who displayed gallantry of the highest order in the face of the enemy and beyond the call of duty. Of the fighting four who were honoured by the Nation with Param Vir Chakra, our highest gallantry award, the two officers had made the supreme sacrifice and the two Jawans are still on the rolls of their regiments. It would be appropriate to chronicle their brave deeds and how they beat the Pakistani soldiers hollow and made them realise in the heart of their hearts that their surreptitious intrusion into India that was masterminded by none other than General Pervez Musharraf, the then Pakistan Army Chief , was against the tenets of their own religion. What an unsoldierly behaviour the Pakistani planners displayed when they left their dead comrades-in-arms to be buried by Indian soldiers on the Indian soil. How humane our Army is had become the talk of the town all over. We now return to our heroes of Kargil war, recalling just the four highest gallantry medal winners for now.
Capt Vikram Batra, PVC
“Personally leading an assault, Captain Vikram Batra engaged the enemy in a fierce hand to hand fight and killed five enemy soldiers at point blank range.During the assault he rallied his men, pressed home the attack and finally succeeded what seemed to be a militarily impossible task.
For his unparalleled feats of conspicuous personal gallantry, exemplaryleadership and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.”
Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey,PVC
This young officer led his platoon of Gorkha soldiers on the high hills of Khalubar and assaulted sangar after sangar dislodging the enemy soldiers from the high ground. Unmindful of his injuries sustained from the enemy fire, lt Manoj led his men from the front. At the fourth enemy sangar, he was grievously injured by the enemy machine gun fire but still threw a hand grenade killing many Pakistani soldiers. Thus his platoon could gain a foothold at Khalubar enabling his fellow soldiers advance further and recapture the Indian territory. Lt Pandey made the supreme sacrifice in the cause of the country and was posthumously awarded Param Vir Chakra.
Rifleman Sanjoy Kumar, PVC
He was the leading scout of a column detailed to recapture our territory from Pakistan Army. When the Indian soldiers came under enemy fire, Sanjoy , unmindful of his personal safety, charged at the well fortified enemy position in the Mushkoh valley.”In the ensuing hand to hand combat, he killed three Pakistani soldiers and was himself grievously injured. Unmindful of his wounds, he charged at another enemy sangar and the enemy fled leaving behind a machine gun.His bravery motivated his fellow soldiers who captured the entire area.
For his most conspicuous gallantry against heavy odds leading to the capture of an important objective, Rifleman Sanjoy Kumar was awarded Param Vir Chakra.
Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, PVC
He was a part of the leading element of the Ghatak platoon tasked to capture the Tiger Hill Top.The approach to the 16,500ft top was rocky and snowy. Yogendra volunteered to climb up, fix a rope there to enable others to climb up. The enemy was surprised but reacted violently opening fire from every weapon they had. Three Grenadiers, including the team leader, were killed and advance stalled. Grenadier Yadav , unmindful of his personal safety, crawled to the enemy sangar, lobbed grenades while firing from his rifle and killed four Pakistani soldiers silencing their automatic fire.Notwithstanding injuries received in his arm and leg, grenadier yadav attacked another enemy sangar with success. Inspired by Yadav, the Ghatak platoon fought fiercely dislodging the enemy from the most important Tiger Hill Top.
For most conspicuous courage well beyond the call of duty, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was awarded Param Vir Chakra.
SONS OF THE BRAVE
There were many more officers and men of the Indian Army who fought bravely to recover the lost Indian territory. Some sons of the brave did not return home. They made the supreme sacrifice. Those who returned told the saga of valour and their narration was heard with rapt attention by the new generation. How many went to war, how many were killed in action and how many survived is a matter of military history. What is of primary importance is that the entire Indian nation was ONE in India’s fight against a treacherous enemy. It is of importance that the Indian Army, supported by our Air Force, fought and won against Pakistan – our second victory against the enemy, including the one in the 1971 war. Since our independence in 1947, Pakistan has thrust four wars on us. The Indian Army was victorious in all four, notwithstanding the evil designs, imported arms and tacit, sometimes open, support of the United States that scheming Pakistan had had.
Where did Pakistan go wrong in Kargil? In their overconfidence and relying on their forward planning, they had the initial advantage of the element of Surprise in War and occupied a vast chunk of Indian territory – 160 km long and ten km in width or depth –but they did not take into account bravery of young officers of the Indian Army and Air Force as well as the unity of people of India. The whole of India stood by our Jawans and provided them both moral and material support. General Musharraf had miscalculated the resolve of the Vajpayee government in not only defending the motherland but also launching a counter offensive to free entire Kargil of Pakistani elements. In 1965 general Ayub of Pakistan had made a similar miscalculation in assessing the firm resolve and determination of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri of India. Pakistan was stunned when Shastri Ji ordered the Indian Army to cross the international border and attack Pakistan’s Punjab. Likewise General Yahya Khan failed to read the mind of Smt Indira Gandhi who succeeded in dismembering Pakistan and giving birth to Bangla Desh. The Kargil misadventure of our hostile neighbour was a link in the chain of anti-India design aimed at destabilising our country. The moral of the story for India is: Never trust Pakistan and their leadership, both civil and military.
