Even the worst critics of Gen Sundarji agree that no other General of the Indian Army possessed his intellectual depth, strategic perspective, and the will to transform. He dragged the Army by its bootstraps into the 21st century.
Tensions between Manila & Beijing in South China Sea have escalated over last two years, with latest flare-up taking place on 23 March near Second Thomas Shoal.
A month later, it seems that the much-acclaimed first step of disengagement at LAC was only a stand-alone agreement to enable both China and India to claim victory.
As a Brigadier, I oversaw the conduct of an operation to capture a 17,000-feet high feature across the LAC in Chorbat La Sector in the first week of April 2001.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
COMMENTS