What should India do in China-India Standoff in Ladakh once the snow melts? Ask the foreign ministry and they would tell you; “please pray while they will placate China, appease them and agree to the loss of territory in Depsang Plains and also on the Northern Banks of Pangong Tso. They would also want the Indian Army to vacate from the Kailash Range and play blind when the Chinese annex the range. After utter subjugation of our national interest, they will wax eloquent on “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family). They will then brag that they have averted a war and diplomacy has won.
The Philosophy of the ‘World as one family’ is preposterous to practise with China as it would be construed as the refuge of the weak. When China says ‘Might is Right’ do we have to meekly harp on the philosophy which is not only irrelevant but also extraneous in the geopolitical paradigm? Similarly, Gandhi’s Ahimsa has become a laughing stock in the international geopolitics. So, let us shed the high-sounding philosophy and come to the reality of our neighbourhood where China is expansionist and Pakistan trades in terrorism. Both the countries have been colluding against us since 1965; however, our political leadership has always been in the limbo and in perpetual denial mode of such an arrangement.
Our MOD is more at ease in slighting the soldier than preparing to take on our adversary. You must have read in my earlier article; when China had committed ingressions in Ladakh in May 2020, the Defence Secretary was lamenting on pension bills in his public discourse and igniting fires to stem the review of OROP. Look at the priority of this bureaucrat? Such are the ways of the MOD.
It is difficult for the public to believe that the MOD, whose duty it is to prepare for war has to be convinced that we need rifles, LMGs and Sten-carbines to fight a war. By the way, these are basic weapons of a soldier and the dumbest in the padded cell will tell you that these weapons are threadbare essentials to fight a war. Can you believe, for good two decades, we were without these basic weapons and even now we are in the process of getting a small percentage of our original requirements? For three decades we did not buy an Artillery Gun as Bofors was a hush-hush deal with Uncle Quatrocchi. In spite of the criticality, our babus will sit on the file and asking those in the uniform to convince them of its necessity. Thank you, China, for coming to the rescue of the Indian Armed Forces for the second time. It had done us a great favour in 1962 when it stopped our government from winding down the armed forces. Again, it is a blessing in disguise, now as our government is on a buying spree of basic weapons, artillery, Air Defence Systems, aircraft, building warships and submarines, bringing up infrastructure in border areas and revitalising our defence industries.
In late 2018, the PM tasked the NSA to craft ‘The National Security Strategy’ for the country. This ought to have been done in some form along with the Constitution of India in 1949. It was a sacrilege for independent India to think of defence, let alone have any Defence Strategy. We were Gandhians, who shunned violence and embraced ‘Ahimsa’. Due to this pertinacious belief of Nehru and his absolute lack of strategic vision; we literally gave thousands of sq. miles of our territory to China and Pakistan. Had he asked then Maj Gen Cariappa and his team to conceive a National Security Strategy for India, we would have known the Strategic Direction which the country should pave its way and build its capacities. All the governments which have ruled our country in the past did not have any inkling of the Strategic Requirements of the country.
The Present government though belatedly realised the lacuna and the NSA was tasked to conceive ‘National Security Strategy’ (NSS) and put it up to the CCS. To formulate it a ‘Defence Planning Committee’ was formed. It was put under the NSA. By the way; the NSA is already heading the ‘Strategic Policy Group’ and also the National Security Council. The NSA wears three hats; have you heard something familiar? Yes; Xi also wears three hats. No time to discuss it now. Now the NSA will give the same advice to the PM from three separate organisations. Strategically it would be the weakest link where the only version would be heard by the PM. Only when different views are expressed the PM will have a comprehensive strategic picture in his mind. We all know; how Nehru trusted only the IB Chief, BN Mullick? What came of it? A disaster for our country in 1962, the humiliation of a proud civilisation, territorial loss to the nation and losing our leadership role in Asia and in the whole world. I am glad that a CDS has been appointed, however, if he does not have access to the PM then we would not be optimising this appointment.
