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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016, VOL 8 ISSUE 12 www.salute.co.in I www.saluteindia.org

PAKISTAN’S PROXY WAR IN J&K INDIA’S PATIENCE RUNS THIN 02-IFC_00_COVER_1.qxd 10/8/2016 8:52 AM Page 1

THIS ISSUE OF SALUTE MAGAZINE IS DEDICATED TO THE MARTYS `100 OF INDIA’S SECURITY FORCES.

Only the fortunate Warriors, O Arjuna, Get such an opportunity For a righteous war against evil, That is like an open door to heaven.

—Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 2.32 03-Contents_03_EDIT.qxd 10/7/2016 11:08 AM Page 3

in this issue

04 THE RUBICON IS CROSSED I Maj Gen Dhruv C Katoch 05 INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY I Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma 06 THE URI TERROR ATTACK & THE VIP CABIN QUESTION I Commodore C Uday Bhaskar 07 THE HIGH-STAKES GAME I Air Mshl Sumit Mukerji 08 UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF KASHMIR I Hiranmay Karlekar 10 HYBRID WARFARE: PAKISTAN’S TOOL OF WAR IN J&K I Brig. Narender Kumar 33 13 DEFENCE NEWS INDIA’S COUNTER TERRORISM STRATEGY: AN ASSESSMENT 36 I Jaikhlong Basumatary RAISINA HILL I Lt Col Anil Bhat 15 37 ASSESSING URI: LOOKING BEYOND THE SOUNDBITES I VETERANS ALERT I Hony Capt Baldev Singh Maj Gen Dhruv C Katoch 38 18 BOOK REVIEW I Krishnan Srinivasan THE LAST LETTER I Shemeem Burney Abbas 40 21 A VETERAN SUCCESS STORY 29 SEPTEMBER 2016: YES, WE CAN I Aarti K Pathak 41 22 PAV BHAJI: THE STREET FOOD OF MUMBAI POINT COUNTERPOINT: DEALING WITH PAKISTAN I TREAD I Aditi Pathak CAUTIOUSLY ON BALOCHISTAN: Col Sanjiv Wattal 42 BREAK UP PAKISTAN TO RESOLVE KASHMIR JIHAD: Tufail Ahmad MAROOF’S MUSINGS I 26 Maroof Raza LIFE & TIMES OF A CENTENARIAN:THE GRAND OLD “FIRST LADY” OF THE INDIAN ARMY I Lt Gen. Baljit Singh 28 SECUNDERABAD: ORIGINS, TALES & ARMY CONNECTION I Col Shailender Arya

Authors aspiring to publish their articles in Salute may send by email to [email protected] along with pictures, if any

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EDITOR’S NOTE

THE RUBICON Publisher Maroof Raza IS CROSSED Editor MAJ GEN DHRUV C KATOCH Maj Gen Dhruv C Katoch SM, VSM Two terrorist attacks in J&K, one on which is fighting a proxy war with India, Associate Editor either side of the Pir Panjal Range has using Pakistan as a stooge. How that Lt Col Anil Bhat VSM (Retd) angered the Indian state to the point of should manifest is a work in being, but no return. The first attack in Poonch was unfortunately, we seem to be losing the Design fortuitously detected in time and all the plot here as Chinese goods continue to UNEEDUS four terrorists who had sneaked in were be marketed by the government at the eliminated before they could cause may- cost of Indian industry. Besides defence Publicity Manager hem. In the second incident, which needs, Make in India must look into the Hony Capt (Retd) Baldev Singh occurred a week later on 18 September requirements of Indian industry too. on the Army’s Brigade HQ at Uri, the four Chinese products can well kill the Indian Board of Advisers terrorists got lucky, when they managed manufacturing base in certain key sec- Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma to achieve surprise and kill 18 soldiers tors. One example is given below. PVSM, AVSM, YSM ,VSM( Retd) sleeping in a tent, before being eliminat- The electricity transmission grid is the Printed published by ed in a swift gun battle. The two inci- life line of the country and ceramic insu- Flags Media Pvt Ltd dents were similar, but only the attack on lators have played a vital role in building A-47 Hauz Khas (LGF) Uri caused outrage, because the terror- the same over the years. Yet, there is a New Delhi 110016 ists were successful in their venture. This sudden surge, led by the Power Grid highlights the weakness in our response Corporation of India, in replacement of Printed at to state sponsored terrorism by Pakistan. the ceramic insulators, which are pre- JK Offset Graphics (P) Ltd An incident does not become an act of dominantly made in India, with poly- C-21,DDA Shed, terror only if it is successful. It remains meric insulators, (also referred to as Okhla Phase -1 so, if it was intended to cause terror. The composite insulators), made in China. New Delhi -110020 Indian state and the Armed Forces must This will not only effectively kill Indian treat every incident of terror, whether industry, but is fraught with grave long RNI Registration DELENG/2008/26923 successful or not as an Act of War and term security implications as well. respond accordingly. Only then will there Polymeric insulators do give some Certified that the views be deterrence in the minds of the advantages in polluted areas and are expressed and suggestions Pakistani sponsors of terrorist violence. undoubtedly cheaper, but have a shorter made in the articles are made The Prime Minister has made it clear life cycle of 8 to 15 years as compared to by authors in their personal that their will be costs to Pakistan for this ceramic insulators which last for up to 30 capacity and do not have any blatant act of aggression in the diplomat- to 40 years. The attraction of cheaper ini- official endorsement ic, economic, social and military tial cost does not hold true if the entire domains. The isolation of Pakistan has life cycle costs are determined, but still begun, and a military response was the likes of Power Grid is adopting these delivered on 29 September with elimina- insulators in the transmission lines at the tion of some terrorist bases in seven sur- expense of Indian industry. This is short- gical strikes. If Pakistan now escalates sightedness of the worst kind as it will the conflict, India must respond with lead over time to closure of the ceramic even greater vigour. The Rubicon has insulator industry in India, depriving been crossed and their is no turning back thousands of people from jobs. That cer- now. tainly will be a setback to the Prime We also need to deal with China, Minister’s Make in India initiative.

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GENERAL SPEAK INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY

Lt Gen Sudhir Sharma institutional mirror. In affairs military, examining the lows is perhaps even more relevant than glossing over the highs! Whilst attending a course in UK, I “I never lose. I heard with disquiet a reputed British either win or military historian remark tongue in cheek, that ‘India and Pakistan are the learn” only two countries in the world who can celebrate a victory for the same —Nelson Mandela operation in war.’ While this may be an uncharitable comment, the fact is that After serving for decades in the army we do tend to seriously airbrush our and having fought wars both external military history at the altar of so called and internal, what can one bequeath to loyalty. the gallant soldiers you once We need to buck this trend resolutely commanded? Few pictures; medals or and ruthlessly. The brutal lessons of mementoes? Even though symbolic and botched operations and gross military emotive, these are not enough to repay lapses should be our building blocks the debt of gratitude you owe to your and primers for the young and comrades in arms. What needs to be uninitiated. Our divisional and corps transferred sincerely and imaginatively battle schools must hunt and search for is, the invaluable experience, the underlying truth for what went knowledge and lessons learned by wrong where it did. We must have the sweat and blood on this challenging military acumen to sift through the journey and on the battlefield! This a unit or regimental perspective. Often, routine fog of war and Murphy’s Law distilled knowledge tempered by our misplaced sense of loyalty comes in syndrome and home on to preventable escapades of valour and blunders, in the way of reporting facts of botched mistakes and oversights in planning, equal measure, honestly analysed and operations or a grave military lapse. execution, training, and in leadership. dissected with moral courage, is the Thus, the cover up soon enlarges in The underlying spirit has to be “Loss of greatest gift which needs to be passed scope and takes on mythical life on the battlefield must never be in down to the next generation. proportions with the lessons learnt and vain” An army which honestly The Indian Army as an institution is blood shed slowly forgotten, with the introspects at routine intervals would overall upright, correct, professional ambers of sacred institutional memory see its warts and strengths for what they and pragmatic. However it has a ebbing, fading and then dying forever. If are. This attitude is difficult to foster somewhat dubious record in anecdotal instances like Kaluchak, Pathankot, where we only reward success and talk memory when it comes to critically Samba, Uri are not to be repeated we of ‘zero error’. Unfortunately in military recalling and recording operations from need an objective, unflinching operations there is no such animal. There is thus an urgent need for course AN ARMY WHICH HONESTLY INTROSPECTS AT ROUTINE correction, for we ignore it at our own INTERVALS WOULD SEE ITS WARTS AND STRENGTHS FOR peril. The various ammunition depot WHAT THEY ARE. THIS ATTITUDE IS DIFFICULT TO FOSTER accidents which occur with WHERE WE ONLY REWARD SUCCESS AND TALK OF ‘ZERO monotonous regularity are a grim and ERROR’. UNFORTUNATELY IN MILITARY OPERATIONS tragic reminder of why we are caught in this vicious cycle. “Those who do not THERE IS NO SUCH ANIMAL.THERE IS THUS AN URGENT learn from history are doomed to repeat NEED FOR COURSE CORRECTION, FOR WE IGNORE IT AT it”. Let not the 19 precious lives of our OUR OWN PERIL. brave martyrs go in vain. We must learn from the past to protect our future.

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PERISCOPE THE URI TERROR ATTACK & THE VIP CABIN QUESTION Commodore C Uday Bhaskar

The Uri terror attack the highest number of soldiers in one fighting infrastructure, to include that resulted in the incident since the deployment in J&K. hardened bunkers, weapon death of 18 jawans Two experienced Lieutenant Generals emplacements, trenches with measures has caused who had served in that area provided the to prevent collapse, living structures, predictable outrage tactical detail about Uri and the ‘surprise’ toilets and cooking facilities, all come and frustration element that was exploited by the under the generic head of operational across the country. adversary in the early hours of the works... (yet) the budget for operational Television was visibly morning that resulted in the death of 18 works is so limited that it will take shrill and the ‘jaw- soldiers. Reference was also made to the another fifty years before our defences at for-a-tooth’ sentiment ricocheted from fact that the soldiers were sleeping in the LoC are sufficiently hardened. ...the forum to forum with greater intensity in tents that caught fire due to the state of toilets, cooking facilities and the first few days. The deep-state in incendiary ordnance that was used – accommodation in general, at the LoC, Pakistan is seen as the unrelenting perhaps a first in the J&K context. My remains at best pathetic. However, we sponsor of terror and Uri, it is repeatedly observation that having to billet soldiers have got so used to limited allocations pointed out was preceded by Pathankot in tents in close proximity to the LoC, due that no one thinks of demanding more.” in January... and the list goes all the way to lack of appropriate permanent The young officers in the group then back to Mumbai in November 2008. accommodation was also an institutional asked me a pertinent question. ‘We heard The Prime Minister has assured the inadequacy was brushed aside. It was you on TV and noted your point about country that the perpetrators will not go rationalised as an exigency that occurred the larger institutional lapse and the unpunished and one presumes that an only when there was a change of apathy in relation to the living conditions appropriately calibrated response is a battalion (in this case a Dogra unit was for our jawans. Have you been to any work in progress. However many Indians handing over to Bihar), when there is a major establishment and seen the VVIP have pointed out that for all the temporary surge in the total number of cabins?’ I confessed enjoying this impassioned rhetoric about declaring troops in situ and tents had to be hospitality on many occasions when I the neighbour a terrorist state and the resorted to. was invited as a guest speaker, and yes, demand for swift retribution, the only This discussion continued for many the VIP suite décor was superb. My young tangible action on the ground to ‘punish evenings in different settings and I found interlocutors pointed out that if the same Pakistan’ has been in the diplomatic myself in a watering-hole with young fauji system with all its constraints can realm - to boycott the SAARC Summit. faujis. A recently retired Colonel drew my create VVIP cabins, they should be able to Expert opinion avers that the Indian attention to a fairly large number of post improve the basic infrastructure for the military – collectively – does not yet have Uri articles by veteran Generals with a troops in operational areas! Institutional an effective matrix response in place, central theme. The infrastructure for the lapses need much greater introspection both doctrinally and by way of capability. troops in the most demanding in a holistic manner by the serving top- This is a major institutional lapse and it operational deployment – for instance brass of the ‘fauj’ and I earnestly hope Uri would be valid to ask if any lessons have along the LoC and the LoAC (with China) will be that trigger pulse. been learnt and internalised for policy is woefully inadequate and this was the correction since Kargil of 1999. assertion by those who were Brigade However, I wish to focus on a different Commanders in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Commodore C Uday Bhaskar, is kind of institutional deviation and I write The plaint was that the government did currently Director, Society for Policy this in the spirit of constructive candour. not provide enough resources. Clearly Studies (SPS), New Delhi. He was My trigger for this column is a TV little has changed in the intervening previously Director, National Maritime discussion that I was part of on decades. Foundation (NMF) and prior to that he September 21 and the anchor, a well- This point was illuminated with headed the Institute for Defence Studies known media face wanted to dwell on characteristic candour by Lt. Gen. Ata and Analyses (IDSA). the ‘lapses’ that had led to the Uri Hasnain who wrote: “The system of setback, where the Indian Army had lost permanent assets in terms of habitat and

