(Left) Lt Gen Mahinder Puri (retd) and Air Marshal Vinod Patney (retd) at the Military Literature Festival in Chandigarh on Friday. RAVI KUMAR

In militancy and counter-insurgency, there are no victors and losers. For a successful insurgency like that led by Mao Zedong (Chinese Marxist theorist), you need sanctuary. In Kashmir’s insurgency, sanctuary was in Pakistan and reasons were economic.” Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd)

When someone asked Winston Churchill how history would judge you, he replied I will write history. He wrote six volumes on World War-II. His contemporaries did not survive to tell their story. Benito Mussolini was executed in 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in 1945,  Joseph Stalin died in 1953 and Franklin D Roosevelt died in 1945.” Thomas Fraser, Military Historian

Churchill had hardly devoted any page to Indian Army. Battles of Kohima and Imphal were ignored.”  Alan Jefferys, Historian

“History is written by winners, so it is difficult to get more than one perspective. Had Stalin written down his thoughts, the outcome would have been different.” Ed Haynes, Historian

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 7

More than 18 years after India and Pakistan fought a war on the icy heights of Kargil, two officers of the Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) who led the respective operations shared a stage at the Military Literature Festival here today recollecting their first-hand experiences.Speaking about the war in 1999, Lt Gen Mahinder Puri (retd), who was then a Maj General commanding the 8 Mountain Division tasked with securing Kargil, recollected: “I told General Malik (VP Malik, then Army Chief) ‘don’t set a timeline to evict the intrusions and be ready for casualties’.”“The country and military were taken by surprise at the intrusion in Kargil,” he asserted while talking about the war fought along the 168-km Himalayan ridgeline that forms the Mushkoh-Drass-Kargil-Batalik-Turtuk axis along the LoC.Air Marshal Vinod Patney (retd), who was then the chief of the IAF’s Western Air Command (Kargil is its part), recollected how fighter jets were not designed to launch an attack at those heights (17,000-18,000 feet). “It was the afternoon of May 26 that the Chief (AY Tipnis) called up and said be ready. But then, he said, don’t cross the LoC,” recollected Air Marshal Patney.“A small error could mean the bomb would fall on the other side of the ridgeline that would be miles away. It was the time that laser-guided bombs were used.Lt Gen Puri said the plan by (General Parvez) Musharraf, the then Pak army chief, was to alter the Line of Control (LoC). “He had a brilliant plan but could not visualise its end.” General Musharraf in his book ‘In the Line of Fire’ writes how “800 sq km of area was captured… and it created strategic effects”.Lt Gen SH Kulkarni (retd) said: “We still need answers. Why did Kargil war come on us? Have we acted on Kargil Review Committee? or Was not allowing forces across the LoC a right idea?” This is a very little historical analysis of the war, he said.

“In militancy and counter-insurgency, there are no victors and losers. For a successful insurgency like that led by Mao Zedong (Chinese Marxist theorist), you need sanctuary. In Kashmir’s insurgency, sanctuary was in Pakistan and reasons were economic.” — Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd)“When someone asked Winston Churchill how history would judge you, he replied I will write history. He wrote six volumes on World War-II. His contemporaries did not survive to tell their story. Benito Mussolini was executed in 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in 1945, Joseph Stalin died in 1953 and Franklin D Roosevelt died in 1945.”  — Thomas Fraser, military historian“Churchill had hardly devoted any page to Indian Army. Battles of Kohima and Imphal were ignored.” — Alan Jefferys, historian“History is written by winners, so it is difficult to get more than one perspective. Had Stalin written down his thoughts, the outcome would have been different.”  — Ed Haynes, historian

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat during the presentation of the President’s Standard to 87 Armoured Regiment, 41 Armoured Regiment and 10 Armoured Regiment at Suratgarh military station. PTI

