Lt Gen H S Panag PVSM, AVSM (R) served in the Indian Army for 40 years. He was GOC in C Northern Command and Central Command. Post retirement, he was Member of Armed Forces Tribunal.
India: world no 1. in angry rhetoric and self delusion, world no. 183 in ability. Unreformed colonial legacy definitely at least partly to blame. Indian military is good for harassing civilians in Kashmir, not so good at fighting other 12th rate armies like Pakistan, 100% useless against real armies like China. We need to fire our badly trained officer class and reorganise the army on Chinese lines. Wrap guys like Panag in parachutes and airdrop them in Pakistan. Build a wall and close the Wagah border so the Pakistanis can’t give them back.
The impending release of the downed pilot has again turned the narrative in India’s favor. After years of careful diplomacy, the world instantly understands that Pak offers of dialogue are empty gestures for the sake of propaganda. And with the foiled attack by Pak air force on Indian military bases, India finally understands that, as far as Pak is concerned, it is at war with India. It is time India joined in.
Regretfully Pakistan seems to be winning the PR and diplomatic war while we end up looking like bumbling fools. First, the choreographed. Video of our captured Wg Commander to show what a civilised army they have! Gentle reminder how they treated Lt Kalia in 1999. Next comes the statesman like national address of Imran Khan urging restraint and extending his hand of friendship. Contrast this with the jingoistic speech by our PM in Churu! Finally his generous offer of credible evidence with which he will take punitive action. Someone should remind Imran Khan that reams of evidence has been given for 26/11 and nothing has happened. Moreover you don’t need evidence when the culprit has publicly accepted his role and complicity in the Pulwama attack. All their posturing is to maintain status quo, keep bleeding India through their surrogates. Pity is the world opinion is rapidly turning in their favor showing them as peace loving doves and India as a war monger! Can we hire a firm of professional PR managers and let the mandarins of MFA focus on something else?
A reassuring statement from President Trump in Hanoi, suggesting that the two nations are moving back from the edge. The next two months belong to Indians choosing their next government peacefully, in an atmosphere that is not surcharged. Pakistan and the pain it has caused us is not melting away. A newly elected government, with five years at its disposal, formulating a carefully thought through strategy, a blend of creative diplomacy and coercion. For reasons that need not detain us here, political consensus has broken down completely, even on issues where it was almost taken for granted. This is not a time in the nation’s electoral calendar to lay down new doctrines to deal with such an old problem. The immediate concern should be to de escalate, something a good friend like the United States would be willing to assist in.
India: world no 1. in angry rhetoric and self delusion, world no. 183 in ability. Unreformed colonial legacy definitely at least partly to blame. Indian military is good for harassing civilians in Kashmir, not so good at fighting other 12th rate armies like Pakistan, 100% useless against real armies like China. We need to fire our badly trained officer class and reorganise the army on Chinese lines. Wrap guys like Panag in parachutes and airdrop them in Pakistan. Build a wall and close the Wagah border so the Pakistanis can’t give them back.
Very well summed up General Saab
I think this should be the strategic way forward for our Republic of india
The impending release of the downed pilot has again turned the narrative in India’s favor. After years of careful diplomacy, the world instantly understands that Pak offers of dialogue are empty gestures for the sake of propaganda. And with the foiled attack by Pak air force on Indian military bases, India finally understands that, as far as Pak is concerned, it is at war with India. It is time India joined in.
Regretfully Pakistan seems to be winning the PR and diplomatic war while we end up looking like bumbling fools. First, the choreographed. Video of our captured Wg Commander to show what a civilised army they have! Gentle reminder how they treated Lt Kalia in 1999. Next comes the statesman like national address of Imran Khan urging restraint and extending his hand of friendship. Contrast this with the jingoistic speech by our PM in Churu! Finally his generous offer of credible evidence with which he will take punitive action. Someone should remind Imran Khan that reams of evidence has been given for 26/11 and nothing has happened. Moreover you don’t need evidence when the culprit has publicly accepted his role and complicity in the Pulwama attack. All their posturing is to maintain status quo, keep bleeding India through their surrogates. Pity is the world opinion is rapidly turning in their favor showing them as peace loving doves and India as a war monger! Can we hire a firm of professional PR managers and let the mandarins of MFA focus on something else?
A reassuring statement from President Trump in Hanoi, suggesting that the two nations are moving back from the edge. The next two months belong to Indians choosing their next government peacefully, in an atmosphere that is not surcharged. Pakistan and the pain it has caused us is not melting away. A newly elected government, with five years at its disposal, formulating a carefully thought through strategy, a blend of creative diplomacy and coercion. For reasons that need not detain us here, political consensus has broken down completely, even on issues where it was almost taken for granted. This is not a time in the nation’s electoral calendar to lay down new doctrines to deal with such an old problem. The immediate concern should be to de escalate, something a good friend like the United States would be willing to assist in.