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OUT OF THE BLUE THE HIGH-STAKES GAME Air Mshl Sumit Mukerji, PVSM, SC, VSM

habitat and provided them a natural IAF has since begun a systematic and sanctuary. However, they excelled in concerted programme to protect its digging tunnels under the barbed wire assets. Passive systems like boundary fence to access the base or sometimes just walls/ fencing, which retain their broke through to enter. Over the years, potential are being supplemented by broken perimeter fencing was a recurring sensor-based active systems. CCTV and issue. The Garrison Engineer (GE) would motion sensors are providing the invariably be pulled up but it would take necessary inputs to the Quick Reaction interminably long to repair the breach. Teams (QRT) and the introduction of The infiltration of terrorists and the We were lucky. Times were favourable. ‘drone patrol’ is under serious attack at Pathankot airfield brought out Covert operations, to access consideration. There is an urgent need to the deepest fears I harboured while I was information from military installations, ensure perimeter roads are well in the service. As front line pilots, we are as old as the military itself. While in maintained for the QRT to rapidly reach a spent our lives in the secure sanctum of earlier times it was to progressively build breached zone. I would propose the IAF air bases, cocooned from the hustle and up a data base and then target the seriously consider establishing the bustle of daily life of the ordinary citizen. infirmities to degrade the enemy in times equivalent of the RAF Regiment which As in the case of any military of war, the situation today is no more undergoes specialised training, is establishment, the air bases were always passive in its approach and methodology. equipped specific to task and forms a protected – initially by low four feet walls The influx of money, sophisticated arms dedicated sub-organisation for (yes, actually!), then graduated to barbed and other weapons and finally, the protection of military installations. These wire fencing, first one then two tiers, radicalisation of dissatisfied youth, has specially trained units will be in addition topped by concertina barbed rolls and proliferated and emboldened a host of to the Defence Security Corps (DSC) finally ten feet high walls supplemented terrorists who are willing to lay down which is tasked for basic installation by the barbed wire fences. What a their lives in their search for “Valhalla – in defence. High stakes are involved. The dramatic change in five decades! The the arms of 72 virgins”. While creating targets are soft and there is decided reason was that the seemingly mayhem and bloodshed in crowded concern. Airbase and installation indestructible structure of secure areas, targeting the masses has had the defence needs to be specialised with military establishments was desired effect, the spectre of the troops trained alongside Special Forces progressively being put to the test by the catastrophic effect that similar attacks on to understand their warfare and be enemy through covert operations. high-value assets can send a chill down prepared. Use of technology to enable One remembers, with nostalgia, the anyone’s spine. The escalation is a detection is an absolute necessity. The Orderly Officer/ Duty Officer duties that natural progression. IAF needs to explore the possibility of were (and still are) an inherent part of the Notwithstanding the bluster and creating a cadre dedicated to this task charter that one was expected to fulfil and macho goings-on in military considering the far flung IAF bases and how we went around in the middle of the establishments, they have an inherent installations across the country. night (especially choosing un-earthly susceptibility to external attack during Alternatively, bifurcate the Garud force hours) to catch the snoozing DSC guard. their routine peace time operations. The into offensive and defensive elements, With air bases being located away from false sense of security enjoyed three the latter dedicated to base/ installation cities and population (up to the ‘80s or so) decades ago, is history. The need of the protection. being relatively sparse, thick wooded hour is alertness. And of the three An alumnus of NDA and DSSC, Air areas and brush provided a natural services, perhaps the Air Force is the Mshl Sumit Mukerji has served the IAF as camouflage to the base and kept it most vulnerable. Huge airfield areas with a fighter pilot with distinction He has shielded from prying eyes. Wildlife, in the perimeter lengths anything between 25- commanded three units, a MiG-29 Sqn, a form of nilgai, deer, wild boar, and even 35 kms, housing the most sophisticated MiG-25 SR Sqn and TACDE (considered leopards (not to mention the elephants in and high value military assets, air bases the ‘Top Gun’ school of the IAF) and also the East) abounded in the vicinity. The have come into the sights of the served as the Air Attaché in Washington quiet peaceful environment, other than terrorists. DC. He retired in 2011 as the AOC-in-C of the flying hours, eminently suited their Pathankot was a wake up call and the Southern Air Command.

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JAMMU & KASHMIR UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF KASHMIR Hiranmay Karlekar

country “had a historical inability to exist Pakistan.They allowed rebels from north- as a unified state”, Lt Col Hassan east Indian States like Tripura, Nagaland, identified Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur and Assam — particularly Tamil Nadu and “six” north-eastern United Liberation Front of Asom — to states (wonder why he left one of the operate from Bangladesh, allowing them seven sisters out) as being completely to establish camps and providing them alienated from mainstream India. with arms and training. There was no Husain Haqqani, who refers to the book change during Begum Khaleda Zia’s first in his well-known work stint as prime minister from 1991 to 1996; ‘Pakistan:Between Mosque and Military’, things became worse during her second writes that Hassan felt that with “some stint from 2001-2006 at the head of a encouragement, the alienated parts of coalition government comprising the India could become centres of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, of which insurgencies that would, at best, she was, and is, the leader and the dismember India, and, at [the] least Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which is weaken India’s ability to seek regional pathologically anti-India and pro- Retaining Kashmir is central to foiling domination for years to come.” Pakistan. Pakistan's plan to fragment India Lt Col Hassan’s book was published in The first Awami League government through unconventional warfare. If India 1990. Pakistan’s assistance to separatist under Sheikh Hasina’s prime loses Kashmir, it will no longer have the and secessionist elements in India began ministership made some efforts to act mountain ranges along the LoC as its first much earlier. As B. Raman pointed out in against North-East India’s rebels on line of defence his book, ‘Terrorist State as a Frontline Bangladesh soil but could not do much One must understand at the outset Ally’, this was “initially the outcome of an given her small majority and opposition that retaining Kashmir is vital to India’s assessment made by the Pakistani from strong sections of the intelligence security and integrity. A book, India: A intelligence community in the early and security establishments. It has been Study in Profile, by Lt-Col Javed Hassan 1950s that keeping India destabilised and a very different story during her second of the Pakistani army, who retired as a its military preoccupied with internal stint from 2009 when she has enjoyed a Lieutenant-General, makes it clear that security duties would be one way of massive majority and secessionist and the basic goal of Pakistan’s strategic neutralising, at little cost, the superiority insurgent elements from north-eastern doctrine is balkanising India. of the Indian armed forces over their India are finding Bangladesh’s soil most Representing a study conducted for the Pakistani counterpart.” Its “proxy war inhospitable. Pakistan Army’s Faculty of Research and against India dates back to the 1950s and Pakistan, meanwhile, had shifted its Doctrinal Studies, Command and Staff 1960s when it started training and attention to Punjab and J&K and began College, Quetta, it was distributed by the arming the Naga and Mizo hostiles. It training, funding and equipping Services Book Club, Rawalpindi. Neither suspended it after the humiliating defeat terrorists in both States. The United of these could have happened without of its Army in 1971 and started it again- States’ decision to lend massive help to official sanction from the highest level, this time in Punjab — after General Zia- the jihad against Soviet occupation of which, in turn indicated that it ul-Haq seized power in 1977.” Afghanistan and give Pakistan virtually a articulated — or was at least in sync with The military dictatorships, some blank cheque to conduct it, was a — official doctrine. overtly so and some with civilian facades, godsend to Islamabad. In his book ‘Bin According to the book, “India was that ruled Bangladesh after the Laden: The Man Who Declared War on hostage to a centrifugal rather than a assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman America’, Youssef Bodansky, then centripetal tradition.” Stating that this in 1975, were anti-India and pro- Director of the U.S. Congressional Task

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Force on Terrorism and Unconventional balkanising India emerged with clarity. Even if a war does not occur, infiltration Warfare, wrote, “The ISI capitalised on Haqqani has stated in his book that on of terrorists to the rest of India to ignite the rapidly expanding and lavishly several occasions, Lt Gen. Hamid Gul, Hindu-Muslim tensions and stoke financed training and support system for who was Director General of the ISI from regional, ethnic or linguistic fires and/or the Afghan Mujahideen as a cover for 1987 to 1989, referred to an operational commit acts of sabotage, would be very expanded sponsorship of and support plan to encourage the centrifugal forces difficult to stop. Killers from for other insurgent groups dedicated to in India that existed when he was organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish- subversive activities in India.” Director General of military intelligence e-Mohammad and Hizb-ul Mujahideen It used the opportunity to build up its from 1984 to 1987. would spread all over the country. India’s own support base among the Mujahideen Now that the north-east Indian States security will be severely compromised. by giving most of the funds and weaponry are quiet but for a terrorist strike here and Can this be allowed to happen? received from the Americans to there by organisations like the National Hiranmay Karlekar, currently fundamentalist Islamist groups loyal to it Democratic Front of Bodoland, and Consultant Editor, The Pioneer, has been and starving pro-American, moderate Pakistan is unable to revive terrorism in a journalist for 53 years. During this Muslim jihadis loyal to King Zahir Shah of Punjab despite its best efforts, Islamabad period, he has been, among other Afghanistan. It denied the US any say and has per force to concentrate on annexing things, Editor, The Hindustan Times, even access to the training camps for the Kashmir by stoking turmoil there as the Editor, Express News Service, Deputy Mujahideen. Saying all this, Bodansky first step toward India’s fragmentation. Its Editor, Indian Express and Assistant added, “The main reason the ISI decided designs will be greatly facilitated if India Editor, The Statesman. Karlekar, who to keep the CIA out of the camps was the loses Kashmir, the immediate now specialises in security matters, has extent of the training and support non- consequences of which will be that this written four books in English, including Afghan ‘volunteers’ and others were country would no longer have the Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan and getting in these camps. Most numerous mountain ranges along the line of control Endgame in Afghanistan: For Whom The were the thousands of Islamist trainees as its first line of defence against Dice Rolls and two Bengali novels. He from Indian Kashmir and to a lesser Pakistan. It will be the plains of Jammu, has also been a member of the Press extent the Sikhs from Punjab. In addition, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh where Council of India for two terms, a thousands of Islamists from all over the Pakistan will be able to mobilise the member of the Government of India’s Arab and Muslim world were routinely formidable military machine it has built Central Press Accreditation Committee, trained in these camps originally up by spending over 80 per cent of the a director of the Press Trust of India and designed for the training of Afghan massive U.S. aid it has received, to arm General Secretary Editors Guild of India. Mujahideen.” itself against India. It will find it much This article first appeared in the Pioneer It was in the 1980s that the strategy of easier than now to put pressure on Delhi. dated 20 August 2016.