Jaipur/Abohar, December 5

Operations against militants in Kashmir will continue, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat asserted today, adding that while it was up to the “neighbouring country” as to how it treats terrorist organisations but India will continue to raise the issue.“Operations in Kashmir are going on continuously and we see an improvement in the situation in the Valley. Such operations will go on,” Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony at Suratgarh military station in Sriganganagar district. The security forces in J&K have eliminated over 200 militants this year, the highest number since 2010.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Rawat said how the “neighbouring country” deals with terrorist organisation is their matter “but we will keep raising this”. We do not want that such organisations are promoted, he said.Rawat was at the Suratgarh military station to present the President’s Standard to three regiments — 87 Armoured Regiment, 41 Armoured Regiment and 10 Armoured Regiment — after a mounted parade which was attended by Lt Gen Cherish Mathson, GoC-in-Chief Sapta Shakti Command, Lt Gen PC Thimmaya, GoC Chetak Corps, and a number of other senior military officers and civilian dignitaries. General Rawat also released first day cover to mark the grand event. The ceremony was hosted by Colonels of the Armoured Regiments — Major General Vinod Sharma, Major General SS Mahal and Major General Kulpreet Singh, respectively. A formation of roaring T-72 main battle tanks, the mainstay of Indian Armoured Corps, displaying might of the Army, was commanded by Brigadier Praveen Chhabra, Commander of the Sand Viper Brigade with Regiment Contingent commanded by the respecting commanding officers. — TNS & Agencies

Abhinav Vashisht

KULLU, NOVEMBER 26

The residents Lahaul and Spiti district will be allowed to cross the 8.8-km-long Rohtang tunnel in case of medical exigencies. Though the boring work of the tunnel has been completed, construction work is still under way.Lahaul valley remains cut off during winters due to heavy accumulation of snow on the 13,050-foot Rohtang Pass, gateway to the Lahaul valley on the Manali-Leh National Highway. The only way in and out of the valley during winters is through helicopter services provided by the state government, which again depends upon weather conditions.Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Deva Singh Negi said that Director General, Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastava had instructed the Rohtang tunnel authorities to provide passage to medical emergencies through the tunnel after the Rohtang Pass is closed for over five months during winters.Recently, Mandi MP Ram Swaroop Sharma had met Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to request her to give direction to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) authorities to allow traffic via Rohtang tunnel in emergency cases for the convenience of the people living in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti. The Deputy Commissioner said that students appearing in various competitive exams would also be allowed to cross through the tunnel after the Rohtang Pass is completely closed. However, there were limitations as the tunnel construction work was still under progress and the North Portal of the tunnel towards Lahaul was prone to avalanches. He said that passage through the tunnel would be allowed after analyzing various factors.Many vehicles were stuck for over six days on the Lahaul side of Rohtang Pass at Koksar due to the recent snowfall. The BRO cleared the snow and evacuated the stranded vehicles and passengers.The Deputy Commissioner said that medical board would be formed to provide certificate to medical emergencies to cross the tunnel. The students would be provided permit to cross the tunnel upon producing the required documents. He said that proper care would be taken that the work of BRO is not hampered and safety of the commuters is not compromised.Generally, the Rohtang Pass is officially closed for traffic after November 15 but vehicles sometimes continue to ply till there is no accumulation of snow and the road is cleared by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). However, the movement of traffic is regulated in view of public safety because due to its high altitude the Pass is prone to sudden heavy snowfall and icing of road, which could pose a serious threat to the lives of commuters.The Deputy Commissioner said that commuters would be allowed to cross the Rohtang Pass on foot depending upon the weather conditions. Rescue posts had been set up at Marhi on the Manali side and at Koksar on the Lahaul side to assist the commuters to cross the Pass. He said that the DG had also instructed the BRO to maintain road connectivity between Keylong-Darcha, Keylong-Udaipur and Keylong-Sissu stretches.

Relief for students as well

• Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Deva Singh Negi said a medical board would be formed to provide certificates in case of medical emergencies to cross the tunnel.
• Students would be provided a permit to cross the tunnel on producing the required documents.
• He said steps would be taken to ensure that theBRO’s work is not hampered and safety of commutersis not compromised.

