DONT GET UNNERVED WHEN ASKED “WHOSE HANDS ARE SMEARED WITH THE BLOOD OF GALWAN SOLDIERS?”

DON’T GET UNNERVED WHEN ASKED “WHOSE HANDS ARE SMEARED WITH THE BLOOD OF GALWAN SOLDIERS?”

Galwan permits to kick in radical political and military reforms. Does anyone have the courage to do it? If this doesn’t open our eyes and shake us, nothing will. Rigidity of thoughts, being blind to reality, arrogance of rulers supported by spineless ‘jee-huzoor’ variety of military advisers brings us to knees. India is silent today and the silence is deafening. Generals, Strategists, Hi-flying panellists, Intellectuals and the creme-de-la-creme Security Advisors who ‘screamed’ during Balakot are silent.

Those who ask questions are villains. Towing line is ‘Nationalism’.

I  ask numerous questions covering 58 years, 1962-2020, but there are no answers. It’s extremely easy to split these 58 years into Congress & BJP & start a mudslinging match. It suits both because deflects attention. Keeping defence Services weak serves bureaucrats, not letting local defence industry grow suits politicians, keeping quiet serves Generals, keeping insurgency alive serves everyone and blaming voiceless army is an all-time favourite alibi. Myopia of governance, blinkered leadership, tenured Generals & the white ants of government have brought this crisis. I was deafened by ‘GHUS KE MAARA’. Surgical Strike. Daily briefings. Any and everybody was at his vocal best. Why silence now?

While we search ways to resolve current problem, we miss the fact that the current problem is manifestation of similar but huge number of ‘current problems’ of year on year, 58 years of border problems with China. Never has China been considered ‘Nations No.1 Enemy”. Accepting and declaring China as ‘Nations No.1 Enemy’ would have changed the course of history. 58 years of moulding the entire security establishment to handle a much bigger enemy not only would have made us strong, but more global. Where are we?

India’s national obsession is Pakistan and Insurgency. It is misplaced. India’s national obsession should be INDIA. It is not. Prime Minister and Ms Sonia Gandhi sparring publicly, Mr Rahul Gandhi jumping in and mudslinging supported by completely sold media is simply promoting old narrative. Someone has to answer “Why is India shrinking & China expanding?” Real estate is the only way to expand. Whether you control land or minds, aim is simple- grab land and expand. Are we not tired of hindsight strategists, who, when they mattered, made no contribution but are ‘experts’ today? Ever heard them before Galwan? What use is their knowledge today, when as serving Chiefs, Army Cdrs & Corps Cdrs they never raised China?

Since 1987, when, as Capt, I was asked to establish a post in Arunachal Pradesh, I went EIGHTY KM ahead of an Inf Battalions location. LAC was still 20 km ahead. It simply meant that since 1963 we were ONE HUNDRED KMS south of LAC. The Division was called ‘Picnic Division’. We had presentations on China. We used intelligence print material of 70’s. No one had vaguest clue what was at LAC. One Long Range Patrol was sent in three months. We left tell tail signs at a spot we were told was LAC. I would be ‘shut-upped’ into silence if I asked any question on China. To us China was not to be discussed. No knowledge at Unit level, very little at Bde and slightly more at Division level. Since then at every forum, I would ask questions. But then China was never the enemy. In last 30 yrs. since my first on-ground experience with China, I realised that not one Chief, Army Commander, Corps Cdr, Raksha Mantri or anyone that matters has ever spoken of China being Enemy No.1. Only two exceptions being Mr George Fernandes and Gen K Sunderji. Fear Paralysis in Indian security establishment was obvious.

Why is it that despite 1962, 1965 and finally 1971 wars and combined experience two single front wars and one double front war, we never spoke of two front war with CHINA as Enemy No.1 and Pakistan as Enemy No.2? What moral right does any General have today when during their service they did not have courage to raise China threat? We have Three Strike Corps spending lacs of crores to ‘attack’ Pakistan? Why are Indian Armed Forces not China-Centric? Collective fear paralysis of Generals manifested in Galwan. Can you identity person who passed order not to fire & not carrying weapons? Why is he being protected? From CDS to Divisional Cdr, no commander put his foot down to protect men. The current and past generation of generals are from the genre that feared China.