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JAMMU & KASHMIR HYBRID WARFARE: PAKISTAN’S TOOL OF WAR IN J&K

Brig. Narender Kumar, SM, VSM

other parts of the country. Pakistan has this segment. As a result, the Hurriyat adopted a three pronged strategy in and other separatists’ organisations Kashmir as part of hybrid war. First, have become the so called symbols of direct violence through terrorism has resistance movement in Kashmir, been the most visible strategy that has largely because India and J&K targeted the very structure of the state government gave them licence to carry and made it difficult for the law out anti-national activities to support enforcing agencies to maintain their war against the nation. Hurriyat control over the territory. Through committed exactly the same crime that violence, there has been a systematic Maqbool Bhat committed, for which he targeting of the psyche of the people, by had to pay with his life. The Hurriyat, creating conditions which imply that if unfortunately has been given sanctity you are not on their side, then you are to commit war against the nation against them. It is this fear which has without retribution. compelled the local population to The third prong to Pakistan’s proxy render unconditional support to war is cultural violence through social A war can be fought and won by soldiers terrorists, albeit under coercion.The engineering - a passive invasion that against an enemy who is visible in the response of the government has been has turned out to be the most battlefield. But if the enemy infiltrates the application of military force to dangerous since it has divided Kashmiri the cognitive domain, operates within restore peace and regain lost space. But society between ‘Kashmiriyat’ and and displays nothing to react against, it militaries can at best manage conflict. Sufism on one side and Wahhabi Islam makes it difficult for soldiers to win Its termination is a function of the that has the support of Jammat on the such wars. Conflict in Jammu and political process. other. Youth and educated are today Kashmir is an example where enemy is The second prong to Pakistan’s proxy followers of Wahhabi Islam; they operating from inside in different forms war has been the structural violence conduct prayers in the modern and shades without giving an exposed that has eroded the emotions and mosques of Ahle-i-Hadith, while the flank. This is the war that Pakistan is sentiments of the people through older generation continue to follow the waging against India in J&K. The public uprising. This uprising was Sufi Islam. The crystallisation of the population of J&K that was supposed to carried out by systematically Ahle-i-Hadith in J&K as a separate sect stand against the proxy war and passive manipulating emotions and sentiments was a gradual process, given fillip by the aggression of Pakistan, has been eroded of the people through Hurriyat and over setting up of separate mosques and and now segments of the population ground workers (OGW), the so called madrasas from the late 80s. Today, there are supporting the very perpetrators unarmed jihadi. Support from across are three times more mosques of Ahle- who have caused so much harm to the the borders in the form of money and i-Hadith in the Valley than Sufi state, society and the people. motivation continued to flow and mosques. Not just the mosques and Hurriyat, that was considered an Madrasas, but even large numbers of Three Pronged Strategy of Pakistan in ineffective nuisance till 2010, has now English medium schools and Kashmir emerged as an extraordinary tool, academies have mushroomed in J&K, There is no fate worse than being capable of causing unprecedented where students are slowly being continuously under guard for fear of instability in the Valley. This aspect moulded to follow Wahhabi Islam. In violence by a faceless enemy, and went largely unnoticed due to the the last 20 years, the cultural and Pakistan has managed to create such an inconsistent efforts of the government, religious landscape of Kashmir has environment in Kashmir as also in which could not erode the influence of been completely altered and with a

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state where 65 percent population is the other two prongs of war unleashed • Unreasonable political and public youth, Kashmiriyat and Sufism has by Pakistan. The current instability in expectations for quick resolution been replaced by an aggressive and Kashmir is the outcome of the three through application of force, without non-compromising diaspora, that strategies merging and working in a eliminating the three pronged strategy considers Kashmiriyat a weakness of synergised manner. Even today, most of Pakistan is self-defeating. Kashmiris. There is a visible support security analysts look at the Kashmir • The conflict has clear footprints of base emerging within Kashmir against conflict, simply through the lens of hybrid war(such as support of regulars, India that demands either merger with cross border terrorism. That remains a irregulars, public uprising to create Pakistan or Kashmir as an independent cardinal mistake. Cross border uncontrolled chaos, cyber, state. In either case, it furthers the cause terrorism is but a part of the larger psychological/ cognitive manipulation, of Pakistan. hybrid war unleashed by Pakistan. criminality in the form of terrorism and The cultural and structural violence Without addressing the cultural and subversion backed by intelligence). in Kashmir remained passive and while structural violence, forces working Viewing the threat primarily as cross it appeared to be working for the larger against India in Kashmir would be border terrorism has resulted in a faulty peace, it was in fact in alliance with the difficult to defeat. appreciation of its exact nature. proxy/ cross border terrorism to create Pakistan has used deceit, violence • Naive views of the reach of ultimate conditions of instability. and unjust means to destabilise Jammu adversaries and the context of conflict Lopsided conflict assessment and and Kashmir in particular and India as a has led to flawed response. It is the analysis concluded that the Pakistan whole. Three consequences flow from a passive forces that have emerged as the backed proxy war can be defeated by flawed grasp of contemporary conflict most potent threat to Kashmir. military means, without considering in J&K. These are: The response of the state has been

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focussed on fighting terrorists and their Soldiers have become indecisive due employ intelligence agencies and soft supporters, while the other elements to fear of punishment for error of power backed by state machinery as have been left largely unaddressed. judgement. Dilemma of soldiers to invisible force. Forces inimical to India Inner front was allowed to be exploited react is also attributed to fear of cannot be allowed space to carry out due to political reasons and inability of retribution post killing of two youths in social engineering by funding and intelligence agencies to carryout Badgam district on 05 Nov 2014, when manipulation of sentiments. Kashmiri’s holistic conflict assessment. Even the deceased jumped two pickets and by nature are not fundamentalists, but military, that has wide footprints on were in the process of jumping third when emotions are evoked, logic takes a ground, failed to identify the inner front one when the soldiers intercepted them back step. There is a need to regulate strategy and passive aggression, which and shot them dead. Under pressure funds to mosques, academic resulted in entire focus being laid on Army quickly pronounced that it was a institutions, and madrasas that are dealing with cross border strategy. mistake and guilty will be punished. fuelling emotions of Kashmiri youths. This caused indecisiveness among the Hurriyat cannot be allowed to Need to Apply Ordinary and Extra rank and file, especially the tactical continue with waging unarmed war Ordinary Strategy commanders, because it was an error of against India. It is bad idea to arrest and War has always been ruthless and judgment and not an error of intent. keep the separatists leaders in Valley. nothing remains unconventional for Decision dilemma in the minds of Arrest is a good investment for long; innovation and shifting strategy is soldiers and tactical commanders can separatists if kept in Valley and it raises therefore a must to maintain cost lives. Army needs to re-visit their stock value. Arrested persons must unpredictability. Military should deal “doctrine of restraint” against terrorists preferably be shifted to Ladakh or effectively with terrorism and direct and those who have wilful intent to Jammu. funding route through hawala violence. Other organs of the state harm or trespass red lines. or physical transhipment of money should deal with social engineering that It is a flawed strategy to fight an needs to be completely cut off, because is destroying the cultural and societal aggressor in own land. This has created a money power is one of the main fabric of Kashmir to prevent a fissure sense of immunity and Pakistan sources of initiating and sustaining between state and the people. State continues to get involved in an armed instability in Kashmir. In the last 26 should also ensure that the unarmed conflict with India without retribution. years of proxy war, not even one Jihadi and separatists are not allowed to There is a growing perception among the Pakistani terrorist captured by security continue with business as usual. Kashmiri youths that every Pakistani forces has been given death penalty for Cease fire has worked in favour of terrorist killed in Kashmir is a martyr for waging war against India. On the Pakistan because prior to cease fire the cause of Kashmiris. There is certain contrary, a number of terrorists have agreement, every post that used to push sympathy and sense of gratitude for been released without punishment. terrorists across had to face heavy these terrorists for having laid down their There is thus a need for special courts to punishment. This was an effective lives for the ‘Kashmiri cause’, and their be constituted for trial of foreign deterrent. Time has come to abrogate graves are now becoming focal points of terrorists, waging war against India. the cease fire and implement the sentiment in favour of terrorists. This India needs to rework its strategy on annihilation strategy of Pakistani posts aspect needs to be addressed. The bodies Kashmir and a fresh look is required to along the LOC that endeavour to push of terrorists should either be burnt, or carry out conflict assessment. Idea is to terrorists into Indian Territory. buried along the LOC and not on the defeat the strategy rather than It is criminal to provide exposed hinterland. Acts of terror cannot be defeating the terrorists and proxies. It flank for Pak proxies to exploit. Every glorified as is being done now. also must be acknowledged that the installation must have boundary wall, It must be remembered that the endeavours of the state should be to intruder alarm and CCTV network to experiment of social engineering by win back the population not by provide structural and electronic Pakistan will not remain restricted to appeasing but by resolution and obstacle to prevent terrorist attacks. Kashmir. Idea of Pakistan is to take it to redressal of grievances. Apart from this, an area upto 50 meters other parts of India including Kerala, ahead of the outer perimeter wall UP, Bihar, Bengal and Assam. Flow of should be declared as ‘no go areas’, money, movement of Tabliqi Jammat Brig Narender Kumar, an Infantry where any intruder is liable to get shot. and funding of Ahle-i-Hadith mosques Officer, commanded a Rashtriya Rifles Soldiers can’t be asked to exercise needs to be monitored in J&K and other Battalion in J&K and Assam Rifle Sector doctrine of restraint, especially when parts of India. It started in West Asia as in Manipur. He is a Delhi based there is a threat to collective security. It early as 60s and it is now exploding after Defence Analyst and is currently Senior is bad strategy to first “get shot to shoot almost 50 years of initiation. To deal Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare back”. with such threats, government should Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi.

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JAMMU & KASHMIR INDIA’S COUNTER TERRORISM STRATEGY: AN ASSESSMENT

Jaikhlong Basumatary

Terrorist organisations, through based on the idea of enhanced repeated attacks, aim to challenge the coordination of actions and exchange basic feature of the Indian state and of intelligence to grapple with the through such action, highlight its problem of intelligence failure. inability to provide security and To secure India from terrorism, protection to its citizens. They aim to thrust is laid on a combination of create an environment of fear and military force, political initiatives and distrust between groups and economic development. The military communities that differ on ideological approach involves, apart from the background. India’s approach to employment of security forces, countering terrorism and insurgency extensive use of legal provisions like since independence had been guided counter-terrorism laws and emergency by conventional war biases because of provisions to strengthen the security its experience with Pakistan and China. forces. The colonial strategy of Considered as one of the worst affected “overawing the people” with the use of countries by terrorism, India’s external force continues to the present day. threat scenario has shaped its response Currently, while the Indian Armed Terrorism has become one of the to counter this scourge. Traditionally, Forces (the Indian Army, Indian Navy, gravest threats to internal security in threats to India’s territorial and internal and Indian Air Force) are equipped for India. While international concern over security existed in the form of rebellion conventional conflict, the Indian Army terrorism in the present times is in Punjab, militancy in Jammu and has found itself extensively committed focused on global jihad, for India, Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast of to internal security operations in terrorist threats range from Left Wing the country and left-wing extremism in diverse environments that range from Extremism (LWE), ethnic separatism to its central part. Every case has “a the dense jungles of the Northeast to religious militancy. In other words, the distinct identity moulded by its the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir. terrorist threats in India essentially geopolitical and socio-economic Thus, while the articulated doctrine of emanate from its own territory. Further, context.” the Indian Army is primarily focused on there is the Pakistan-sponsored The Ministry of Home Affairs in India external adversaries, the State has terrorism against India, which has had called for structural and found it convenient to employ it intensified since the 1990s. This trend is institutional changes in the aftermath internally whenever police and Central perhaps the most dangerous dimension of Mumbai attacks in 2008 (26/11) to Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been in contemporary terrorism against effectively counter the scourge of unable to control internal and armed India as through such sponsorship, terrorism. It constituted a National expression of dissent by non-state Pakistan has aided and abetted Investigation Agency (NIA) and actors, especially in hostile and secessionism in the Northeast, Punjab proposals were made to bridge the gaps underdeveloped terrain. Demands for and Jammu and Kashmir. in the security apparatus by stationing secession or independence from the Terrorism continues to pose a grave the National Security Guard (NSG) in Indian Union have been addressed by threat to India’s national security and its the major cities to be rushed in wearing down the insurgents until the secular fabric. Over the years, India’s exigencies. The debate over the demand is dropped or modified. To long struggle with various forms of National Counter-Terrorism Centre tackle insurgency, India has engaged in politicised violence has created a (NCTC) has been a result of the entire talks with separatist groups and with its “chronic crisis of national security”. overhaul of the security apparatus, neighbours even though some of them

