Taliban: When attacked, we must hit back- Response

Hello Everyone,
An article by Mr. Vir Sanghvi published in The Hindustan Times dated 25 Apr When attacked, we must hit back: Vir Sanghvi, Hindustan Times
I could not help responding to it. My message to Mr. Vir Sanghvi is given below his Article. Some of you might also like to write to him.
Best wishes.
Harbhajan Singh

Dear Mr. Vir Sanghvi,
DER AAE LEKIN DARUST AAE!! This is my first reaction to your column. Appreciate what you have written.

I am same age as Dr. Manmohan Singh. Was in high school in Lahore, when the Partition took place. So have vivid and clear memories of the Freedom Struggle and the communal violence during 1947. In Jan 1949 joined the First Course of NDA, at Clement Town, Dehradun. Did three stints in J&K.

So one has experienced the Pakistani mind set from the childhood and during Service. The Pathans, Jehlam Wallas made excellent drivers, waiters, Darbans. Were loyal by and large.The Punjabi Muslman was crafty. Punjab, Delhi, Agra etc all experienced Hindu Sikh riots in independent India, mostly due to intolerance of Muslims. Where ever, the Hindus and Sikhs stood up, the Muslims behaved. All of them respected STRENGTH.

Let me tell you, that it is the Jan Sangh (RSS) which saved thousands of Hindus and Sikhs in Lahore, in particular. They were so well organized on Military lines and dared to strike back. It is unfortunate that due to assassination of Mahatma Gandhi they got a bad name. I still believe, that if they shed the Hinduvta face, they can be an excellent organization for the youth of India to keep Indian values, bring in discipline and even wean them away from excessive Western culture.

In J&K along the LOC, Pak troops create pin pricks, encroach on Indian land, fire rounds on our picquets on daily basis. When a tough and good Indian battalion takes over a portion of the LOC, they do not allow such activities and shoot down one or two of the Pakis. They immediately realize that the Indians mean business. They wave white flags and approach the Indian troops and say, GALTI HO GAI, AAGE SE AISA NAHIN HO GA"!!

We have seen the Pak Establishment's mind set since Oct 1947, when they invaded Kashmir. Ever since, things have only deteriorated. They are compulsive lairs, Musharraf included and so crafty. Ever ready to do down India.

Pakistan's India policy is decided by the Pak Army, who so ever may be the President/Prime Minister and will continue to be so decided!! Pak Army will always see India as the main threat. Of course, break up of Pakistan in 1971, has cemented their thinking that India is bent upon undoing Pakistan!! They have some how managed to have enough well equipped conventional forces to ensure a stalemate in wars and with their nuclear and missile capability they feel emboldened to even do a Kargil on us!!.

Pakistani propaganda, doctored history being taught in schools and colleges, Islamization of the society, penchant to identify with the Arab Muslims, nostalgia for hay days of Mughal Empire, break up of Pakistan in 1971 and the Kashmir problem, will never allow them to be at peace with India. They will find some or the other excuse to make enemies with India!! WE TWO NATIONS CANNOT EVEN PLAY A HOCKEY OR CRICKET MATCH WITHOUT RAISING THE EVIL PITCH!!

So what is the answer to deal with this sore in India's side.

1. India must become more strong militarily, along with economic development.
2. India needs military reforms to make its forces more lethal, mobile and modern.
3. The higher Defence Management needs to be streamlined including having a CDS.
4. The media needs to pay more attention to the Strategic scenario around India and this not be left only to the Military Think Tanks.
5. The Nation needs to be made alive to long term strategic requirements, keeping in view rise of China and not only the threat from Pakistan. Our domination of the Indian Ocean is necessary for India's economic and industrial growth. MR. SANGHVI, MAJORITY OF LEADERS/ PEOPLE IN MUMBAI, CHENNAI, BANGALORE ETC FEEL THAT ALL THIS TALK ABOUT PAKISTAN AND CHINA DOES NOT CONCERN THEM MUCH. IT IS THE PROBLEM OF NORTH INDIANS. This is a fact!! It is people like you and the TV Moghuls whose responsibility it is to highlight the Strategic aspects of India's security impinging on economic development.
6. The record of the Congress Party has been dismal as far as India's National security are concerned. 1948 J&K premature Cease Fire, 1962 war defeat by China, 1965 War giving back territories, 1971 though Pak was dismembered, we failed to cash on so many Pak prisoners held by us and solve the J&K problem, Sri Lanka Operations, very poorly dealing with internal insurgencies and for over two decades terrorism in J&K and rest of India.
7. The Congress now led by a foreign Lady (she can never never) feel truly like an Indian and has no Strategic culture/expertise. She, her son and daughter, have never visited any military troops. Why should not Rahul Gandhi join the TA?? They just depend on the bureaucracy. Dr. Manmohan Singh may be a great economist but basically he is professor and a bureaucrat. He has no strategic bent of mind. He has also not visited any forward troops!! THE WAY THE CONGRESS PARTY/THE PM HAVE HANDLED THE AGITATION BY THE EX SERVICEMEN AND 6TH PAY COMMISSION RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE SERVICES, IS AMPLE PROOF!!
8. The Chinese are a day's travel from Terrai through Maoist Nepal. Who cares!! The Prime minister is more pre- occupied with G8 and G20!! Another 1962 is not too far!!
9. Sadly, history is against us. We always let the invaders come in and fought them at Panipat! We failed and are failing to realize that OFFENCE IS THE BEST FORM OF DEFENCE!!
10. Against Pakistan and China, India needs to take a tough stand. Pakistan in particular needs to be deterred from fomenting trouble inside India, including J&K. We have let them believe for too long that INDIA IS A SOFT STATE AND THAT ITS LEADERSHIP CANNOT TAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. Striking back is reacting!!
11. We must dispel this feeling by openly laying down our response options ie our doctrine against acts of terrorism etc and then implement it. Pakis will buckle down in no time. They do not have the stomach for big fight. They are good at pin pricks only.
12. People to people dialogue may continue but all other parleys should be kept on hold. We should warn Pakistan and the World about continued following of Indus Water Treaty. Such treaties are only possible between countries following normal norms of behavior.
13. We need to tell the Americans bluntly that they have now realized that Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism. What we are doing will be for their good to put Pak in its place. In fact the US should encourage a conventional war between India and Pakistan to put Pak military in its place and then deal with the Taliban freely in the NWFP!!
14. Above all, Pak nuclear and missile assets must be taken out by surgical strikes and other means by Israel/the US. This will ensure that these lethal weapons do not fall in the hands of Taliban and keep Pakistan in line.

Please do write more on Strategic topics. Best wishes.

Harbhajan Singh
Lt Gen (Retd)
Former Signal Officer-in-Chief