‘On whose hands is blood of Galwan soldiers”? Don’t want #Galwan to happen again? Unless the @PMOIndia takes this on, it will not happen. The shift has to be radical. I have lot of radical ideas & am sure will be ignored.

As a citizen of India, what do I want to hear from experts? Or first, what “I DO NOT” want to hear? I don’t want to know;
-How many fingers?
-Who has which finger?
-Who patrols what and where?
-Logistical problems in Himalayas
-How is Armoured and Mech effective in Ladakh?
-Problems of deployment of Artillery
-Winter clothing state
-J20 vs Rafale
-Chinese Generals
-Likely options of Chinese
-How many Divisions have we moved 
-History of Chinese intrusions
And many more such topics where the professionals and experts are on home turf and the public is clueless. It’s impressive when accompanied by Ranks, Miniature Medals, Side Caps and high decibels.

The final proof of complete absence of military strength and military leadership, a manifestation of 40-45 years of ‘tactical’ commanders donning brass was from Red Fort. The Prime Minister could not utter the word CHINA from Red Fort on 15-8-2020. Is he weak? No. 65 years of burden of scared political leadership and spineless military leadership forced him to keep silent. Let me assure you that we are witness to strongest political leader last 74 years has seen. Do not share the same of his advisors. @PMOIndia needs to be congratulated BUT unless the PM brings in some absolutely bold & radical changes, we cannot expect much

I intend to write extensively of the subject and I assure you that substantial results will be seen by 2040. It takes 20 years after introduction of reforms. Just two aspects POLITICAL and MILITARY need radical shift.

Radical Political Shift

Take stock of the situation created by 74 years of mis governance. Fearlessly publish it. Do not hide anything and present before country the actual state of affairs of INDIA-CHINA Border.

Publish official maps of LAC as perceived by India, reject every claim by China and make it official. Thereafter mark each and every spot which is under physical occupation of China and declare it as intrusion by China.

Publish each and every intrusion by date. Publish name of COAS, Army Cdr and Corps Cdr under whose charge intrusion took place. Publish names of RM, Def Secy and NSAs for each intrusion. Galwan was not PMs doing, why should he be held accountable?

These Politically radical measures not only will put 74 years record straight but expose incompetence of officials and make anti-nationals stand out like a sore thumb. Imagine the position of strength PM will be in. Why should PM be fighting Nehru? Give chance to traitors who have tea in Chinese Embassy when Doklam is on? Or fight ‘Finger Battle’ in Galwan? He has shown strongest resolve to take on China hence radical shift is needed.

Death of “Conventional War Generals”

If we need to put things right Radical Political Shift must be accompanied by Radical Military Shift. It’s important to get into genesis of Military’s (missing) Leadership.  

Death of Conventional War Military Leaders commenced from 1972. 71 war victory euphoria took a decade to subside. Military Generals relaxed. WWII, Vietnam War and such presentations were order of the day. I joined in 1982. In 1982, as 2Lt I found myself part of Vietnam War Presentation to the officers of a Corps. I was like a fly but was given active role. I witnessed Generals who spoke like Generals. Officers who spoke like Officers.  I felt so proud to be part of Army. We had whole lot of Air Force Officers attending the event spanned over three days. Flat two years and Indian Army changed for ever. Blue Star. Counter Insurgency! Blood! New Taste! 1984 was watershed for Military Leadership. We stopped producing ‘thinkers’. We mass produced Tactical Commanders. Conventional War threat was thrown out and Counter Insurgency became ‘in thing’ we changed for ever. How many studies have taken place to study the shift in the Officers mindset from conventional war to counter insurgency? CI killed Military Thinkers for ever. Lean Mean Tactical Fighting Machines took over. During last 35 years Army has become assembly line for producing masters of Counter Insurgency. Study it more and you will find how officers have mastered art of getting ranks. The competent move out. Officers who were Majors in 1984 retired as Lt Gens in 2019. 35 years spanning complete insurgency. Race for ranks killed Leadership. It killed conventional war mindset. It killed thinkers. It killed strategists. Officers just knew to focus on Insurgency and get ranks. Conventional Warfare was strict a strict No. Last 35 years have seen a complete cycle of Capt to Lt Gen. Complete officer cadre has been destroyed and made unfit to think as military leaders.

