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'How can we invite the minister from Pakistan for talks while they have our man as POW?'
E-mail from readers the world over
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:40:29 -0500 Sorry to tell you this: With all respect to the defence experts, I would say that former Air Marshal Kapil Kak's statement smacks of nothing but complacency. I very well understand that those comments are meant to assure the public that all is well with Indian defence. However, it misses a vital point: Pakistani Hawks DO NOT WANT peace. They WANT and ONLY WANT Kashmir. Period. They will do ANYTHING to grab it. They control vital machinery. They maneuver defence policies. Their killer instincts are unmatched in the world, thanks to their mentoring of Pakistani and Afghani mercenaries. They may be limited in terms of force. They are well capable of giving Indian forces a BLOODY nose. Some of them even had training with some of those US mercenaries in Alabama, way back in the 1980s. I remember an interview with Frank Camper, the then leader of a mercenary group in Alabama. This interview appeared in The Illustrated Weekly of India, way back in the 1980s. Their tactic is: "Ask much to have a little." 1. Grab as much of Kashmir as possible. 2. Try and force a Ceasefire by bringing in the UN. 3. The UN, now, ever willing to play a central role after its bungling in NATO and other crises, declares, "CEASEFIRE!!" 4. Indians who long for peace, agree to a CEASEFIRE as done before. 5. Perform a DO LOOP of steps 1 to 4 till .... INDIA CANNOT AFFORD TO REPEAT THOSE MISTAKES. Indian forces may be well equipped for war, but is the Indian defence system aware that they are more involved with guerilla tactics and Machiavellian machinations? The Indian forces deserve all praise for its present performance mainly in striking targets accurately. There is another good reason behind this approach. It should arrest as many of those infiltrators as possible. Certainly, they would involve Pakistani army regulars. Produce these arrested mercenaries before the International Court or Security Council as proof of their meddling in India's affairs. The West and the UN should lay their hands off this bilateral business. They are not capable of anything, leave alone solving other's problems. They only TALK of peace, they CANNOT achieve peace at any time!! Their civilisations have been under war for ages. Yet, peace is not in sight at the end of the tunnel. In contrast the Asian world has not seen any major war since the last one at Vietnam. Well, that was more of meddling. There are very good reasons for this. The reasons will come out once the Kargil crisis blows over. L.K Advani, George Fernandes and Atal Bihari Vajpayee!! People's support is with you. Jai Hind.
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 17:56:55 -0400 One of the most important elements in a war like this are being completely neglected by the writer. And that is hard proof of every claimed fact. It is almost a habit of Indian military officials to talk as if they can never be wrong about anything, without realising that the people need to be given every possible information which leads the writer to some conclusions. For example, why is the theory put forth by Pakistan's officials about the two jets being in PoK when they were shot down wrong? I have heard only one convincing argument: that Pakistan's claim that the aircraft were bombing their side is wrong since the aircraft did not carry bombs in this raid. Now if this is true then it should be put forth with a lot of force to bring out the truth in the matter. Yet, this writer doesn't even bother to explain why he so much believes that they could not have violated the airspace. I think this is at best a collection of flippant remarks and only leads to a bad reputation for both the writer and these columns.
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 18:50:19 -0500 INFILTRATION IS SAME AS INVASION -- just a play of words that should not in any way spare the aggressor from the consequences and responsibility that go with the act of invading another country. Words like "limited engagement" "infiltration by terrorists" just provides mask for what the action really is -- NAKED AGGRESSION.
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 15:34:11 +0530 Officials in the PMO have no business whatsoever to tell the world (and Pakistan) of what went on between the PM, RM and the home minister when they were discussing one of the gravest threats to our nation since 1990, when India and Pakistan nearly went to war. And how on earth could the PM be worried about whether the Lahore Declaration would be nullified? The Lahore Declaration is Dead and Buried. Unknown to our PM, it was Dead and Buried before it was born. Even before Nawaz Sharief entertained Vajpayee in Lahore in February 1999, Pak army regulars were leading Afghan terrorists into occupying Indian army pickets in the Kargil sector. These had been vacated temporarily during the winter period. The Indian nation is entitled to an address by the PM. He must explain to us, on television, the dangerous situation that has developed in J&K and why India must take all measures, whatever it costs, to forcibly evict the Afghans and their Pak masters from Indian territory. Such an address is of the utmost importance, given the grave situation. It will be an act of statesmanship. And we know from the past that the whole Indian nation will stand up and give the PM and our valiant defence forces total support. People like Natwar Singh should shut up. For the love of this country, at this point of time, do not foul mouth the government to obtain narrow, questionable political mileage. Support the jawan and the airman who are fighting for their motherland and whose lives are on the line. You can only do this by supporting the government.