Now, it was the turn of the NSA to delay the formulation of NSS, let alone its implementation. It lingers on, and it was threatening to be revealed in the end of 2019. However, due to pandemic, probably, it has been delayed; you will agree with me if the NSS gets infected with Corona then it could be stillborn? If I am sounding sarcastic; it is because I am!
After needlessly investing in friendship with Dictator Xi, we have realised that it was a sheer waste of time; instead, had we invested in our Defence preparations; we would have been in a much better position to meet the current threat on the Sino-Indian Border. Only, when China meant business and invaded our territory in Ladakh did we wake up to the requirement of unearthing our list of long-pending requirements of weapons and equipment that had gathered dust in the catacombs of the MOD.
You know our finance people; even if the Chinese offensive forces are closing ground; they will still ask questions about the necessity of weapons or critical ammunition and create untold obstacles in its procurement. However much you may criticise them in delaying the procurement but even their worst detractors cannot help but appreciating their ingenuity to raise new and novel doubts each time the file crosses their tables. Why blame the Chinese, we have enough nigglers and cavillers in-built in the system to help our adversaries?
Have I digressed? What is our political aim vis-à-vis the Chinese? Settle the Sino Indian Border based on McMahon Line in the Eastern Sector, along the Zanskar Range in the Central Sector and Johnson’s Line in the Western Sector. We should pursue this aim and should be prepared to give and take to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement.
What should be our ‘Military Aim’? It should be derived from the aforesaid political aim? We should build Military capacity to take on China in all the three sectors and make China believe that a confrontation with India is not beneficial to them and is forced to consider settling the border through negotiations. It entails that we build our military capacities and also construct infrastructures on the Sino-Indian Frontier that would enable India to launch our offensive forces to capture or threaten important cities/towns in Tibet or interdict his Western or Eastern Highways. In the Indian Ocean, we should be able to interdict his Sea Lanes of Communications (SLOCs) and disrupt his trade and energy supply lines. I think I will stop now, as our planners would be doing the serious task of its identification and means to achieve it.
First and the foremost is that we should expect China to launch an offensive anywhere on the Sino-Indian Border. If he doesn’t, so be it but our preparations have to be complete to absorb their offensive and go on a counteroffensive in the same or different sectors. In each sector, we should appreciate his ground objectives and deploy our forces to deny them. China already is on full ballast in his propaganda that Indians have resumed the forward policy of Nehru. Interestingly, it is accusing the Indian Armed forces of violating a LAC more than thousand times. Apparently, it is a very poor joke and one has to strain oneself even give out a mild snigger. Firstly, when China has not even given its perception of LAC both in the Western and Eastern Sectors; who and how to determine it on the ground? Ludicrous; isn’t it? Now it is left to a local commander on the Chinese side to determine and report the violation based on his individual belief and guess on the lay of LAC. Such are the ways of China! In short, it is used to bullying all its neighbours with its whimsical demands and does not really know when to call it off?
This is the time that we should not take the Chinese threat lightly. All news emanating from the ‘Global Times’ the official mouthpiece of China is talking of war as a natural fallout for the alleged indiscretion by India. The whole nation has to be ready to wage a war with China if forced on us. All our industries should be able to restructure their products to make war waging requirements for the country. All people should be mentally prepared to contribute to the nation. The Public-Private Partnership industries have to gear up and meet the requirement of forces. The farmers’ agitation is helping our adversaries. It was disheartening to see the deeds at the Red Fort on the Republic Day. You remember similar things happened during the visit of Trump to India. Both events were planned to let down the country and indeed those who were involved are like maggots who live in the country and feed on it. Remember the quote by Oliver Kemper; “The Foundation of Freedom in Unity”. I cannot believe that our country which has been a slave country for centuries still do not value our priceless freedom?