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support cross-border terrorism and through major roadways, thereby protect and preserve” phase when the insurgency. India has also been willing denying insurgents control over key Army gets its bearing on the movement to create new states within the Union to means of transportation and economic through a mix of “area domination”, accommodate ethno-nationalist activity. Another tactic used in the static guarding of targets (human and aspirations, but not on the basis of Kashmir counterinsurgency campaign material) and “cordon and search” religion. involves the “Covert Apprehension operations intended to segregate the One of the determining factors of Technique” (CAT). This process is rebels form the people and deny them India’s counterinsurgency strategy is mainly used after cordon and search supplies; secondly, the “infiltration and the restrained use of indiscriminate operations. When suspected militants isolation” phase that involves force. Aerial bombardment, artillery or insurgency sympathisers were penetrating rebel groups to generate and heavy infantry weapons are not caught in cordon and search credible intelligence followed by select used. Certain preventive measures too operations, former captured militants counter-action to keep the rebels on the define the Indian approach to concealed behind facemasks were run and a ‘winning hearts and mind’ countering terrorism in Kashmir such directed to pick out terrorist and their (WHAM) campaign to deny the rebels as access denial to stop the movement supporters. local support; and thirdly, the “attack of terrorist from training camps in India also continues to face major and finish” phase when rebel bases or Pakistan into the state. To plug the security challenges from insurgency in mobile squads are attacked in large major infiltration routes, India has its Northeastern region. In responding numbers and their organisation is split fenced the entire international border to insurgents in the northeast, the state through engineered defections. In and most places along the Line of has displayed a high degree of political recent years, the army has also started Control (LoC), along with deploying flexibility. India’s counterinsurgency direct deals with rebel groups to play surveillance radars, ground sensors, strategy in Nagaland once revolved them off against other such groups. thermal imaging devices and night around blocking the exit-entry routes India, besides having perhaps the vision devices. Further, early warning for the Pakistan and China-bound greatest number of home-grown detectors are used to form a guerrilla columns, denial of base areas terrorist groups operating within its surveillance grid, which is for those guerrilla squads active within borders, is also a victim of transnational superimposed on the the Naga Hills, negotiation with tribal terrorism to an unusually high degree. counterinsurgency grid. Unmanned leaders and chiefs to secure the The recent rise of Indian Mujahideen aerial vehicles (UAVs) are deployed to surrender of the guerrillas by exploiting (IM) as ‘the face of indigenous terror’ is monitor hostile movement and tribal division, strengthening of the considered symptomatic of a worrying concentrations of terrorist activities. electoral system and pumping in huge trend of radicalisation within the Further, retired army soldiers from the quantum of funds into Nagaland aimed country. At the conceptual level, India’s local villages are organised into Village at security the loyalty of the emerging national security strategy emphasises Defence Committees to secure certain Naga political class; and split the Naga the importance of creating and areas. They have been banded into a National Council (NNC) by utilising the maintaining “a security environment lightly armed force to prevent terrorists contacts established during the which would enable the nation to from gaining a foothold in the negotiations in the mid-1960s. Military provide opportunities to all individuals vulnerable villages in the hinterland. operations against the insurgency to develop to their fullest potential.” The motive is to force out the terrorists movement in the Northeast have Thrust is also laid on socio-economic from the semi-urban areas into open enabled the dialogue process which has development to tackle the menace of terrain where they can be dealt with by brought some order to the region. terrorism. This, along with the the security forces. India has also applied hard power to application of hard power, has been Counter-terrorism strategy in tackle terrorism in the Northeast. beneficial in keeping the security Jammu and Kashmir and other affected ‘Operation Bajrang’, and ‘Operation environment under control. areas also involves the road-opening Rhino’ were launched to put down the parties. This requires deploying violent activities of ULFA between 1990 platoon-level units along major arterial to 1992. In 2003, the Bhutan Army roads and then combing them for launched ‘Operation All Clear’ to clear Dr. Jaikhlong Basumatary is an mines and improvised explosive the same group from Bhutan. More Associate Fellow at CLAWS who writes devices (IEDs), before the road is recently, in 2015, ‘Operation All Out’ extensively on subjects related to opened for normal traffic. Though was conducted against Bodo militant terrorism, counter-terrorism and sub- labour intensive, tedious and time groups. The military response to conventional conflicts. He has a consuming, this tactics has proved insurgency in Northeast has followed a doctorate degree from Centre for West beneficial in ensuring safe passage three phase strategy - firstly, “prevent, Asian Studies, JNU.

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OPINION ASSESSING URI: LOOKING BEYOND THE SOUNDBITES

Maj Gen Dhruv C Katoch, SM, VSM

Daylight was yet a few hours away when how the Indian state should respond to operatives and published their names a group of four heavily armed terrorists such acts. Let us take a step back in in their web site as “martyrs”. Yet, In sneaked into the Indian Army’s Brigade history and recall what happened in a India, vested interests treated Ishrat HQ at Uri and opened fire, catching the series of provocative attacks since the Jahan as a victim of police brutality and troops by surprise. In the sneak turn of the century. In November 2008, the concerned police officers were predawn attack on 18 September, 19 a group of 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) subjected to criminal proceedings and soldiers lost their lives and another 29 terrorists infiltrated by sea and caused charged with murder! were injured, before the four terrorists mayhem in Mumbai. The attacks, A comparison of these two cases is were gunned down. A lot has been said which continued for three days before instructive to highlight how incidents of in the print and audio visual media the terrorists were eliminated, drew terror are handled in India. The attack about what happened in those fateful worldwide condemnation and caused on India’s parliament, the Akshardham hours, where the Indian Army suffered serious injury to the Indian state, both Temple and on Mumbai were treated as perhaps its greatest number of in its standing as a potential power in terror attacks because the terrorists casualties in the decades long proxy war the world stage as well as in its ability to were able to breach Indian security and being waged by Pakistan in J&K. The Uri handle incidents of such nature. This, create mayhem. The elimination of the attack marked an inflexion point in the off course was an act of provocation, as Ishrat Jahan module was not treated in relations between the two countries were earlier such incidents such as the a similar manner because the terrorists and the national mood was rightly filled 2001 attack by the LeT on the Indian were neutralised before they could with rage against continued Pakistani Parliament and the Akshardham execute their plan. It goes without provocation. That angst was doused on Temple attack of September 2002. But saying that the Ishrat Jahan module was 29 September, when India’s Director were these the only ones? planning a very serious terror attack, General of Military Operations Let us focus our attention on another but the fact that it was neutralised (DGMO), broke the news to an incident which continues to before it could accomplish its task, incredulous world of the Indian Army’s reverberate in India. In June 2004, four enabled vested interests to give a surgical strike across the Line of Control LeT terrorists were gunned down near different spin to this case, and in an (LOC), where a large number of Ahmedabad by the crime branch of the ironic turn of events, the police were terrorists were killed and their camps Ahmedabad police. One of these was a made out to be villains and the destroyed. This marked the second young woman named Ishrat Jahan. The terrorists as decent law abiding citizens! inflexion point. While the Indian Army police had specific intelligence that Let us for a moment assume that the scrupulously respected the LOC, these four people were LeT operatives, Ishrat Jahan module was successful in Pakistan had no qualms in sending in tasked to assassinate the Gujarat Chief achieving its aim, but the attack in armed terrorists across the line to Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. By the Mumbai was neutralised, with the create mayhem in India. With the 29 proactive and timely detection of this terrorists being gunned down in a car in September strike against terrorists module, a ghastly incident was Mumbai. The optics in both cases across the LOC, that situation stands prevented in India, which could well would then have been very different, radically altered. The Rubicon has been have polarised society and led to a with the media and the public asking crossed and a ‘new normal’ has come communal flare up claiming thousands uncomfortable questions as to why a into being. Three issues however merit of lives. Post the elimination of this Chief Minister’s security was consideration, which need to form part module, its sponsor, the Jamat-ul-Dawa compromised. Simultaneously, a whole of the national discourse. (JuD), the political arm of the LeT, range of activists would be out in the The first of these is an understanding accepted the fact that Ishrat Jahan and streets claiming that the ten people of what constitutes provocation and her three accomplices were LeT killed by the police in Mumbai were not

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terrorists but innocent citizens and that of war and responded to accordingly, Army had brought the state to near they were targeted because of their regardless of whether the attack was a normalcy, with a dramatic decrease in religion! partial or complete success or whether fatalities related to incidents of This mindset needs to change. India it was detected in time and defeated, terrorism. And with peace came a host was rightly enraged over the Uri attack, without causing any damage to men of economic and other benefits. with the Prime Minister stating that and materials. While great political and Unfortunately, there was a downside to. those killed in action would not be military resolve has been shown in The Army was asked to exercise forgotten. Vengeance came eleven days executing the flawless surgical strikes of restraint, to obviate the occurrence of later with multiple surgical strikes on 29 September, Pakistan needs to be untoward incidents. On the face of it, terrorist camps all across the line of punished each time it attempts to push such an approach seems logical, so long control. But a similar incident, just a in terrorists into India. That must as the effectiveness of the security week prior to the Uri attack, drew little become the ‘new normal’. forces is not compromised. rage from the Indian masses, simply The second issue pertains to the Unfortunately, in its application, both because the module was eliminated possible factors that enabled the the political authority and the Army before it could cause havoc. Both terrorists to enter a high security post of have erred, not by design but perhaps in incidents had similar backing from the Indian Army in Uri. While the the understanding of the psychological Pakistan, but India chose to react only tactical aspect will be dealt with by the repercussions of such an approach. An when she was hit. Simply because an local formation commanders incident which took place on 3 attack has been nipped in the bud does concerned and remedial measures will November 2014 in Chattergam, in not reduce its level of gravity. There be taken, there is an underlying Kashmir’s Badgam area highlights this must be outrage at every attempt made psychological aspect which needs aspect. by Pakistan to destabilise the country. consideration both by the Army and by On that fateful day, a car with five Each incident must be treated as an act the nation too. Firm handling by the occupants did not stop at two mobile