Radical Military Shift

It simply means prepare for 2040. Train officers for 2040 and beyond. Get conventional army back. It is deliberate and needs to be achieved without any negative effect on security preparedness. If we cannot change current officers what should be done? Suggesting few steps.

A 20 year plan to regain our Armed Forces which have lost their way and completely overhauls Counter Insurgency mindset Army is in today. It requires 20 yrs. for one military leader to come up.

Immediate Measures:

QUARANTINE for two decades Armed Forces Officers to remain within Armed Forces and retire. No need to take anyone on any panel & ignore what they write. Remove the toxic Counter-Insurgency generation.

Remove Army from Counter Insurgency. Army has mastered the art of getting excellent reports, promote nepotism and pursue self-cantered growth. They have become POLICE.

Target Junior Command and equal courses and introduce China as main adversary. Make this as main curriculum. This officer lot with 6-7 year service bracket today will be Corps/Army Commanders in two decades.

Every seat of Military Learning be made to focus on China and global impact of India taking on China and shaping the geo-politics of world.

100% formations of all services along China Border be asked to have central focus on China. Combine entire China front into a Theatre with joint Commands under it. Clip wings of Army which claims ‘ownership.

Let the training focus be led by intelligence inputs and not wisdom of Counter Insurgency Tactical Commanders masquerading as ‘Military Leaders’. Senior Ranks today are result of the great ‘Rank-Mining’ in CI & nepotism.

Institutes like IDSA, CLAWS & parallel be completely freed of the current managements due to complete lack of vision and now be led by dynamic out-of-box thinkers.

Quarantine-Quarantine-Quarantine-100% officers for two decades. While they enjoy their growth within organisation, India can be spared of their myopic and shallow approach to national security. Waste them out.

Localise the toxicity of Counter Insurgency, remove Army from policing & groom a fresh generation to be ready to take over 20 yrs. hence. Bring in realism.

Integrated Theatres, Joint Command, removing ownership of turfs etc will showcase strength. Let not Generals, with bent waist be advisors. We need strong leaders and not yes men.

Audit and Accountability. No one audits Army claims. 57 years of intrusions by China and not one Chief, Army Cdr it Corps Cdr held accountable? Does Army hide intrusions? Who audits? Who questions?

Culture of taking Moral Responsibility is finished. Example? Kargil. Enemy intrudes. Army doesn’t know. Nation fights. 535 Killed In Action. COAS was vested responsibility to guard borders. He does not have moral courage to resign. COAS converts it to Vijay Diwas. Blood of 535 on whose hands? As a FIRST action after stabilising the situation in Kargil, COAS should have resigned.

Junior Leadership. Even today it’s Colonels in Command and juniors who bring glory to Army. Think. Get Conventional war training and thinking back. Keep entire Star Ranks out of it. Quarantine them for 20 yrs.

Think BIG, Think GLOBAL. Even Chiefs are masters on Company Operating Bases of CI. Chiefs get into gutter fight for Maj Litul Gogoi. What a downfall. Capt should think about enemy division. He thinks about his own ACR. Where are we?

Nepotism. Don’t hide and deny. Nepotism has destroyed talent. Reason? Infantry. With ratio of over 80% everywhere, the nepotism of Laneyard, School, Squadron, Regiment and State has emptied Army of talent.

ONE GALWAN EXPOSES US.