If a survey was conducted today, Modi would still get most votes as the leader Indians trust to tackle China. But any attempt to hide facts can shake this trust.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly told top military brass to maintain strict vigil on Chinese activities around land border, airspace & in strategic sea lanes.
The Chinese foreign ministry released a statement detailing their account of the Galwan face-off, and accused Indian soldiers of crossing the LAC and making deliberate provocations.
At the all-party meeting convened by PM Modi on situation at the Line of Actual Control, Gandhi asked about way forward & assurance that status quo ante would be restored.
For all their colonial underpinnings, postcards from Hyderabad also inadvertently preserve a trace of local memory: a glimpse of a street, a face, a forgotten name.
Indian toymakers are now exploring new markets, but they want govt to negotiate a trade deal with US soon, introduce incentives and subsidies to make the industry more competitive.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
Everything would have been known to our top level. Our fear is if we send more troups, china will send multiple of that.. china has much more muscle power than us. It is that bitter truth. If we had preparation for galwan valley, they will open somewhere else. This is long haul journey. There is no point in guessing china thinking
Inspite of huge defence budget exceeding Rs.3 lakh crores, why do the armed forces suffer from shortage and have to put up with vintage equipment. Similarly, the Ministry of Home affairs also has a huge budget. Who or what comes in the way of modernizing the military and paramilitary forces? The usual bureaucracy, sitting on the files, and questioning every requisition. I know one IAF officer, who was in Sia Chen duty. When some defence ministry Babu sat on some requisition, some clever military liaison officer took him on a joy ride to Sia chen. He wasn’t brought back the same day, on the pretext of bad weather or technical problem with the helicopter! Next day, when the recalcitrant, but grateful Babu returned to Delhi, the first thing he did in his office was to approve or clear the file he was sitting on!
Major part of the defence budget goes to revenue expenses. Salaries and pension. In 2019 pension out go was more than salaries itself. Nothing much left for capex. find out how much a brigadier level officer from downwards get as pension.(I am leaving out those aboe)
China (Communism) and Pakistan (Islam) covet all of India. But plan to take it slice by slice and with a thousand cuts. Mahomet (who was a camel driver) speaks of this in the story of the camel and the tent which became a central tenet of the desert bandit cult called islam. First the camel puts its head inside Mahomet’s tent, then little by little the camel works its way into the tent and Mahomet has to sleep outside.
Nehru sacrificed Tibet to Mao hoping this would appease China. Mao then described Tibet as the palm of his hand reaching out for all of India and and the Indian territories of Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Arunachal Pradesh as the five fingers of the palm. This is the basis of the Communist Party’s claim on all of India and like Mao, China follows the teachings of Sun Tsu. Islam however claims all of India on the basis of Quran and Hadith.
So, India yielding even an inch of territory to the enemy is merely an incentive for the enemy to take more.
The Government orphans the armed forces and National Security just as it orphans citizens not on Bureaucratic, Police, Judicial and Political service or pay roll: Out of sight out of mind?
Every time there is an opportunity which the Chinese see, the Chinese come further into Indian territory. This is like moving forward towards the goal in Rugby or American football.’
Apart from on going fluid opportunities due to lack of border infrastructure for the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Army presented the Chinese with two significant opportunities, which they took advantage of.
(1) During Kargil, the Indian soldiers were moved from their positions at Daulat Beg Oldie to reinforce the forces taking on Pakistan’s Norther nLight infantry in Kargil Heights. Kargil was a classic example of Indian failure in intelligence, logistics, military command and control as well as political leadership. In effect, the Pakis had moved into the heights and entrenched themselves when the Indian Army moved down during winter. Just as the Chinese did when the Indian Army moved from Pangong Lake (Daulat Beg Oldie) to Kargil. And India had to retake what was originally its own at enormous cost of Indian blood and lives owing to poor preparation, lack of ammunition, lack of reliable and appropriate equipment and weaponry, lack of co-ordination and laughable, unrealistic “Charge of the Light Brigade” Brass Hat commands, totally divorced from the reality on the ground or the methods of 20th Century warfare..
(2) Owing to the lack of proper high altitude winter equipment, the Indian Army again moved to lower slopes more recently vacating territory which the Chinese quickly occupied.
In both cases, the buck stops at the table of the politicians and bureaucrats at Delhi who constrain the Army into having to cope with what they have and carrying out orders issued with scant understanding of warfare or operational command. This the Government does not want exposed.
The Indian Army on returning to these heights in fairer weather resume patrolling in India’s side of the LAC only to find themselves challenged by the Chinese who are now in occupation leading to these tussles.