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vehicle check points established by the simply doing their duty as taught to snooping unit, as falsely stated by many Army and was fired upon when it tried them should not have come up for in the media for motives unknown, but to break the third barrier. Two of the questioning. The debate should have simply an organisation that relied on occupants were killed in the incident hinged on whether mobile check points human intelligence gathering effort. while two suffered gunshot injuries. The serve a useful security function or The TSD gave very valuable inputs occupants of the car were all teenaged otherwise. which contributed significantly to the kids, which led to widespread outrage The ultimate fallout of such actions return of normalcy in the Valley. The in the Valley over their killings. The debilitates the Army. Commanders and reasons for disbanding the same are Army expressed regret over the troops tend to ‘play safe’, and avoid still not clear, but it had more to do with shooting and to assuage popular activities which could lead to a possible personal vendetta rather than on any sentiment, ordered an inquiry and also incident of the type described above. assumption of its misuse. In any case, if replaced the concerned unit with This has dangerous portents for misuse was the reason, the remedy lay another Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit. national security. If troops avoid in appropriate checks and balances Omar Abdullah, the former Chief situations where their conduct is open rather than in disbanding an effective Minister of J&K tweeted, “Such killings to question, not just by the media and tool for fighting terrorism. have no place in an otherwise the political authority, but by their own It is apparent that a review of the improving security environment where leadership too, then the ‘why get operating philosophy in J&K is called militancy incidents are at record low involved’ attitude, becomes for. At the national level, any attack by levels”. While it is appreciated that predominant, which is bad for morale terrorists, backed and supported by public hurt had to be assuaged, the and compromises security. There is no Pakistan, must be responded to as an potential psychological impact of such perfect answer to the above. Perhaps an act of war, regardless of the success or actions on the Army personnel effective perception management otherwise achieved by them. The deployed in disturbed areas required a campaign, along with sensitive surgical strike carried out by the Army broader understanding. handling of such issues in the media is across the LOC has shown both political It goes without saying that if the the answer. Let us remember that India will and military muscle. This must now instructions issued by the Army in a executed a flawless perception become the ‘new normal’, and disturbed area are flouted with management campaign prior to the punishment must be inflicted on the impunity, it is the peace process and the launch of its surgical strike of 29 Pakistan military for each and every act people who will suffer its long term September. World opinion was shaped of overt or covert support they extend to consequences. While public hurt needs in less than a fortnight to meet India’s terrorist groups. to be assuaged, it has to be done security objectives and even Pakistan Second, both at the national and without weakening the ultimate pillar was lulled into a false sense of field army level, a vigorous perception of the state - The Indian Armed Forces. complacency. That ability to shape management campaign must be put in The military cannot be compromised opinion and perceptions must now place. This must create public on the altar of political convenience, manifest in the internal discourse too. awareness of the role of the Armed and hence the need for a sophisticated The third issue which merits Forces in maintaining peace and in perception management campaign and consideration is the issue of ensuring that a policy of restraint is not of sensitive handling by the press of intelligence. The Army has to depend reduced to a policy of inaction. The incidents which have the potential to on its own intelligence collection consequences are too severe to imagine whip up public emotions. Even in mechanisms from unit levels upwards and the nation may have to pay an mature democracies such as the US, the for progressing operations. Inputs exceptionally high price for this some police open fire if a vehicle tries to received from other sources is a bonus day. Third, intelligence remains the breach a security barrier. That is a and is not a substitute. At the unit level, cornerstone of anti terrorist operations standard drill, even when no threat of the policy of ‘restraint’ has diluted the and must be revitalised at all levels. terrorism exists. In Badgam, the Army intelligence gathering effort, both overt As a start, it will send the right signals if simply did its duty, yet the personnel and covert, as intelligence collection the TSD is recreated. This will also be a involved had to suffer the cannot be carried out through an slap on the face of those who played consequences of political expediency. A insular approach. Even at higher levels around with national security by vibrant perception management of command, there seems to be disbanding a potent tool of the anti programme could have obviated the hesitation in seeking intelligence which terrorism effort. We have a potent negative fall out of the killing of a is vital to forestall terror attacks. The government in place. And we have an couple of hyper active underaged Army had an excellent set up called the outstanding Army. Let us change the youths taking a joy ride in a car. In any Technical Support Division (TSD) for rules of the game to secure India’s case, the action of the troops, who were gathering intelligence. It was not a National Interests.

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OPERATION GIBRALTAR THE LAST LETTER Shemeem Burney Abbas

was my anger. However, with support from my family and friends, I rebuilt my life fast. Within weeks of widowhood I applied for a British Commonwealth Scholarship to study for a master’s degree in England. I did indeed get one from the University of Leeds. Within three years of my widowhood I was on the path to a successful career as an educator in Pakistan and in international settings. Eventually, I also obtained a PhD in applied linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin. That further enhanced my opportunities in life, together with For fifty years, I believed that my my daughter, who is now a successful husband had gone missing or was still a certified public accountant and works for prisoner in an Indian jail, as we never got a Fortune 500 company in the U.S. his body back. It was not until April, last Nevertheless, I did not let go of the year in 2015, that I accidentally found a Wedding photo of the author and her hus- anger toward my husband: despite the folder of my late husband’s letters – close band Captain Nisar fortunate educational opportunities and to one hundred of which that he had a cutting-edge international career, the written to me during our three-year Captain Nisar Ahmed was killed in ride was bumpy. I had to deal with the relationship, mainly through Indian-held Kashmir on August 13, 1965. militaristic Pakistani establishment and a correspondence. The uppermost letter in My narrative develops from my society directed by patriarchs, foremost the folder was the one that he wrote last, husband’s death in Indian Kashmir: an among whom were members of my own before he crossed the Line of Control into event that completely transformed my family. In 1999, I left Pakistan to go into Indian Kashmir in July, 1965. The eight- life over the last fifty years, and which exile in the United States because of a page letter, painful as it is, also tells me eventually resulted in a life in exile in the blasphemy fatwa against me by the state what his mission was and where he was United States for the past sixteen years. establishment there. going. I had obliterated all details of the Captain Nisar Ahmed, my husband, is a The discovery of my husband’s letters letter from memory, as I never reread it. national hero in Pakistan. He was in spring 2015 enabled me to let go of my This last letter and the others had assigned to lead Operation Gibraltar, a anger, as he too seemed a victim of his travelled with me across the continents guerrilla action in Indian Kashmir. The circumstances. In his last letter, he says: for fifty years, wherever I studied or Pakistani military, to this day, has not All this time I have hidden certain worked but I never reread them. I was owned up to Operation Gibraltar. As a facts of my work – although you would angry with my husband for abandoning result, I did not know exactly where my have had your guesses and fears about it. my daughter and I, especially as I did not husband was killed and buried. For fifty But there was nothing certain about it for want to have a child right away in our years, part of me believed that he was me to tell. Today when you read this marriage and even more because he missing in action or that perhaps he letter, I will be far beyond the reach of knew about the secret mission that he might even be alive in an Indian prison. I time and space, for I have told them that would be assigned to, in Kashmir. He had no closure on my husband’s death. this letter should be posted to you only never told me anything about it all. In order to deal with the trauma of my upon my death; along with the official I write this article as a prelude to a husband’s death and the pregnancy that I intimation. But do not worry love, I am larger memoir project that I am working was dealing with, I turned the switch off, just round the same corner of life picking on, about Operation Gibraltar. During on any memory of our short-lived up the straws of my spiritual happiness the course of this operation, my husband marriage. So great was my grief; so great so that I may build a cozy little haven for

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us two – a love nest. For then we shall never separate ‘no moments of decision and indecision’. This final bond will be unshakeable. My love, on the 3rd of June, 1965 I was assigned to HQ 12 Div on a special duty i.e. to organise and conduct the training of certain Azad Kashmir soldiers and Dafa-Mujahids. Later, I came to know that I am under a new HQ set up for this purpose i.e. HQ LofC Sub Area, Murree and that I will be required to go into Indian Held Kashmir on a mission to conduct commando actions and organise Guerrilla Warfare with the help of the locals there. On 11 July 65, the President of Pakistan gave his consent to this plan of operation i.e, our force shall infiltrate behind enemy lines into the Srinagar and surrounding valleys and carry out commando tasks initially and then organise the locals for Guerrilla Warfare. We received our final briefing on the night and with it our action commenced on the night 29/ 30 Jul 65. However, the night for the raid on targets was appointed on the 7/ 8 night. The area I was assigned was Gulmarg and Pattan where Brigade Headquarters were located. Although the plan is not entirely according to the principles of an Posters brought by the infiltrators to incite an uprising in Kashmir unconventional operation. Because this type of warfare has political implications I wish you every happiness and love commando by the name of Alamgir, and should never be started according to that I wanted to give. God bless and writes a field diary of Operation Gibraltar the conventional military concepts of farewell. We shall meet again beyond the and gives details of my husband’s concentration of deployment in the threshold of life – beyond all conflicts of participation in the mission, how he was Force. The whole force becomes too time, wars, prejudices, vanity, jealousy, killed and where he is buried: in village vulnerable as it offers an excellent target hatred, sense of right and wrongs; Khag in Kashmir. This is the only reliable to enemies counter action. These types of everything that man thinks is important account of my husband’s death and wars are very expensive and begin with a to his worldly existence or name. burial. Commando Alamgir’s basic covert cell, that expands in size and Rereading the letters after fifty years memoir/field diary gives significant activity first in a cellular form then when was cathartic. Within weeks of reading details about the mismanagement of the the enemies resistance wears out it the quintessential last letter that my operation and the political realities of the assumes an overt military shape and husband Captain Nisar Ahmed wrote, I Kashmiri people, who never wanted a manoeuvre. Knowledge of enemies was researching at the archives of my Pakistani intervention. The memoir moves and actions is of utmost alma mater, the University of Texas at further describes my husband’s talents importance to such a force and equally Austin. During the course of my that I never knew about: that he was a so is the denial of its own subsequent research, I found, among masterful tarot reader, as well as a singer. knowledge/ information to the enemy. In other things, the following: I hardly knew the man, as ours was a our case, we failed to acquire the first and 1. A memoir written in Urdu by a romance based on letters. did every conceivable thing to ignore the commando officer who survived 2. Declassified CIA documents in the latter. Operation Gibraltar. The officer, a Lyndon B. Johnson Archive in Austin that

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point to the role of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto – at that time in 1965, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan – and at whose behest Operation Gibraltar was undertaken. It was Bhutto who persuaded Field Marshal Ayub Khan and the Pakistani generals to capture Indian Kashmir. Operation Gibraltar was the Pakistan army’s Bay of Pigs. Later General Zia-ul- Haq executed Bhutto when the latter was an elected Prime Minister. General Zia- ul-Haq led the successful U.S. intervention against the Soviets in Afghanistan in 1978. Furthermore, I have created a photo archive from personal, official and internet sources, of Captain Nisar Ahmed – in the larger historical context of Pakistan’s Special Services Group in Cherat. I have conducted personal interviews with family members and friends in the U.S. and in Pakistan to inform me of what happened immediately when news of my husband’s death was conveyed. I was asleep that night when hell broke loose. My family told me the next morning. My research, in which my students at SUNY Purchase sincerely participated with me, gives great insights into the role of the Pakistan military in Kashmir. American aid given to the army for the Cold War against the Soviets was used to Indian Army Operations Defeat Operation Gibraltar make inroads into Indian Kashmir. Pakistan’s elite commando unit – that the Additionally, I got insights into the India and Kashmir. U.S. set up in Cherat, Pakistan, bordered nuclearisation of South Asia and the Ultimately, though, my narrative is Central Asia. This then enabled the U.S. current U.S. engagement with the primarily a woman’s perspective of a to keep an eye on the Soviets and Taliban. All this fits into the Great Game militarised, postcolonial state – where Communist China. These Special in Central Asia where the key players now the personal interfaces with the Services Group units were further used in are Russia, the U.S., Great Britain, China, international. early 1978 to train the mujahideen (some Saudi Arabia, Iran and India. Pakistan is a of whom were precursors of the Taliban) frontline proxy state in the game. As a Shemeem Burney Abbas is currently when the U.S. was engaged in the region, result, my narrative further addresses Associate Professor of Political Science, to oust the Soviets from Afghanistan. The Great Game theory. It is valuable for Gender Studies and Literature at The Pakistan Army under Zia-ul-Haq acted as military studies, strategic studies and State University of New York at Purchase. a U.S. proxy. Badaber, the U.S. air force international relations with a focus on She is the au-thor of “Pakistan’s facility from which Gary Powers’ U-2 South Asia. Principally, it deals with Blasphemy Laws: From Islamic Empires plane took off in 1960 – and was shot American foreign policy. Thus, the larger to the Taliban” and “The Female Voice in down during a reconnaissance mission narrative that I’m working on is also Sufi Ritual: Devotional Practices of over the Soviet Union during Nikita about the geography of religion as well as Pakistan and India”. This article first Khrushchev’s premiership – was used as a text on postcolonial governance and appeared in The Friday Times of 02 a prison by the mujahideen to hold sustainability. I try to address issues of September 2016 and is republished here opponents during the Afghan war in the gender, human rights and citizenship with the permission of the author and 1980s. rights in postcolonial states like Pakistan, The Friday Times.