CELEBRATE VICTORY OVER PAKISTAN
Rejoicings and celebrations after a well deserved victory in war is a must. It is a morale raising factor for the combatants, both serving and retired. The victory parades all over cantonments and non-cantonment towns make the new generation aware of the valour and wisdom of our armed forces. When the nation is threatened by an enemy, it can trust its armed forces who will deliver the goods. The young boys and girls make a resolution to follow the high ideals of the forefathers and the generation gone by and prepare themselves mentally to make the supreme sacrifice, if need be.
Perhaps there is a school of thought that believes that past should be buried and a base be made for economic cooperation. The votaries of this school for scandal are bureaucrats who had once advised the Government of India not to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of our victory on Pakistan in 1971. It is good that the political leadership turned a deaf ear to the advice of the chicken-hearted gentlemen. I am afraid they are misreading the mind of the wily enemy who is preparing to wage a thousand year war against India. Let us not lower our guard and get caught napping. Celebration of victory denotes a nation pulsating with life, inaction in victory may pave the path to defeat. Who wants to face defeat? Not the patriots in India.
It would be a good idea to win the minds and hearts of young Indians and motivate them to join the Armed Forces. DVDs, films, CDs and what have you, of the Kargil War may be screened for the young boys and girls so that they are motivated to emulate those who defended our motherland with all their might a decade ago. Let us sign off with the patriotic fervour and raise the slogan:
VANDE MATARAM ; VANDE MAATRAM.
Address – UPVAN 609, Sector 29 , NOIDA – 201303 INDIA
Mobile – 0091-9811173590. Phone : 0091-120-2454622
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com and upvanom@yahoo.com
Friday, July 17, 2009
SHAME AT SHARM-EL-SHEIKH
AUM
SHAME AT SHARM-EL- SHEIKH
By Brigadier (Retd) Chitranjan Sawant,VSM
The Indian team of negotiators, under no less a person than Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh, has offered on a silver platter to Pakistan what she wanted. Some commentators and columnists feel that the Indians have been tricked into giving away something now so that they get back in greater measure what they desire in future. A wishful thinking indeed. It has not happened in the past, is not happening in the present and shall not happen in future. Indians have lost heavily at the negotiating table. One wonders if the prime Minister is prepared to take the blame. Time alone will tell.
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF
Way back in the 12th century Prithvi Raj Chauhan, King of Hindustan had defeated in battle Muhammad of Ghor more than once. However, the victor did not incapacitate the vanquished to pre-empt a similar misadventure in future. It was a fatal mistake for both the king and the country. The history of India abounds with similar situations where brilliant generals made stupid mistakes in the hope of achieving permanent peace to avoid bloodshed in war. Peace was elusive but ignominy was at hand. Let us skip a few centuries and come to the post-independence India.
Jammu & Kashmir has been the bone of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947. His Highness Maharaja Sir Hari Singh, the ruler of Jammu& Kashmir wished to be an independent sovereign monarch of his big State. Jinnah of Pakistan , however, had a different design of power play. Notwithstanding a Stand-Still Agreement between the Maharaja and Pakistan, the latter encouraged armed tribals, under Pakistan Army officers to invade the Maharaja’s territory. He, willy-nilly acceded to India. The Indian Army was flown to Srinagar and they succeeded in driving the invaders back to the border region. As the Indian Army was poised for the final push to reclaim the rest of the State, Jawaharlal Nehru, under pressure of UNO where India was a complainant against Pakistan aggression, and the advice of Lord Mountbatten, then Governor General under the dispensation of Nehru, accepted cease fire. The people of India were astonished and our Army felt cheated as it was near a total victory. What the Indian Army had won on the battle field through “sweat, blood and tears “was lost at the negotiating table by the inept political masters.
We come to the India-Pakistan War of 1965. General Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan had a misconception that India , under the Prime Ministership of Shri Lal Bahadur shastri, was a weak country and will never develop the will power to counter-attack Pakistan. As a matter of fact most of the autocratic rulers of Pakistan thought that the Indian soldier was a poor fighter and under heat of fire power turned tail. On the contrary it was the Pakistan Army’s soldiers who jumped out of their tanks set on fire by Indian missiles and turned tail. A Muslim does not want to be burned for religious reasons. It cost them heavily in tank battles like the one in Khem karan and Asal Uttar in Punjab.