Vehicles cross the Rohtang Pass on Thursday. Photo by writer

MC Thakur

MANALI, NOVEMBER 23

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the snow-bound Lahaul valley in over 100 vehicles today after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) cleared snow from the Manali-Rohtang-Keylong highway yesterday.As many as 112 vehicles crossed the rescue post at Koksar village in the Lahaul valley till 1 pm.As the road is covered with a thick layer of snow due to extreme cold conditions, many vehicles got stuck mid-way and had to be pulled out by the BRO’s vehicles.Border Roads Task Force Commander Colonel AK Awasthi said 112 vehicles had gone to Manali from Lahaul. “The road surface is slippery and risky for vehicles. To ensure the smooth movement of vehicles, we are allowing one-way traffic. Vehicles from Lahaul were allowed to cross Rohtang and vehicles from Manali will cross Rohtang on Friday,” he said.The Commander said it was not an easy task to clear the road within a record time as severe cold and blizzards were the main challenge. “Even machines do not work in such weather. At some stretch, we had to clear up to 4-ft snow. We had engaged snow cutters, four dozers and three JCB machines from Koksar and Marhi sides,” he added.Awasthi further added that the highway had been officially closed on November 15 but the BRO had cleared snow only to facilitate residents of the Lahaul valley.The residents travel between Lahaul and Kullu to stock essentials before heavy snowfall cuts off the valley from Kullu.He also said BRO officials would conduct a joint recce of Rohtang with Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti administration to see the conditions and decide if road should be closed to traffic. He said they would not clear snow from Rohtang if another spell of snow blocked it as it was not safe.Vehicles from Manali move today

• As many as 112 vehicles crossed the rescue post at Koksar village in the Lahaul valley till 1 pm today
• As the road is covered with thick layer of snow, many vehicles got stuck in the mid-way which were pulled out by the BRO’s vehicles
• Vehicles from Manali will cross Rohtang to Lahaul on Friday
• BRO officials will conduct a  joint recce of Rohtang with Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti administration to decide if road should be closed to traffic

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 19

The Army Headquarters’ move to source fabric for its combat uniforms from the private sector, ostensibly due to the huge price differential between the uniforms procured from the state-run Ordnance Factory and those available locally, has Ordnance Factory employees up in arms.The employees are claiming that samples of cloth available with private vendors have failed the requisite quality tests.The Master General of Ordnance (MGO) at the Army Headquarters had written to the Additional Director General, Ordnance Factories Board, earlier this month that the Army would not like to procure combat uniforms from the Ordnance Factory. It instead wants that a no-objection certificate be issued for procuring uniforms from private vendors.“A set of combat jacket and trousers provisioned through the Ordnance Factory costs Rs 4,150 where as a combat uniform of the same material stitched locally costs Rs 1,800-1,900, including GST.“If procured in the same volume as is being done from Ordnance Factory, it is likely to cost Rs 1,200-1,300 per set,” the MGO’s letter states.The Army had switched to a new combat uniform over a decade ago to standardise the camouflage pattern and check misuse and open sale of such cloth in the market.The four-colour disruptive pattern of the cloth, called Army Logo Cloth, is inter spread with the Army’s crossed swords and Ashoka Lion logo.The camouflage design and fabric specifications were developed by the Ordnance Factory. Some private mills have been contracted to produce Army Logo Cloth for the Ordnance Factory, which supplies stitched uniform to the Army. Though the sale of this pattern by mills to private vendors is restricted, it is available in the market. Once the cloth is received from the mills, it undergoes 36 tests to ensure quality standards.In a letter written to Chief of the Army Staff this week, the All-India Defence Employees Federation has said that if the Army starts purchasing cloth directly from private vendors, there is no guarantee that these standards would be met.The letter states that Ordnance Factory employees purchased several samples of Army Logo Cloth from different shops in Delhi Cantonment and all samples failed chemical as well as physical tests.The letter adds the Ministry of Defence has assured Ordnance Factory employees that combat uniform would not be declared a “non-core” item and there was no justification for the MGO seeking a no-objection certificate.

Seeks NOC from Ordnance Factories Board

• A set of combat jacket and trousers provisioned through the Ordnance Factory costs Rs 4,150 where as a combat uniform of the same material stitched locally costs Rs 1,800-1,900, including GST
• If procured in the same volume as is being done fromOrdnance Factory, it is likely to cost Rs 1,200-1,300 per set

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said the stupendous victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection “is a precursor of the revival of the Congress at the national level”.Comparing the poll results to the Chikmagalur victory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which marked the revival of the Congress in the late 1970s, Amarinder said the results underlined the downfall of the BJP that had been fuelled by the adverse impact of the GST and demonetisation.“The results will strengthen the party’s upward trend which began with the win in various university student union elections, Maharashtra civic polls and Kerala bypoll,” said Amarinder.Crediting Sunil Jakhar and party MLAs and workers for the victory, the CM said it reaffirmed anti-Akali sentiments, especially in Gurdaspur, where victory margin was much higher.In the Assembly constituencies falling in Pathankot district, he attributed the Rajput factor for comparatively lesser margins for the Congress. The only exception was the BJP bastion, Sujanpur, where senior Congress leader Brahm Mohindra was camping. Aiming at AAP, the CM said the vote share of the party had come down to 2 per cent. He pointed out that AAP’s Sucha Singh Chhotepur polled 1,73,376 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the same party could manage 23,579 votes, with its candidate even losing his security deposit.