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TRIBUTE 29 SEPTEMBER 2016: YES, WE CAN Aarti K Pathak

It was many years ago, bleeding us in a slow and undignified proud. when I first heard of death. Was India only capable of a few I know that we still have people from Captain Kalia. He was candle light prayers for our men or the so called peace brigades - who will just 23 years old when perhaps a few angry television debates? A talk of peace, even if it means destroying he was tortured and wave of despair engulfed me. India. They obviously have their vested killed by Pakistani And then 29 September happened. interests, but fortunately for India, the soldiers before his For me, it will remain a landmark day. country has changed. We have a new mutilated body was The Indian Army had conducted a government in power which backs it's returned to India. The news left us complex surgical strike with utmost soldiers and understands the angst of the numbed. Every time I read about his old precision. It gave me great satisfaction people vis-a-vis its concerns for the father running from pillar to post, trying that the operation was fully supported Army. We sleep at night in peace because to get justice for his son, I would wince and endorsed by our political leadership. the Indian Armed Forces guard our inwardly. How can we let our soldiers and Our soldiers went deep inside enemy borders. It is 'them' who bring peace to their families down so badly? held territory, killed the terrorists there our nation. Only them. A few months ago I saw the movie and destroyed their camps. Anything A poster on FaceBook a few years ago Airlift and a thought that struck told me to boycott the me was, had it not been for the beautiful festival of Raksha Indian Army, that could have Bandhan. Of course we, my been India’s destiny too. My brothers and sisters, (who thoughts ran to the martyred love this festival) continued Indian soldier, Lance Naik to celebrate it year after year. Hemraj who who was killed and I cannot meet every soldier beheaded by Pakistani soldiers and tie a rakhi on his hand... in Poonch sector in J and K. but am sure, not just me but What would his mother and all my civilian sisters and wife have felt? And yet, the very brothers send our love and same mother and wife would be prayers to our extended willing to sacrifice anything for family at the borders, to wrap the country. Another son, it around their wrists, to keep another husband. them safe from harm, We enjoy the luxury of watching our could have gone wrong. But our soldiers always- as, come what may, it is our fauji children grow in front of our eyes, we risked everything and came back bhais who have always stood by us. enjoy the comfort of living in a peaceful victorious, without leaving anyone Post September 29, 2016, when we for country only because our soldiers behind. the first time in years went to bed at night tirelessly guard our borders. But, too busy By crossing the LoC, the Indian Army feeling inspired, we have just one prayer with our own lives, at times we forget to has crossed the Rubicon. New rules are - long live India’s Armed Forces. And to speak up for our men and women in now in place and the strength of our those brave, faceless and nameless uniform. Army is backed by political will.Our Army commandos who went for the surgical When Uri happened, my rage knew no is not at war with the people of Pakistan. strike in the wee hours of 29 September, bounds. I went about my daily chores, It is up in arms against terrorists and thank you. Thank you from the bottom of not really knowing what I could do to terrorism. It is protecting its own country our hearts, for avenging Uri. You are our avenge this outrage. And there were and peace. Imagine going to the mall heroes. Jai Hind. millions like me, trapped in our own with fears of a terrorist attack. It is "this hopeless sense of helplessness. I went peace of mind" that we have, that our Ms Aarti Pathak is a mother of two and about my work, depressed with the Army is protecting, daily... and this is an Economics professor, who loves to knowledge that the enemy, with his war what sets the Indian Armed Forces apart. write. She blogs at https:/ / sparrowtimes. of a thousand cuts, was successfully This is what sets India apart. Today, I feel wordpress.com/ author/ bloggingsparrow/ .

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POINT COUNTERPOINT: DEALING WITH PAKISTAN TREAD CAUTIOUSLY ON BALOCHISTAN

technology. Economically, China now a sustained conflict has been eroded controls a large share of global trade over the years, as adequate attention and has acquired huge fossil fuel, was not paid to this vital aspect by mineral and real estate assets all over successive governments over the last the world. The Chinese search for fossil few decades. Gen. V K Singh, now a MoS fuels and minerals have virtually spread in External Affairs flagged this issue their influence across the globe and with the then Prime Minister, when he they do not hesitate to use geo- was the Army Chief, as did many other economics arm twisting to coerce military analysts. The present countries to fall in line, including government, ever since it assumed developed countries like Japan, office, has taken positive steps to Australia and ASEAN countries, with expedite defence deals, and to build up barely a U.S. response. China also has a defence industrial base within the money sunk in U.S. bonds, which they country. Rapid strides in FDI in defence could use as leverage against the U.S., in the private sector are underway, with should they be required to do so. a large number of Indian industrial Closer home, the Chinese are deep houses signing joint ventures with into Pakistan (call it their 24th Province international defence equipment Col Sanjiv Wattal after Taiwan if you like) with USD 46 manufacturers. A gestation period is I have been a strong proponent of billion being invested in the China however still needed for the dealing firmly with Pakistan, both Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), production, trial and deployment of diplomatically and militarily, and of essentially a commercial road and rail defence equipment which we produce keeping Kashmir off the table in any link for trade and transport to Gwadar indigenously and it will take a long time talks with that country. Sadly, over the port, and pipelines for gas and oil from to make up for the neglect of previous years, India has been out manoeuvred Central Asian States (CAS), with large years. As of now, we remain ill equipped on both these counts by Pakistan. It is energy projects astride this; but also as in armament and ammunition, high apparent that we have been scared of a strategic alternative route giving technology upgrades in weapon our own shadow - a product of access to the Arabian Sea in case the platforms (all three services), C4I2 and centuries of foreign rule, which has Straits of Malacca get blockaded or cyber warfare capability. Most eroded our confidence and self belief. Indian-Pacific Ocean sea lanes get importantly, India still lacks a joint Until we infuse an aggressive psyche threatened. It also increases their integrated command structure in the and through our own foresight and influence in the region, particularly to form of Chiefs Of Defence Staff (CDS). commitment develop the military and isolate India. Disputed Aksai Chin has Allied with this is the constant effort by economic muscle to go with it, this the Karakoram Highway passing India’s bureaucracy to belittle the situation is unlikely to change. To frame through it, as also through Gilgit- Armed Forces, which is reflected in the coherent policies, we need a political Baltistan to Balochistan, where Gwadar degradation of the status of military and geopolitical understanding of our is located. Balochistan has vast copper, personnel in every pay commission, own perceived role, both within the cobalt, iron, gold and lithium reserves, including the recent Seventh Pay region and globally. Till then, we will making it a virtual treasure house for a Commission. The virtual contempt with always be looking at USA, UN or thirsty China. Today, Balochistan is not which the bureaucracy treats the Armed anybody else who offers us a shoulder, merely an internal Pakistan issue but a Forces arises from a fear of empowering or we will be fence sitters. strategic Chinese concern. It is their the forces to an equal status, which With the end of the cold war, the rise 'honey pot' so to say. Besides, they have unfortunately is linked to a pay band. of China commenced, which now has their army personnel stationed in This has a concomitant fall out in terms the U.S. increasingly concerned of the Pakistan Occupied J&K (POJ&K), to of morale. More damagingly, control impact an assertive China will have on protect these assets. The Chinese troops over the military by the bureaucracy, world affairs. China is now the second will be replaced by 12,000 Pakistani including the operational deployments largest economy after the U.S. and is security personnel currently being in internal security situations, as also increasing its military capability, raised and trained. evidenced in Pathankot and in J&K have through infusion of high end India’s military capability to carry on also eroded morale and created

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resentment. India’s stand on that count. It is appreciated that a large dimensions – military, economic, Balochistan cannot be divorced from country like India can have no quick fix technological and diplomatic is driven the reality that India’s military solutions, but raising extraneous by the conviction that China is a great capability has been blunted over the concerns like that of the issue of human civilisation undone by the hostility of years and will take a long time to be rights in Balochistan, as a pressure others. To attain its destiny it needs to built up to the desired level. Raising the point against Pakistan will give little amass power to ward off this hostility. issue of Balochistan with these traction, given the myriad problems More important to them, apart from the infirmities, shows diplomatic that India is currently faced with. It is rise to the pinnacle is the acceptance by inexperience and unwarranted apparent that on this issue, due thought others of its legitimacy. It treats all provocation, tantamount to direct has not been given to the contextual countries alike but unequal to China. interference in the internal affairs of understanding of international USA and the West understand that. Pakistan. relations and diplomacy and the Prime Henry Kissinger said, “China considers Let us look briefly at the history of Minister has been ill advised on the itself, in a sense, the sole sovereign Balochistan. In August 1947, Lord subject. government of the world”. We in our Mountbatten, the Governor General of India’s raking up the Balochistan institutionalised arrogance of being the India, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Governor issue has received little traction more ancient and advanced civilisation General (designate) of Pakistan, and the amongst the international community, have clashed with it over its ideological Khan of Kalat signed a tripartite with the US nipping the issue in the belief, with no historical or agreement on partition; Balochistan archeological backup. We have would revert to its 1876 status that is the provoked China over the NSG issue, a year the British conquered Balochistan. result of our firstly, not doing our In March 1948, when the Khan was in legwork seriously and in time, including Karachi, Jinnah (he had been Khan’s discussions with China, and our lack of lawyer) forced him to sign the understanding that China will not allow Instrument of Accession. This was India to compete with it globally or repudiated by the State Assembly and regionally, whether it’s a seat in the led to the start of armed revolt against UNSC, or NSG for which it used the Pakistan. But Balochistan is an integral clause of non-NPT membership to part of Pakistan; just as J&K is an debar India’s entry, while using the integral part of India. India’s concerns Pakistan card as well; more so in Asia, with respect to the treatment of the whether it is ASEAN, RCEP, or our Baloch people by Pakistan can rightly countries in our immediate be construed as interference in the neighbourhood. Therefore, raising the internal affairs of another country, and issue of Balochistan at this juncture is will not be viewed kindly by Pakistan, cocking a serious snook at China’s just as similar comments by Pakistan or strategic interests. Further persistent any other country on the insurgency provocations may invite a military affected states in India, will invite a response from China and Pakistan sharp response from the Indian bud. True, Mr Ashraf Ghani, the combined, in the present state of India’s establishment. President of Afghanistan was military infirmity. We need to build up If the PM’s mention of Balochistan in supportive of India’s stand as were our military capability, before we his independence day address was for exiled Baluchis living abroad. But most undertake an aggressive foreign policy domestic consumption, to take the heat countries do not see it that way. Iran initiative over the issue of Balochistan. off the many domestic turbulent issues hasn't yet reacted, but will be wary as its that plague the nation, then it has not Sistan Province has a Baluch majority. A first generation soldier, Col Sanjiv had the desired effect. The common To counter India on the other hand, Wattal was commissioned from the Indian is more focussed on every day Pakistan is once again raising the bogey IMA in March 1972, into the Parachute concerns such as employment, of Kashmir with renewed vigour in the Regiment. He has had tenures in J&K education, health care and the like. The United Nations, in the background of including the Glacier, and commanded earlier Congress led UPA governments the worsening law and order situation his unit in Manipur/ Nagaland. He has also did little to alleviate the concerns in the Kashmir Valley. served in assignments in Maldives and of the marginalised sections of society, India also has apparently not in China and post retirement, is an but the present government policies understood the Chinese psyche. For active commentator on defence and also do not seem to be delivering on China, the pursuit of power in all its security issues.