Right from April 1965 through September 1965 skirmishes between the two countries went on as a ding-dong battle. It came as an unpleasant surprise to Pakistan when Prime Minister Shastri ordered the Indian Army to cross the international border in the Punjab and attack Pakistan. The tables were turned. The Pakistan Army advancing in Jammu and Kashmir had to grind to a halt. Shastri achieved what Nehru would not have even attempted. We won the difficult pass, Haji Pir. When the cease fire came into effect, the Indian Army was victorious. The Soviet Union organised a peace conference at Tashkent and impressed on the warring countries to return to status quo ante. With the result, India had to withdraw from the difficult areas that she had captured. Shastri Ji could not stand this pressure and breathed his last at Tashkent. India lost at the negotiating table what she had won on the battle field.
A Himalayan blunder at Simla. The Babus, that is the bureaucrats of the Ministry of External Affairs tendered a piece of wrong advice to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that India should give some concession to defeated Pakistan so that Z.A.Bhutto, civilian President of Pakistan shows to his people what he has gained from a victorious India. Our bureaucrats said that it would be better for India to deal with a civilian head of Pakistan than with Army generals. The babus’ tendered a piece of wrong advice forgetting that it was Bhutto who had declared many times that he would fight a thousand year war against Indian dogs. The Mandarins of the South Block forgot the age-old adage – Serpents are just serpents, whether Nagnath or Sanpnath. Both bite and the bitten man survives NOT. Bhutto persuaded the Indian leadership to have faith in him, trust him and he would deliver the goods. India granted him all the concessions. India returned 93,000 prisoners of war and the entire conquered territory to Pakistan without taking any written commitment on the Kashmir issue from Pakistan. It was a grave mistake on the part of Indian negotiators. Bhutto was once again as belligerent as before on return to Pakistan. I have great admiration for Indira Gandhi as she dismembered Pakistan. I feel sorry for her and for India that what our brave soldiers won on the battlefield, our political leaders and shifty bureaucrats lost to the enemy at the negotiating table. How Sad?
It may be mentioned in the passing that Pakistan had attacked India four times since independence. Pakistan lost all four wars. The Generals of Pakistan Army have been building their war scenario on the presumption that when Pakistan attacks, the Kashmiri Muslims would rise in revolt and fight shoulder to shoulder with their co-religionists against infidel India and the war would be over before you can say Jack Robinson. Nothing of that sort ever happened and their edifice fell like a house of cards.
SHARM-el-SHEIKH WAS NO EXCEPTION
The government of Egypt , being an active member of NAM since Nasser days, decided to host the current Summit in its country at Sharm-el-Sheikh which is a tourist resort and was under the occupation of the Israelis after the 1967 war. When the Egyptians brokered peace and accepted Israel as a superior power in the region, Israel returned Sharm-el-Sheikh to its original owner, Egypt. The summit of the Non-Aligned Meet was appropriately held there. On the sidelines of the NAM, met India and Pakistan. It was a fine climate, lovely environment and everything was custom made for settling a long standing dispute. Who knew that the joint declaration at the end will spell a disaster.
The Indian delegation should not have allowed a delinking of Terror from talks. Terror and how it was being exported from the soil of Pakistan to India had all along been the main plank of government and people of India. How could the common man in India forget the killing and maiming of his kith and kin – the loved ones – by the Islamic terrorists who came to Mumbai from Pakistan and are citizens of Pakistan. The bomb blasts in trains, the killings in the mine fields at various places and what have you had the hand of Pakistan nationals and planning by personnel trained by government agencies in Pakistan. Now , suddenly, the joint statement made by Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan and prime Minister Man Mohan Singh of India says that Talks and Terror are delinked. If terror is delinked, what are the two governments going to talk about? Just the weather? Please do not waste time and tax payers money on a talk about weather. Excuse yourselves on grounds of health and save both time and money.
Balochistan has been a thorn in the flesh of Pakistan for a long time. Remember General Tikka Khan, the butcher of Bangladesh? Well, he had also earned the dubious title of Butcher of Balochistan. The Baloch are an independent minded people and do not like to be driven around by the Punjabis of Pakistan. They have, therefore, been fighting for independence for quite some time. Pakistan suspects that India has been aiding and abetting the Baloch uprising from time to time. It may not be true. However, the point in question is that Balochistan has been mentioned for the first time in a joint declaration of India and Pakistan. This means that India tacitly accepts her presence at the trouble spot. This gives a leverage to Pakistan to point out India’s involvement in fomenting trouble in a province of Pakistan and thus establish her reciprocal’and legitimate presence in Kashmir. Our Netas and Babus should not have allowed the mention of Balochistan being made. One wonders if they signed the joint declaration under a drunken stupor! Even God does not help those who do not help themselves.
All said and done, an independent columnist-cum-critic will have no hesitation in saying that Sharm-el-Sheikh has brought shame to the Government and people of India.
Address. UPVAN, 609, Sector 29, NOIDA – 201303, INDIA
Email : sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com Mobile -0091-9811173590.
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