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 03:57:35 -0700 In the report "Nachiketa's sister to meet President" your reporter Shireen said, and I quote "Hailing from a Brahmin family from the coastal district of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Nachiketa was born in Hyderabad". While Rediff should be complimented for telling us about the brave and worthy son of India Flight Lieutenant K Nachiketa, it was indeed pathetic, to say the least for your reporter to make the comment that he was a Brahmin. I have nothing against any class, religion etc etc., but was it necessary to tell us that he was born in a Brahmin family -- all that matters is that he is a worthy son of mother India. Your reporter Shireen cannot justify such comments under the garb of reality (or any other reason that your reporter may try to invent) -- to me it is yet another example of Macaulay's children calling the shots in India. Jayesh
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 04:49:41 -0700 It basically shows that Indian politicians are far behind the politicians and strategists from Pakistan. Everyone knows that Pakistan is the aggressor, but they have been able to portray India as the aggressive country
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 09:56:46 -0400 I fully support this issue is between two countries. Kashmir is an internal part of India. Pakistan has occupied some part it. Pakistan should know that it is no match for the Indian military. Pakis should stop supporting Islamic terrorist organisations and there should be more coverage on depicting Pakistan's clandestine strategies to stop India's rapid economic development and support to Islamic terrorists. Pakistani political leaders should give up the Kashmir issue as the only means to influence people and win elections and should start some progressive work towards economic development. Which will help them and the entire subcontinent.
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 20:06:15 +0530 (IST) The report gives an inside account of the failure of RAW, defence ministry and the home ministry. I cannot fathom how we could have lost 2 aircraft. Probably our leaders were under the impression that the militants will have no back up. Lack of foresight in military affairs coupled with an eye on vote bank politics has landed our country in a mess in 3 days. However, we still have one more chance. Either we use Prithvi missiles or bombard their positions with about 50 aircraft at one time. This will not only scare the hell out of the infiltrators, but using Prithvi will demonstrate to the Pakis that we mean business. OR do we really have Prithvi ? K.Ganapathy
Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 10:56:54 -0500 I think Mr Brownbeck needs to reflect properly upon the various actions taken by India and Pakistan in the last couple of days. I do not think India should bear the brunt of economic sanctions this time because all India did was to defend its own territory as opposed to Pakistan, which has in this case, more than actively championed the infiltrators. This is something Mr Brownbeck needs to consider seriously.
Srinivas Ganti
Date: Sat, 29 May 1999 05:48:12 -0700 Wing Commander Parasnis provides an interesting armchair prognosis for the Kargil infiltration. However, his alternative strategy advocating crossing the Line of Control leaves me feeling glad that his retired status precludes his being a part of the armed forces decision making process. Mr Parasnis's analysis has allusions to an irrational but well founded gun-slinging mindset to the Pakistani establishment. What good could can come of escalating the conflict and falling into the trap of the bankrupt Pakistani government whose clear intention has always been to internationalise the Kashmiri issue? As of now, to the extent it matters, it is Pakistan that has been criticised by virtually every Western power for its role in the incursions. Incidentally, India's newly underscored nuclear prowess has done little to deter the Pakistanis and can only go to prove the futility of adolescent chest thumping that accompanied the crass waste of resources on the nuclear adventure. Vijay Dandapani
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 18:53:01 +1700 (PDT) It pains me to see that no one, neither the government nor the media, is concerned about our IAF pilot captured by Pakistan. How can we invite the minister from Pakistan for talks while they have our man as POW? It is totally unacceptable and am highly sceptical of the media's motives while they are trying hard to prove the intelligence failure... no mention about efforts to get our man back. And what about the bodies of the IAF chopper boys? Has the nation forgotten the soldiers who laid their lives to keep our borders safe? Rajnish
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 10:35:29 +0530 India should go all out to "Shatter" and "Blast" the entire enemy hideouts without showing any mercy as they (the enemy) showed no mercy when they caught our pilot. India should teach a lesson to the enemy and to the world that we can show restraint, but there is a limit to anything. B Sunil Kumar
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 06:57:27 -0700 (PDT) Excellent, objective, well-rounded and concise. Peter Bell
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 07:09:51 -0700 Thank you for the excellent report. Info of this kind should be ongoing and should be flooded on the Internet so Pak cannot fool the world anymore. Thank you again for a wonderful job.
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 11:32:47 -0400 I think this is a campaign of misinformation from India's side and that you are part of it. Over the last week, Indians have been saying that there are 250 infiltrators encircling them and that they are being killed and starved. What a joke. You are trying to insult the intelligence of your readers. What a shame! I think the infiltrators are still there being held up in their bunkers and giving the Indian army hell. Please be impartial and try to educate your readers by honest reporting, which is essential in journalism.