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BREAK UP PAKISTAN TO RESOLVE KASHMIR JIHAD

Mountbatten, who was the Governor followers, when they are in a majority, do General of free India initially refused to not accept non-Muslims as rulers. For send military aid. However, Indian troops example, the Pakistani Constitution arrived in Kashmir after Hari Singh signed expressly bars non-Muslim Pakistani an Instrument of Accession to India. At citizens from becoming head of the state that time Pakistanis, who included jihadi because Islam does not foresee any fighters from the Pakistani tribal region, possibility in which a non-Muslim can be were seen as invaders by local Kashmiris the head of a Muslim state. In Kashmir, who joined hands with Indian troops to the majority non-Muslims accepted fight against them. Muslim rulers, notably when Shah Mir Against the advice of Indian military became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir generals, Prime Minister Jawaharlal in 1339 CE, starting the Salatin-e- Nehru took the issue to the United Kashmir dynasty. But now non-Muslims Nations Security Council which passed, are expelled from Kashmir. among others, the Resolution 47 of April So, now that Muslims are in the 21, 1948. As per the resolution, the first majority in Kashmir it is unacceptable to step was for Pakistan to withdraw all its them that they can live under Hindu- troops from Jammu & Kashmir. The Indian rule. While there is an exception to Tufail Ahmad second step was for India to this argument given the fact that the progressively reduce its forces after it majority Muslims lived under Hindu King On September 13, the first day of Eid Al- was established by the UN that Pakistani Maharaja Hari Singh, the Islamic idea of Azha, major mosques were shut down troops were withdrawn. The third step non-Muslims being second-class in Kashmir. Amid the continued rioting, was to hold a plebiscite. Since Pakistan Dhimmi’s and unacceptable as rulers was over 80 lives have been lost over the last was seen then by Kashmiris as an indeed radicalised at the end of the 1980s two months and more than a thousand invader state, it did not like the idea of a when the Pakistani military's Inter- people have been injured. In present plebiscite and did not fulfil the first step Services Intelligence (ISI), which had times, nations are invaded by ideas of withdrawing troops. Consequently, emerged victorious in Afghanistan, emerging from internal and external the second and third steps did not introduced a copy-cat jihadi war in sources. There are two recent examples materialise. Also, Resolution 47 is Kashmir. Since then, Kashmir has of this argument. One, Syrian refugees contained in Chapter VI of the UN become a battleground of Pakistan- arriving in Europe have practically Charter which is not binding. backed jihadi war. India must not allow invaded local cultures, disturbing the And, the Kashmir conflict has a the creation of a mini-Pakistan in rule of law in European countries. Two, typical Islamic lineage. As per Islamic Kashmir. in India, television debates about pellet teachings, Islam protects non-Muslim In 2010, Dukhtaran-e-Millat leader guns have emerged as more powerful minorities living in an Islamic state. Asiya Andrabi justified the Kashmir war than bullets, thereby posing a threat to However, it does so only when non- as a jihad saying: "My perception is peace in Kashmir. The tragedy of the Muslim minorities accept to live as that… (the protests) might intensify Indian mind is that, in responding to Dhimmis (second class citizens) and during Ramzan. Ramzan is the month the war in Kashmir created by the pay Jizya, which is a tax on non- of jihad. The first war against the Pakistani-jihadi mind – it is seeking a Muslims. However, this is not merely a infidels happened on the… (17th) day political solution. tax in neutral terms. This is essentially a of Ramzan"– a reference to the Battle of In this context, discussed below are religious tax which must be paid by Badr, Islam's first war led by Prophet some difficult ways to resolve the non-Muslims to get their life protected Muhammad against infidels. In 2010, Kashmir issue but first a look at the brief by an Islamic ruler, which means that a Syed Ali Shah Geelani of the Hurriyat history of the conflict. At the Partition in non-Muslim must pay Jizya to buy a Conference described the Kashmir war 1947, Jammu & Kashmir was an right to life and renew it every year. It as "a religious issue" and noted that autonomous state ruled by Maharaja Hari means that Islam is not merely a "Islam teaches that Muslims must Singh. The newly created Pakistan religion, but also an ideology of power. follow the guidance of Islam in every invaded the princely state in October While there are cases where the action of theirs – not just in prayers but 1947. Hari Singh could not fight and majority non-Muslims have lived under also in matters such as war." In 2008, sought military help from India. Lord Muslim rulers, generally speaking Islam's Geelani said: "Osama (bin Laden) has

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come only during the last few years. people who have a share in Kashmir's Five, India must cease talking to pro- People like me have been fighting for future. Sanjay Kumar says that a large Pakistan secessionist leaders. Various this all our lives." number of ex-militants can be engaged factions of the Hurriyat Conference are It is time for India to recognise the in a process of dialogue through essentially the long arm of the ISI. Their nature of the Pakistan-backed jihad in mediation by neutral spiritual leaders leaders should be facing sedition Kashmir and consider some options. such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He also charges, not invited for dialogue. For One, the roots of Kashmir jihad are says that thousands of educated the secessionists and Islamists, inside Pakistan. We learnt from the Cold Kashmiri women are forced to remain dialogue is a bridge they think they can War that internal movements of enemy unmarried because there are no walk over. However, there is a need for countries can be successfully suitable boys. These women can be involving the elected members of the sponsored by external powers. As a brought in a conference as part of the Jammu & Kashmir legislative assembly, result of such a Western policy, the political process because their life's who are the only authentic nuclear super power Soviet Union priorities are different. Even today, representatives of the Kashmiris, in a broke up. India must try to break up Kashmiri youths including children of continuing series of talks with local Pakistan from within through non- secessionist leaders look to join the groups as well as with the central nuclear means. Two, moderate leaders Indian civil service, Sanjay Kumar government. Know the nature of this in Kashmir must be strengthened, points out. Four, the elected enemy: it is always prepared to fight, argues Sanjay Kumar, who has worked governments in Jammu & Kashmir have whether in Ramzan or on Eid Al-Azha. in conflict situations involving not worked enough to build local Kashmiris, Maoists and Ranbir Sena as democratic institutions. The last rounds Former BBC journalist Tufail Ahmad part of peace initiatives by the Art of of panchayat elections did not succeed is executive director of the Open Living Foundation. He notes that due to threats from Pakistan-sponsored Source Institute, New Delhi. He is the during the recent visit of the all-party jihadis. Yet, this process must be author of "Jihadist Threat to India – delegation, moderate religious leaders encouraged by increasing women's The Case for Islamic Reformation by an of Kashmir like Ghulam Rasool Hami seats in panchayats to 50 percent. Indian Muslim." He tweets @tufailelif. were not allowed to meet Home Because the nature of jihad is anti- A version of this article first appeared Minister Rajnath Singh. women, it is essential to bring women in New Age Islam on 16 September Three, there are constituencies of to the front of politics in Kashmir. 2016.

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MOTIVATION LIFE & TIMES OF A CENTENARIAN: THE GRAND OLD “FIRST LADY” OF THE INDIAN ARMY Lt Gen. Baljit Singh, AVSM, VSM

when he chose for his eldest daughter, (Brigadier Satish K Issar) that they had Rajkumari (Kummu) a groom from a lived and brought up their five children Maratha family. Likewise, the Shrinagesh on their salary alone and the one and family too had had their sons’ schooling only time they had looked up to their in boarding Public Schools in England parents for finances was on followed by Cambridge University but superannuation from the Service to build their eldest, SM Shrinagesh (Shri) had a dwelling, in Chandigarh! opted for and secured a merit-entry into Much like the Armed Forces wives of The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst those times, while her husband, father, (UK). The prospective bride and groom brother and a brother-in-law were knew not the mother tongue of each inducted on battle fields in the Middle other but their eclectic education had East, Europe, Singapore and Burma she helped bridge that gap first with English moved home between Lahore, Shillong and later Hindi as the lingua franca in the and back to Lahore and following Shrinagesh household! armistice to Tokyo where Shrinagesh was “Please feel free to say Hello”, she uttered, The couple had had their first sight of placed in command of the 268 Infantry ever so gently in almost a whisper but in each other on 24 July, 1934 (Rajkumari, a Brigade Group during the reconciliation perfectly smooth diction, looking straight few months shy of her 20th birthday and and reconstruction phase of post war into my eyes and her face wreathed in a her groom a decade older) when their Japan. She set up home inside a villa that gentle smile. I had approached her with marriage was solemnised. Captain had belonged to an aristocratic family of great amount of trepidation because I Shrinagesh had a surprise wedding gift Tokyo whose sole survivor, a young girl in was transgressing into her privacy in a for his bride, that is, he would take her to her late teens would carry the scars of manner, but she was quick and gracious London for their honeymoon and even war for life, particularly as she was now to put me at ease. She appeared at total though it would be a few weeks past their one among the household’s domestic peace, both with her own world and the wedding when the ship would dock in staff in what was once “Home” to her. The world at large as two devoted maid London but they would celebrate Shrinageshs’ humanitarian instincts servants take her over various pathways nevertheless with Champagne, in a suite were deeply touched by that cruel of the Chandigarh Rose Garden, in the Savoy Hotel! Captain Shrinagesh paradox of war and they promptly shifted cushioned comfortably in a wheeled was a KCIO (King’s Commissioned her out of the staff quarters, set her up in chair, almost every evening. Indian Officer) and as such governed by a room of her choice in the house proper, At past one hundred and one year, she same entitlements of pay and leave as the accepted her as a member of their family is unlikely to be the oldest Indian lady but British Army officers; so Shrinagesh had and appointed her as their interpreter she is certainly the oldest living “First opted to avail of eight months “Home and mentor for Japanese culture and Lady” of the Indian Armed Forces’ Leave” in UK as he would successfully history; it evolved into a life-enriching fraternity. She was one of ten siblings of a utilise the time to concurrently prepare experience for both parties. middle class Punjabi family who had laid for entry (on merit) to the Defence However, the Tokyo interlude was far great stress on providing progressive and Services Staff College. Lest wrong too brief because the Brigadier was emancipating education to their children inferences of extravagant life style be promoted to Major General and and her father, Major JR Kochhar of the drawn, Rajkumari had asserted a few appointed the first “Native” General Indian Medical Service had no qualms years ago to Shrinagesh’s biographer Officer Commanding, Madras (Chennai)

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Area and Rajkumari was down to set up afoot and her mounting anxiety was conversation would almost always veer house afresh in the general precincts of compounded by the surprise visit of to the goings-on in the Army Fort St George, a space hallowed by some Wing Commander Moolgaonkar (later Headquarters concerning the two hundred years of Indian military the IAF Chief) who called unexpectedly forthcoming promotions and postings. heritage and tradition. just past breakfast time and most Rajkumari found it odd that the Chief’s Among the hilarious episodes of the apologetically stated that “the IAF in spouse had simply no inkling of such early years of marriage of a Punjabi with Srinagar are unable to support the attack matters and felt a degree of humiliation. a Maratha, one of Rajkumari’s recalls is on Zoji La due to the prevalent dense fog Unable to restrain aroused ill-feelings, worth recounting. She had heard her and that the General should have she surprised Shri with tongue lashing at maternal grandmother advising her postponed the mission”. But luck always lunch one day stating “... what a fool and daughter-in-law once that “Never argue favours the brave hearts on battlefields dim wit I had looked .....” but the devoted with your husband, because you will and by mid day 01 November, 1948 the spouse calmed her at once with “Look, never win, so just say Achcha ji and do world learnt that the Indian Army’s first Kummu, leave my office to me.... please what you think best! Their fire Combat Corps had captured the Zoji La just mange our home and children... extinguishes very fast, if you leave them and were galloping forward to liberate don’t worry your pretty head with all that alone”. Not long after, there was a Kargil, followed by Ladakh! goes on in the Office.....”; but what a pity moment of much laughter between the Rajkumari had once remarked that in recent times, the separation of newlyweds when one day, Rajkumari’s somewhere that “Not a single Office from domesticity has been pretty- Maratha born, English speaking spouse commander was decorated with any much messed up. said “Tell me Kummu, what is the public recognition or National award When I spotted her for the first time meaning of this word Achcha ji? I find after this brilliant victory and display of wheel chair borne around 2004 in the you say Achcha ji to everything I ask you. supreme human bravery” and went on to Leisure Valley, she was being trundled by But most of the time, you do the a teenager, probably a great opposite of what I want”. Naturally, granddaughter. Momentarily parked at Kummu happily explained the lexicon a spot from where the upper storeys of to Shri as also the sage advice of her the Punjab & Haryana Secretariat and grandmother and concluded with a the roof of the Legislative Assembly chuckle “.....and I generally find my buildings were clearly visible, the old solution to the problem is more lady was in lively articulation with the workable than yours, so I go ahead and teenager. As I went by, I overheard her do it.... they both burst out in peels of explain how parachutes open and how laughter.” their unfurled canopies arrest the The reason that their Tokyo breeze to enable soldiers to float and assignment was cut short was because, touch down safely. I had no idea of what following Independence the British further state that “If Shri had been alive was afoot till shortly, I heard the drone of Officers left for UK and the handful, today he would have told the officers that aircrafts above the Chandigarh Capitol serving Indian Officers were promoted to your greatest reward is your own Complex (now a World Heritage Site) and fill vacant key posts in the restructured satisfaction of the tremendous the sky full of Indian Army’s Paratroopers Indian Army. So by August 1948, Kummu achievement; the fact that you were alive in a superb demonstration Parachute was not only the spouse of a Lieutenant at the end of the war and could say to performance for some ongoing General but also that of the Independent yourselves – Thank God I did my duty for Government sponsored celebration! India’s first Corps Commander in J&K my Country....” Is anyone listening? And the grand old “First Lady” was and by mid October set up home in a We don’t know for sure how Rajkumari simply in her elements, clapping with all lovely cottage which has ever since been had acquired the idea of the Army wives her might! the Flag Staff House of the “Chinar” “Collective” to work for the greater good Corps. Close to midnight on 30 October, of the entire community of wives and 1948 Kummu found Shri getting into his their children but we do know that no Commissioned in the Regiment of Battle Dress and after kissing each of his sooner when General SM Shrinagesh Artillery in July 1956, Lt Gen. Baljit Singh, three children in their sleep he next became the third Chief of the Army in AVSM, VSM, retired on 31 July 1992 after hugged Kummu and whispered in her 1955, she set about in right earnest to 36 years of distinguished service. A keen ear “Kumari, today, either I will be made institutionalise the Army Wives Welfare sportsman, accomplished writer and a man (Sic. a “Complete” Combat Association, on permanent footing. In noted environmentalist, he is an active Soldier) or would be done forever”. the course of their meetings, whenever promoter of Conservation of Nature, Rajkumari had no idea as to what was they broke for a cup of tea the more so within and by the Armed Forces.