There is also the pathetic faith of India’s “diplomats”, “bureaucrats” and “politicians” that foreign powers are more honest than themselves and will adhere to promises, agreements and treaties more faithfully than they themselves do. Hence, there is an excessive faith in diplomacy and that China will adhere to what was the agreed Line of Actual Control rather than in building, refining and applying Indian hard power.
A very informative and balanced article from someone who knows what she is talking about. We need more such articles in the national interest from The Print rather than articles from the usual anti Modi sickular brigade.
If not failure of some hue then what. You criticise Nehru for whatever his follies and do the same by cosying upto Xi. Whe will we ever learn that China will never look upon any as friends least of all India. This 56″ believes in befriending every leader of every country except of maintaining at least Norma l relations with all leaders in his party, in his alliance fold and the opposition. This he is constantly at war within his country and at his friendly-friendly best without. China etc are but a result of that. Because the entire administration gets its directions from 56″ and acts accordingly. 18 times meeting with China therefore led to the sense of betrayal that must be hurting inside the 56″ chest. So at the All Party meeting he blurted out what he thought would be the truth but which wasn’t because Xi like Chou before him betrayed him.
About time India and her PM’s learnt the bitter truth and never never let the guard down.
Everyone knows the Chinese are not trustworthy but you have to let sleeping dogs lie for the sake of stability and prosperity in the region. Rattling China has affected the relations with all our neighbors and we cant hope to match the amount of aid they give to India’s neighbors. That doesnt mean we werent prepared for a 2 front war. We have always been preparing
Did you seriously think people would have agreed or accepted the tough action we have to take (in terms of ban of apps and other goods) if there wasnt a clash? From all assessments, China is doing this because we are seriously planning to take back POK and Gilgit Baltistan in near future and they are miffed with our closeness with US. As we get more powerful friends, we should expect powerful enemies.
Very sensible article clearly steering away from sensationalism and the proclivity to blindly blame the agencies responsible for our security..the blame for the delay in upgrading vital border assets lies squarely with the political establishment specially in Ladakh
There are three basic matters to be considered:
1. Lack of infrastructure.
2. Absence of electronic/satellite survilience.
3. No Clear identification of hostilities.
We should be specific about what is a violation and not wait for removal once identified it should be destroyed.
Agree with point 1. We have already addressed points 2 and 3 with the deployment of satellites in last few years. The issue with China is that they regularly keep coming in, do some surveys and go back and at the most, it gets resolved with some pushing/shoving/punching so you cant expect the army to be fully deployed each time they indulge in their usual provocative acts. But this time, they went too far and going forward any encroachment will be immediately flagged
Everything would have been known to our top level. Our fear is if we send more troups, china will send multiple of that.. china has much more muscle power than us. It is that bitter truth. If we had preparation for galwan valley, they will open somewhere else. This is long haul journey. There is no point in guessing china thinking
Inspite of huge defence budget exceeding Rs.3 lakh crores, why do the armed forces suffer from shortage and have to put up with vintage equipment. Similarly, the Ministry of Home affairs also has a huge budget. Who or what comes in the way of modernizing the military and paramilitary forces? The usual bureaucracy, sitting on the files, and questioning every requisition. I know one IAF officer, who was in Sia Chen duty. When some defence ministry Babu sat on some requisition, some clever military liaison officer took him on a joy ride to Sia chen. He wasn’t brought back the same day, on the pretext of bad weather or technical problem with the helicopter! Next day, when the recalcitrant, but grateful Babu returned to Delhi, the first thing he did in his office was to approve or clear the file he was sitting on!
Major part of the defence budget goes to revenue expenses. Salaries and pension. In 2019 pension out go was more than salaries itself. Nothing much left for capex. find out how much a brigadier level officer from downwards get as pension.(I am leaving out those aboe)
China (Communism) and Pakistan (Islam) covet all of India. But plan to take it slice by slice and with a thousand cuts. Mahomet (who was a camel driver) speaks of this in the story of the camel and the tent which became a central tenet of the desert bandit cult called islam. First the camel puts its head inside Mahomet’s tent, then little by little the camel works its way into the tent and Mahomet has to sleep outside.
Nehru sacrificed Tibet to Mao hoping this would appease China. Mao then described Tibet as the palm of his hand reaching out for all of India and and the Indian territories of Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Arunachal Pradesh as the five fingers of the palm. This is the basis of the Communist Party’s claim on all of India and like Mao, China follows the teachings of Sun Tsu. Islam however claims all of India on the basis of Quran and Hadith.
So, India yielding even an inch of territory to the enemy is merely an incentive for the enemy to take more.
The Government orphans the armed forces and National Security just as it orphans citizens not on Bureaucratic, Police, Judicial and Political service or pay roll: Out of sight out of mind?
