Nation at War

TPS

Dear Ms Sitharaman,

The nation is at war but the RM is nowhere to be seen. It appears EAM and NSA have taken over your role as well. That besides my communication to you is on various issues ranging from reporting on war situation, authenticity, timing and speed of news reporting by national TV/Radio  and falling prey to utterances in social media as well as some pseudo intellectuals to call off the offensive against terror since our objective has been achieved.

Reporting on War Situation

During Operation Desert Storm a BBC correspondent asked POTUS George Bush about war situation in Iraq. He answered that the MNF commander General Scwarzkopf or his representative was the best person to answer the question. But in India we organize a war situation briefing by a MEA spokesperson, who could barely pronounce the names of aircraft and read out few lines in a most inspid manner. Having a two star IAF officer on his side was for photo op or military briefing? If you want to view/hear how war situation briefing is done kindly ask your staff to acquire clips from briefing by Military officers during Op Desert Storm as well as briefing by British Military during their attack on Argentina in 80s. The war situation ‘not policy decisions’ briefing must be done either by AOC-in-C western air command on IAF matters and GOC-IN-C, Northern Command on Army ops or their reps. Let us not have a ‘cartoon’ from MEA cover the war situation briefing from today.

Authenticity, Timing and Speed of News

As a nation we have been and continue to remain diffident and hesitant in sharing the news in proper time and space. Way back on 31st October, 1984 the news of Mrs Gandhi’s assassination was broadcast on the All India Radio at 1800h by the news reader Ms Sfoorti Sinha. BBC had already paid tribute to Mrs Gandhi (shot and killed around 0900h) in their special programme aired at 1400h, IST. By delaying for no rational reason, we make a laughing stock of ourselves in the eyes of comity of nations. Yesterday aerial engagement details I saw on internet at 1400h  with details of the IAF pilot captured. But our national media and MEA spokes person at 1515h kept on mentioning pilot ‘missing in action’. Madame minister you guys do not understand that such delays and incomplete news are not good for soldier’s morale. We as soldiers accept attrition and losses and move on. May I request more authentic briefing on war situation on official media once every six hours either by yourself or military representative. MEA spokes person may continue talking about macro issues such as US, CHINA, FRANCE, UK and their stand on Indo-Pak RELATIONS and so on.

Appeal for Restraint

Appeal for restraint has started emerging not only from P-5 nations but also indigenous pseudo intellectuals. Let me take you back to 2001-02 days of OP PARAKARAM. Amongst P-5 nations USA WAS MOST ACTIVE in trying to persuade us to observe restraint/call off the deployment. Numerous visits by US officials took place during 2002. Their visits to India and Pakistan resulted in two things; immediately after or before a US official visited this region, Pakistan carried out a terrorist attack, KALUCHAK being the worst. Check the time lines to confirm authenticity of my statement. Madame Minister, Pakistan as a nation is controlled and governed by her Army. Pakistan Army is akin to a ‘DOG’s TAIL’; YOU CAN KEEP IT ENCLOSED IN A STRAIGHT TUBE FOR DAYS/MONTHS/YEARS but the moment you pull out the tube the TAIL BENDS. We are extremely fortunate, rather blessed that we have a competent, honest Prime Minister, who is immensely capable of taking hard decisions. I sincerely hope that we do not retract from our stand of eliminating terror machine in Pakistan. Pakistan Military and Terror Machine are synonymous. Therefore, in order to strike at the roots of terrorism Pakistan Army has to be shown its place. Indeed there would be attrition of men and material on our side as well. So be it.

French proposal to ban Massod Azhar at the UNSC must be due for consideration. Contrary to everyone’s belief that CHINA will use VETO power, I think differently. If the proposal is moved by France shortly even China will not oppose it. A ban on Masood Azhar will give the international community an opportunity to pressurize us to call off the offensive. Pakistan will be laughing because there are hundreds, may be thousands of Masood Azhars, hence it does not matter. Take my word, within days/weeks of calling off the offensive we will have yet another URI/KALUCHAK/PULWAMA. China’s support to the proposal would be for their personal interests. A full fledged offensive by India might result in destruction/damage of PAC, KAMRA (Chinese JF-17 PRODUCTION FACILITY), GWADAR PORT and might impede OBOR and CPEC initiative of China.

Our minimum acceptable terms for calling off the offensive should be handing over of Masood Azhar. Pakistan will never accept that, allowing us to continue with the offensive. In any case we had ‘gifted’ him earlier.

Statement of Pak PM Sri Imran Khan should not be taken on face value of spoken words due to two reasons. Firstly, it has been doctored and Secondly he does not control NCA in spite of sitting at the head of the table. Pakistan Army’s nuclear bluff has to be challenged.

I humbly request you to treat soldiers with dignity they deserve. Please ensure that they are allowed to act and not sit in trenches/tents for thirteen months as happened in Op Parakaram. Only casualties were during mine laying/removing operations.

Pakistan’s current military hardware status is in a despicable shape. Not that we are any better but still miles ahead of Pakistan provided the Service Chiefs are given a no hold bar authority to employ/deploy what they want, where they want. You, NSA and the PM take care of the BLACK BRIEF CASE carrying nuclear codes.

Opportunities come but only once! We have the God Gifted opportunity, please do not squander it.

May God grant you the wisdom to choose right option from any of the following:-

  1. STRIKE
  2. STRIKE
  3. STRIKE

Soldiers accept attrition as a way of life. Let the sacrifices of nearly 18,000 soldiers killed in terrorist attacks since 1989 not go in waste

28th Febfruary, 2019

 

 

Published by TPS

Born in a legal practitioner’s family of repute in 1950, I chose to serve the finest institution of any nation, The Military. Over three decades with the IAF, I spent nearly quarter century sitting in the close confines of magnificent flying machines viz MiG-21 and MiG-29, a different world altogether. I have had the opportunity to walk the corridors of power and witness profligate governance by the politicians and bureaucrats alike with military leadership not lagging too far behind. I have traveled extensively across Middle East, South East Asia, most of Europe, China and the USA. I have authored a book titled “Profligate Governance--- Implications for National Security” dealing with national and international affairs, specific military affairs, geo-strategic scenario etc. In the twilight of my life my interest revolves around improving standards of Primary Education in the country. Whatever I save from my pension goes towards establishing libraries for children in village schools.

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