Rewarding MLAs?

On Cabinet expansion after the Gurdaspur bypoll as was announced by him, the CM said he would discuss the matter with AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi. A senior leader, however, said the expansion would take place only after Rahul’s elevation as the party president. On Cabinet berth to Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa from whose segment the party got the highest margin, Amarinder said: “I had promised him dinner on getting highest margin. Now, I will invite him to dinner.”

No vendetta, CM reiterates

Amarinder said he would prefer the anti-drug STF to investigate and take suitable action against all guilty once the probe was completed, indicating that he would now tow the line of acting against Akalis in the drugs case. MLAs from Gurdaspur, led by Randhawa, had been seeking action against Akalis whose names had cropped up in the drugs case. Similarly for the sacrilege incident, Justice Ranjit Singh Commission was doing its job, the CM said.

What they said…

The victory has reaffirmed people’s faith in Capt Amarinder and his policies. I promise to raise in Parliament issues such as the GST, unemployment and incentives to industry on par with hill states. Skill development will be taken up on a priority to tackle unemployment. — Sunil Jakhar, PPCC president People have not voted for the Congress, but for Jakhar and his clean image… Moreover, the ruling party usually wins the bypoll. The Congress has come to power in the state just seven months ago and it should not take the win as a certificate of its performance. Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP spokespersonWe are not surprised by the victory of Congress candidate, keeping in view the blatant misuse of government machinery. A mere 56 per cent polling proves that the government had already ensured the victory of its candidate.— Prem Singh Chandumajra, SAD spokesman and MPWe accept that it is the failure of the AAP state unit. It is time for introspection and to stop indulging in blame game. — Baljinder Kaur, AAP legislator

The “muscle-memory” and emotions of the Indian defence forces belie the mainstream perception of a stoic, regimented exterior that is often misunderstood for the lack of independent opinions or sentiments. Strategic restraint is a well-understood military doctrine within the forces; it entails a certain institutional silence on matters that are beyond the professional calling.

However, the asymmetric challenges of the 21st century mandates a combatant, who is more holistic and can think through the layers of environmental issues and contexts that impact his operational duties, albeit without expressing a political point of view.

But hypernationalistic sentiments are threatening the insulated ‘barracks’ with the increasing political appropriation of the image of the soldier, intrusions into personnel matters, and with the expansive and creative (mis)usages of the defence forces. This is threatening the essence, conscience and the agnosticism of an essentially apolitical entity. Certain intangible dimensions are drilled at the altar of baptism, in the training institutions ~ the hallowed Chetwodian codes, ‘turn-out’, ‘service before self’ etc. are inescapable clichés that offer no way out, other than walking-the-talk.

The definitive leitmotif and premium is on the izzat of the uniform that finds expression in the minus 40 degree C Siachen glacier, when a soldier from Chennai cries out, Veera Madrassi, Adi Kollu, Adi Kollu (Brave Madrassi, Hit and Kill, Hit and Kill), when attacking and avenging the izzat of a fallen soldier.

No danger is calculated in the military-mathematics of upholding honour. Yet, despite the nominally ‘casteist’ or regional denominations of the various Infantry regiments, the refrain of any unit is ‘nation first’ ~ first, foremost, and always. Izzat to the national flag and then to the regimental or a unit identity, surmounts all logic and can verge on reckless courage.

Or else, the heroics of the Kargil daredevilry, are inexplicable to the common man. Unknown to even the soldiers themselves is the moral conviction alluded to by the irrepressible American General, George Patton (‘Blood and Guts’) who said, “The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country”. This belief in the national ‘call to honour’ ensures the blunt kinetic abilities, steely professional conduct and the silent-mode, when accepting any ‘order’.

The constitutional switchboard of the Indian system reaffirms the civilian government’s control over the military. This framework is understandable given the genealogical emergence of India, and the throbbing impulses of ‘democracy’ and ‘liberalism’ that rightfully ensure the subordination of the military vis-à-vis the larger policy and framework, to that of the civilian authority.