Every time there is an opportunity which the Chinese see, the Chinese come further into Indian territory. This is like moving forward towards the goal in Rugby or American football.’
Apart from on going fluid opportunities due to lack of border infrastructure for the Indian Armed Forces, the Indian Army presented the Chinese with two significant opportunities, which they took advantage of.
(1) During Kargil, the Indian soldiers were moved from their positions at Daulat Beg Oldie to reinforce the forces taking on Pakistan’s Norther nLight infantry in Kargil Heights. Kargil was a classic example of Indian failure in intelligence, logistics, military command and control as well as political leadership. In effect, the Pakis had moved into the heights and entrenched themselves when the Indian Army moved down during winter. Just as the Chinese did when the Indian Army moved from Pangong Lake (Daulat Beg Oldie) to Kargil. And India had to retake what was originally its own at enormous cost of Indian blood and lives owing to poor preparation, lack of ammunition, lack of reliable and appropriate equipment and weaponry, lack of co-ordination and laughable, unrealistic “Charge of the Light Brigade” Brass Hat commands, totally divorced from the reality on the ground or the methods of 20th Century warfare..
(2) Owing to the lack of proper high altitude winter equipment, the Indian Army again moved to lower slopes more recently vacating territory which the Chinese quickly occupied.
In both cases, the buck stops at the table of the politicians and bureaucrats at Delhi who constrain the Army into having to cope with what they have and carrying out orders issued with scant understanding of warfare or operational command. This the Government does not want exposed.
The Indian Army on returning to these heights in fairer weather resume patrolling in India’s side of the LAC only to find themselves challenged by the Chinese who are now in occupation leading to these tussles.
There is also the pathetic faith of India’s “diplomats”, “bureaucrats” and “politicians” that foreign powers are more honest than themselves and will adhere to promises, agreements and treaties more faithfully than they themselves do. Hence, there is an excessive faith in diplomacy and that China will adhere to what was the agreed Line of Actual Control rather than in building, refining and applying Indian hard power.
Even in this hour of defeat and disgrace hold on to bigotry, hatred and intolerance.
Convey this to Pappu please.
As if he is the prime minster of India
No funds for the Mountain Strike Corps but Modi spends 20000 crores on Delhi’s Central Vista.
Did Amit Shah statement that he would take akali chin contribute to this?
Well written
A very informative and balanced article from someone who knows what she is talking about. We need more such articles in the national interest from The Print rather than articles from the usual anti Modi sickular brigade.
If not failure of some hue then what. You criticise Nehru for whatever his follies and do the same by cosying upto Xi. Whe will we ever learn that China will never look upon any as friends least of all India. This 56″ believes in befriending every leader of every country except of maintaining at least Norma l relations with all leaders in his party, in his alliance fold and the opposition. This he is constantly at war within his country and at his friendly-friendly best without. China etc are but a result of that. Because the entire administration gets its directions from 56″ and acts accordingly. 18 times meeting with China therefore led to the sense of betrayal that must be hurting inside the 56″ chest. So at the All Party meeting he blurted out what he thought would be the truth but which wasn’t because Xi like Chou before him betrayed him.
About time India and her PM’s learnt the bitter truth and never never let the guard down.
Everyone knows the Chinese are not trustworthy but you have to let sleeping dogs lie for the sake of stability and prosperity in the region. Rattling China has affected the relations with all our neighbors and we cant hope to match the amount of aid they give to India’s neighbors. That doesnt mean we werent prepared for a 2 front war. We have always been preparing
Did you seriously think people would have agreed or accepted the tough action we have to take (in terms of ban of apps and other goods) if there wasnt a clash? From all assessments, China is doing this because we are seriously planning to take back POK and Gilgit Baltistan in near future and they are miffed with our closeness with US. As we get more powerful friends, we should expect powerful enemies.
Very sensible article clearly steering away from sensationalism and the proclivity to blindly blame the agencies responsible for our security..the blame for the delay in upgrading vital border assets lies squarely with the political establishment specially in Ladakh
There are three basic matters to be considered:
1. Lack of infrastructure.
2. Absence of electronic/satellite survilience.
3. No Clear identification of hostilities.
We should be specific about what is a violation and not wait for removal once identified it should be destroyed.
Agree with point 1. We have already addressed points 2 and 3 with the deployment of satellites in last few years. The issue with China is that they regularly keep coming in, do some surveys and go back and at the most, it gets resolved with some pushing/shoving/punching so you cant expect the army to be fully deployed each time they indulge in their usual provocative acts. But this time, they went too far and going forward any encroachment will be immediately flagged