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 11:59:24 -0400 If it was a US or an Israel who were facing the Kashmir infiltration, they would have struck first and struck hard at the source of the menace, well behind enemy lines. Indian politicians and war planners are too cowardly to call Pakistan's bluff of using its nuclear weapons and strike ferociously at Muzzafarabad and other bastions of the terrorists inside Pak occupied Kashmir. That will take care of the Paki menace for a long long time. This current operation (fight terrorist infiltrators within India's Kashmir) is too costly in men and resources for just India alone. What's the life of a Afghani goon worth to obsessive Pak? Nothing. Pak has the ringside seat and it is not paying its due price. Pak is not bleeding. That will only encourage Pak to continue this proxy war indefinitely and slowly bleed the Indian armed forces. But for the nuclear threat, Pakistan has no teeth. Pak's Western and Commie sympathisers are currently way too busy with Kosovo and other priorities. Therefore, India should take advantage of the international checkmate of "shocked" Pakistan and take care of business inside Pak territory. Remember, it took a long time after losing Bangladesh for the Pak "paper tiger" to emerge from its humiliation. If Pakistan is humiliated one more time, it will definitely plunge into a civil war which will keep it busy for a long time or break it apart. That is the best way to take care of this heinous menace.
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 09:19:24 PDT The article on raising more troops for high-altitude fighting is very timely and analytic. Mr P Stobdan has provided a very conceptual analysis of the situation that may arise in future. Now that the Pakistanis have learnt a lesson, next time they will come better prepared. Let us not be lulled into inaction by Pakistan's sweet talks of a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir problem. They will never sleep until they achieve their objective of capturing, if not whole, at least a part of Kashmir. I suggest that this kind of analysis must be put forward to the prime minister and the defence minister. The army also has to be told about this. I am sure they do know this, but still this needs to be stressed. Jai Hind
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 12:51:18 EDT The article is very appropriate. Our wing commander has articulated his thoughts very well. I hope his ideas are thought of carefully and some of the actions implemented. India should also go on the offensive to ensure that it is not the loser and make Pakistan realise that India cannot be fooled with. Venugopal
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 12:08:25 -0500 Well, this news, if true, is one favourable report for India. However, I wish to make a point here. The Taliban guerilla force has been directed towards the Kashmir conflict, by none other than the USA. It was realized earlier that the rebel force that the USA had prepared to counter the Russians in Afghanistan was turning against them. Remember Osama-bin Laden? So it was easy for the USA to woo the cash-strapped Pakis to "redirect" this militarily trained Taliban into achieving the long cherished dream of occupying the whole of Kashmir. Thus, the invasion. And now Pakistan is a nuclear power, they will use this trump card also, forgetting that nobody will gain if this card is put to real practice. In all, Pak was a very bad thing that happened to India, and the saga is going on, thanks to the international community, specially China and the UK for their continued backdoor support of anti-India policies. I wish this will stop someday, maybe in my lifetime. For I fear, that Kargil, Kashmir, Karachi, Kosovo have a common element called Koran and its followers think that by achieving nuclear weapon status they are the emerging rulers of the world.
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 23:10:03 +0530 Great report, good job done, very incisive and meticulously prepared. Yours is a great site Vijay
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 18:19:01 +0000 While an interesting analysis, it seems to be biased by the author's views about India's nuclear tests. It would be fallacious to assume that Indian strategists and policy-makers would have ignored Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, whether they were overt (as they are now) or they were covert (as they were for almost a decade or more). It is naivete to somehow think that the response of the international community will be different since Pakistan now openly claims to be in possession of nuclear weapons, for such a thinking is based on the assumption that the almost decade-old "threshold" nuclear power status of Pakistan would have been ignored if it had not conducted the "tit-for-tat" tests. Policies and strategies are based not only on declared but also on known and suspected capabilities. Even if the Kargil intrusions had happened four years back (in a similar set of conditions, except that no nuclear test had been conducted by India and Pakistan), the issue of Pakistan's "suspected" capabilities would have had to be taken into account. And any risk of miscalculation then would have perhaps remained about the same. In fact, there is nothing to rule out that under those circumstances Pakistan might have unilaterally decided to go in for the tests (thereby, provoking a more intense international response). In certain ways, Gaurav's obsession with India's nuclear tests and his tendency to somehow point to it as one of the "problems for India" in his analysis reminds me of Arundhati Roy's jeremiad about the shattering of her world (as a result of India's nuclear tests). Attempts are made to correlate events and decisions on some basis or another, however irrational or untenable they might be.
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 17:34:38 PDT
Hamahe naaz hai Hind paar
Hamahe garv hai jawano paar
Jinhone Sarhad paar jaan ki baazi laga di
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna hai
Muhe me Bharat hi Bharat hai
Hum daad dete hai, un jawano ko
Sarhad pe mera Bharat mahan.
Sharam aati mujhe,
Ki mai email se chitti leku
Kya kare mai naraj hu aapne aap paar
Ki mai door hu, aur kuch kaar ne sakhu
Meri dua hai, meri minnath hai, paramatma se
Jai Jawan, Jai Bharat! Rama
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