India finally gets moving

Threats never reduced nor did attitudes of our neighbours change. Nor did we learn from history.

- HARSHA KAKAR

Indian defence planners shouted from rooftops of a twofront threat for decades, but their cries were ignored. As a nation we failed to modernize our forces to counter emerging threats, despite being aware that capability enhancement takes decades. The national leadership was awed by the nuclear scenario and presumed that wars were unlikely, never realising that localized conflicts can never be stalled, nor can cross-border terrorism be contained without capabilities to pose a threat to nations which challenge us. This weakness was exploited by both neighbours.

Such was the scenario that the then army chief, General Ved Malik, stated during Kargil that we will fight with what we have. High casualty figures were not only because of offensive operations in mountainous terrain but also due to shortfalls in capabilities. Directions to not cross the LOC were issued on account of fear of escalation into a nuclear war. Blasts in major metros and the attack on Parliament were due to India’s inability to pose a military threat to Pakistan. Added was the weakness of the Indian leadership in being unable to convince the world that India would not back down.

Even post Kargil, realization failed to dawn on the political leadership. A K Antony, as the defence minister, refused to sign any procurement contract fearing corruption accusations would tarnish his clean image. The ghost of Bofors continued to haunt the Indian polity for decades. Pakistan was the global favourite and hence acted with impunity in Kashmir.

In Kashmir, we lost soldiers and innocent civilians, permitted society to become radicalized solely because Pakistan knew we would do nothing.