(Pls note that views expressed are that of the author and does not reflect the views of IIRF – editor)
While we may rightly hold the babus of MoD primarily responsible for serious omissions, the top hierarchy of the armed forces cannot be entirely absolved for the state of affairs. Ever heard of any Sevices Chief putting up his papers or on the issue of either the politicians or the bureaucrats being insensitive to the inescapable needs of national security?
Yes, the MoF is often responsible for blocking the genuine requirements of the Forces but not to be left behind, MoD Finance rather than facilitating puts the first hurdles to such proposals.
As relating to the Sino Indian border question in particular, since the 1950s, MEA has had the last word as regards our national response. Even the ‘advise’ of a Director level officer of the MEA often over-rules the wargamed recommendations of the Forces. Hence shouldn’t MEA be held both responsibile and accountable for the situation now obtaining?
And to think of it, may be having a strong and knowledgeable veteran (not necessarily a yes-man ex Services Chief) as the Defence Minister may help. As for now though, an ex Army Chief is a Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways.
This piece is surely a wake up call but is anyone listening?
A brilliant piece by Gen P.G. Kamath, who has hit the bull’s eye with unerring accuracy, as usual! The roots of the current program actually go back to the time when Pakistani Army seized power in a coup. It so unnerved Nehru and others of his ilk across the entire political spectrum that they began to treat our soldiers very shabbily and keep him at arms’ length, while doubly and triply empowering the IAS, IFS and IPS wallahs. These worthies lack the most basic knowledge about military matters, let alone tactical or strategic imperatives. But have our service chiefs fared any better. They fell flat on their faces when they were asked to bend, with honorable exceptions like Field Marshal Manekshaw, Gen PS Bhagat, who would have truly made an outstanding Army chief, but for the wiles of a capricious prime minister. Gen Thimyya, Gen Sundarji and to some extent Gen VK Singh.The current chief executive is like putty in the hands of his bureaucrats, who prevailed upon Indira Gandhi to return the 93,000 PoWs after tempting this woman with the prospect of the Nobel Peace Prize. Shame on the likes of Haksar,who played a treacherous game, despite Sam Bahadur’s advice to the contrary.
A brilliant piece by Gen P.G. Kamath, who has hit the bull’s eye with unerring accuracy, as usual! The roots of the current program actually go back to the time when Pakistani Army seized power in a coup. It so unnerved Nehru and others of his ilk across the entire political spectrum that they began to treat our soldiers very shabbily and keep him at arms’ length, while doubly and triply empowering the IAS, IFS and IPS wallahs. These worthies lack the most basic knowledge about military matters, let alone tactical or strategic imperatives. But have our service chiefs fared any better. They fell flat on their faces when they were asked to bend, with honourable exceptions like Field Marshal Manekshaw, Gen PS Bhagat, who would have truly made an outstanding Army chief, but for the wiles of a capricious prime minister. Gen Thimyya, Gen Sundarji and to some extent Gen VK Singh.The current chief executive is like putty in the hands of his bureaucrats, who prevailed upon Indira Gandhi to return the 93,000 PoWs after tempting this woman with the prospect of the Nobel Peace Prize. Shame on the likes of Haksar,who played a treacherous game, despite Sam Bahadur’s advice to the contrary.
In 2012, then Chief of Army, General VK Singh, had written a letter to the MOD, citing “critical hollowness”, which was leaked to the press. This tug of war has been on since Independence. General Thimayya put in his resignation due to the ill treatment by VKK Menon. Nehru persuaded him to withdraw it and then castigated him in Parliament. What on earth does the politico bureaucratic hierarchy think it is doing? We have made a mess of everything and take pride in saying that even a Section Officer can reject a proposal made by the Army Chief. If things go wrong censure the Armed Forces eg Gen Thapar and Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, ask why chiefs have not resigned in protest. Is that the way a nation the size and political significance of India is run? Unless the rot is not set right, we will be back to slavery and ridicule.