The political innocence and the romantic notions of subordinating the military were almost immediately exposed with the Indo-Pak war of 1947-48, which exposed the bloody shortcomings of Partition, that have festered since. India was wounded at birth. And yet, it initially remained politically idealistic and naïve, and thus tentative and wary of the relevance for the Armed Forces, despite the external threats.

The insulation of the treelined cantonments suited the political dispensations and the Armed Forces mutually as it allowed the requisite space and confinement to usher in the golden era of ‘cantonment soldiering’. This passive disinterest in the affairs of the military did result in ‘letting the guard down’, and along with the political misjudgment on China, the inevitability of 1962 followed.

Preceding the insult of 1962, were sure signs of a dangerous drift from a professional ‘nononsense’ approach to a ‘commune’ culture that accepted and rewarded senior officers for undertaking initiatives like building housing projects, debunking military concerns as alarmist, political choices in appointments etc. ~ all diluting the operational rectitude and immutability of soldering. Unsurprisingly, the civilian bureaucrats were complicit accomplices to the ‘secondement’ of the Armed Forces, prior and after the wake-up call of 1962. That year was internalised and personalised for posterity by the Armed Forces.

The uniformed fraternity marvelled at the bravery of Major Shaitan Singh, Subedar Joginder Singh, Major Dhan Singh Thapa and many other unsung heroes who paid the price for Delhi’s apathy. Lessons were learnt and the Chinese were paid back in the same coin in 1967 at Nathu La and Cho La, while Pakistan suffered setbacks in 1965 and 1971. Since then, the inverted flags of the enemy are showcased in the officers’ messes and museums of the Armed Forces, lest anyone overlooks the symbolism and the memory of battle honours.

The institution survives on symbolism ~ a soldier salutes the flag on the bonnet and not the individual inside the vehicle. The newly recruited soldier takes pride in the gallantry of his battalion in such places as Mesopotamia, Haifa and Abyssinia.

The symbolisms are ingenious, composite and inclusive, without compromising on the spiritual tenets of the idea of India. There is no dissonance or dichotomy in owning their colonial origins (e.g. Hodson Horse) or any oddity in celebrating the braveheart Major Mukund Varadarajan as a quintessential ‘Rajput Officer’, or indeed, Lt Ram Prakash Roperia as a ‘Madrasi officer’. Each arm and uniform reveres the chastity of their function ~ the Gunners are the ‘Gods of War’, and the Parachute (Special Forces) truly believe that ‘Men apart, each man emperor’! Such aphorisms make the Indian soldier invincible in Doklam, in front of a numerically unequal and ostensibly the largest military in the world.

Therefore, uncomfortable whispers abound, not when the soldier is stretched to his physicalhuman limits in the battleground, but when a Defence Minister takes the salute in a sloppy slipper! The taint on the institutional ethos and correctitude is both blasphemous and unpardonable, while any call to defend the flag is regarded, irrespective of the price, as an ‘order’ received, and is considered to be a ‘commitment’ that is a given.

Unfortunately, the behavioural ethos has been conveniently undermined for administrative, civic, and now even political ends. The unflagging institutional efficacy is perversely its own undoing. The slide of Izzat persists under all political dispensations.

From the laying of yoga mats to building pontoons for godmen and now the churlish suggestions to use soldiers for clean-up of filth is unimaginable. Such activity can take its toll in emotional terms.

The army as an institution has never shirked or fussed over the quantum of work or the intensity of dangers involved in carrying out any ‘orders’. The soldier has almost inevitably become the last man standing to cover up the institutional failures of other administrative entities. The ‘ramrod straight’ posture is still maintained despite the ignominy of OROPs, indignities of subsequent Pay Commissions, shortage of personnel, and slides in the warrant of precedence. Such problems can have a damaging effect on izzat, indeed the heart soul and spirit of the institution.

The ‘guard must never be lowered’, and the risk stems from the ignorance and/or insufficient understanding of the institutional values, condescending vacuities or worse, deliberate chicanery. The deficiencies of quality and quantity of equipment and manpower are still surmountable, but it is cause for alarm if the ethos, pride, izzat and symbols of professionalism are compromised.

(The writer IS Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), Former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands & Puducherry)