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HISTORY SECUNDERABAD: ORIGINS, TALES & ARMY CONNECTION

Col Shailender Arya

territories of Nizam. In fact, his sovereignty and created his own followers had built a bridge on Musi dynasty, known as the Nizams of River near Golconda Fort, named Tipu Hyderabad. He was succeeded by his Khan Bridge, apparently to welcome fourth son, Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II, but not the Sultan if he rode in Hyderabad to before Ali Khan dethroned and join his co-religionist Nizam. But in imprisoned his brother Salabat Jung in 1799, Tipu was killed during the 1762. Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan was storming of his river island fortress of the father of Sikander Jah, who Seringapatam. succeeded him in 1803, and after whom The end of the Mysore War buoyed the upcoming tented cantonment city, the British. They insisted on cementing Secunderabad was named. By the time, relations with Hyderabad. Nizam Ali Sikander Jah or more properly Nawab Khan, after much persuasion and skilful Mir Akbar Ali Khan, Sikander Jah, Asaf lobbying by the British Resident at the Jah III, died in May 1829, the city named The origins of Secunderabad are court of Nizam, Major James Achilles after him - Secunderabad - was closely intertwined with the history of Kirkpatrick, finally signed the thriving. eighteenth century Deccan, and in Subsidiary Treaty in October 1800 While William Dalrymple in White particular with the arrival of the (finalised in 1798) with the Honourable Mughals has vividly recreated the military forces of the East India East India Company. This treaty of negotiations and politics behind the Company to fortify the fluctuating General Offensive and Defensive treaty, not to mention the tragic love relationship between the Nizam and Alliance was popularly known as the story between James Kirkpatrick and the British. It was essentially a military Treaty of Subsidiary Alliance and it Khair un-Nissa, the great niece of the cantonment whose foundations were stipulated positioning of a military Nizam’s Prime Minister; excellent laid in the politics of Deccan; with a frail force, called Subsidiary Force, at accounts of the new British Nizam, the dexterous Tipu Sultan, Hyderabad. For the maintenance of this cantonment, to be named declining French influence and the force, the Nizam ceded to the East India Secunderabad, coming up ten miles to expanding British territory under Lord Company all the territories acquired by the north of the old city just over the Wellesley, British Governor-General in him, during the Mysore War, south of Banjara Hills, have been given by India from 1798 to 1805, most famously the river Tungabhadra. These areas Mountstuart Elphinstone and Edward known for introducing the novel came to be known as the Ceded Strachey, fellow travellers and civil doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance. Districts, now called Rayalaseema. servants of the East India Company, In 1789, Lord Cornwallis concluded a who visited Hyderabad in 1801 while treaty with Nizam Ali by which the East The Era of Nizams enroute to taking up a job with the East India Company agreed to provide Hyderabad was established in 1591 by India Company in Poona. troops to the Nizam whenever he Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. The Qutb Edward Strachey wrote that these required them. Nizam in turn agreed to Shahis were Shias, who named their cantonments were vast tent cities disband the French troops in his new capital Hyderabad after Ali, Hyder which housed the now very substantial service. The British outmanoeuvred the being one of his names. It remained British military contingent that had wily Tipu Sultan and persuaded the under the rule of the Qutb Shahi arrived in the area following the two Nizam, not to join forces with Tipu who dynasty for nearly a century before the treaties James had signed with the aimed to ‘drive the firangees out of Mughals captured the region. In 1724, Nizam. He talked of the cantonment as Deccan’. It was a major diplomatic coup Mughal viceroy Asif Jah I, also called already extending near two miles and as Tipu was not short of followers in the Nizam ul-Mulk, declared his there being a considerable town formed

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by the huts of the troops and camp Ulwul as Secunderabad after himself. In Secunderabad formally came in being, followers. The situation is very high and autumn of 1804, James Kirkpatrick, the after the order was signed by the Nizam airy commanding a fine view of the British Resident cheerfully reported the allotting the land north of Hussain Hoosn Sagoor. Mountstuart progress at Secunderabad to Sir John Sagar to set up the British Cantonment. Elphinstone added that the tent city Kennaway, the previous British was ‘very neat’. Resident at Hyderabad till 1794. The The Firangees in Deccan The Subsidiary Force was substantial cantonments were already like a large James Kirkpatrick died in 1805, and was as the Company sent six battalions. It regular town reckoned equal in extent succeeded as British Resident by was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel to Cawnpore (today’s Kanpur). Thomas Sydenham till 1810. The James Dalrymple, but he died in The road from Hyderabad to the port Subsidiary Force started moving from January 1800, rather young at 43 years, city of Masulipatnam passed through tents to pucca buildings. Henry Russell in spite of best efforts by Dr Alexander Secunderabad. In 1805, it moved along took over as the Resident in Hyderabad Kennedy, the doctor of the Subsidiary the great rounded boulders of the in 1811, and continued till 1820. During Force. Nearly 5,000 British troops were Banjara hills, the rugged home of a his time as Resident, the relations housed in tents in the open areas of the gypsy tribe from distant Rajputana who between the East India Company and maidan of the village Ulwul, north-east left home to follow the fortunes of the Hyderabad durbar soured, as in a of Hussain Sagar. It encompassed an warring armies. Thereafter it followed bid to impress his masters in Calcutta, area of four square miles and in the tent lines of the Subsidiary Force Henry Russell imposed a series of addition to 5,000 troops; there were cantonments and snaked along the damaging new treaties on the Nizam, several thousand civilian followers. gleaming new obelisks and pyramids of forcing him to pay for ever larger and After becoming the third Nizam of the Parade Ground cemetery, where more unnecessary number of British Hyderabad in 1803, one of the first James Dalrymple was buried in one of troops at a total cost of forty lakh rupees actions of Sikandar Jah was to rename the first graves of this cemetery. In 1806, a year - a sum which amounted to

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nearly half the entire tax revenue of forces and their commander were signs of a moat still existing. The road Hyderabad. This vast fortune all went to based in Bolarum, with the present nearby is called Mudfort Road and pay the salaries of the enlarged Officers’ Mess of Bison Division being another road in East Maredpally is still Subsidiary Force and Russell’s new the erstwhile residence of the British the Entrenchment Road. Afterwards, it Hyderabad Contingent, for which the commander of forces in Deccan. was decided to place another but Nizam had no use and over which he The first Vicar Apostolic of smaller outpost ahead of Tirumalagiri had in reality little control. Meanwhile, Hyderabad was established in 1806 with towards Hyderabad, in the feared flush with Nizam’s money, residence at Secunderabad. An direction of troubles. It was intended to Secunderabad flourished into a Anglican church came up in 1847 at delay rebels and providing early cantonment town. Secunderabad. This Holy Trinity warning to the troops at Tirumalagiri Till 1858, the cantonment consisted Church in Bolarum was in Gothic rather than for prolonged combat. of barracks and huts extending to a architectural style on land donated by Thus, a picquet or picket was distance of about five square kilometres the Nizam, and personally funded by established which was manned by a with the artillery in front on the left Queen Victoria. At this time, Major small body of alert troops and able flank and the infantry on the right. By General James Stuart Fraserwas the horses, lending this name to the picket 1860, the area had increased to 17 British Resident at Hyderabad. area and road in Secunderabad. The square miles and had a population, According to records available in the rebels never came but the British including the armed forces, to 50,000. Holy Trinity Church, 21 British remained keen to stay aloof from Such cantonments were intrusions of regiments were stationed at Hyderabad. Initially, only one road was unadulterated Englishness in the Secunderabad during 1847-1947 and constructed to connect the twin cities utterly Indian landscape and were were a part of the worship. The Church and it was called James Street. The increasing coming up across India as of St. John the Baptist was consecrated James Street is now called Mahatma the Company deftly gained territory. in 1813 at East Maredpally. It served the Gandhi (MG) Road, though the name The days of British ‘going native’ were spiritual needs of the British Forces James is retained in James Street Bus passé, though James Kirkpatrick and stationed at Lancer’s Line. Stand, James Street Railway Station and the Resident’s Bodyguard were still the James Street Police Station. staying in Hyderabad in the Residency Union Jack over Bolarum Two deserving ‘James’ stand out on the northern banks of Musi river, in As Bolarum was the nerve-centre, the from that era. Both were married to an old Qutb Shahi baradari pavilion British decided to provide depth to the princesses from the Deccan nobility. within a walled pleasure garden. It is main garrison by providing an outpost Lieutenant Colonel James Dalrymple now the Osmania University College for which shall fight any hostile troops was the Commander of the Subsidiary Women (Koti). Later, the British marching from Hyderabad to Force and married to Mooti Begum, the Resident acquired a country house in Secunderabad. In military parlance, it is daughter of Nawab of Masulipatam. He Secunderabad where the shikar was called an advance position, and a died in 1800, few years before aplenty. It was constructed in 1860. This British Infantry battalion was to be Secunderabad actually came up. More Residency House is now known as the placed at this position. Soon after 1857, likely, the James Road is named after Rashtrapati Nilayam, the official retreat the construction of a seven meter high Major James Achilles Kirkpatrick who of the President of India. wall started at Trimulgherry, an was well known in Hyderabad as The mutiny of 1857 left Deccan anglicised name for Tirumalagiri, and Hushmut Jung meaning ‘Glorious in relatively untouched but the British completed in 1867. It was a mud fort Battle’. An ambitious soldier of the East anyway preferred to stay away - on with a circumference of about four India Company, he was wildly popular spacious Mall roads, in exclusive clubs, square kilometres, called Trimulgherry and thoroughly orientalised British living in huge bungalows (named so as Entrenchment and housed British Resident at the Court of Hyderabad, the initial ones were built by Bengalis or troops. It had a moat all around, apart from being the husband of Khair Bangla) and praying in churches and drawbridges across the trenches with un-Nissa, the ‘most excellent among chapels of the sprawling cantonments arched entrance gates, towers and women’. In 1936, to relieve congestion like Secunderabad. The locals in officers’ quarters. The four main gates between Hyderabad and Secunderabad Hyderabad started referring were named after famous battles which another road named King’s Way was Secunderabad as Lashkar meaning the the British had won in India. In an constructed but only the British were army, as it was overwhelmingly an Army emergency, the entire European allowed on this road. The King’s Way is garrison with small hutments of population could be accommodated now Rashtrapati Road. Tirumalagiri, Bowenpally and within the Entrenchment. The Military Meanwhile, cantonment continued Marredpally being the only earlier Hospital Secunderabad is now housed to grow and acquire new names and habitations.The bulk of the British here with a stone entrance gate and localities. Near Tirumalagiri, there

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existed a striking and huge crop of Winston Churchill). ever seen - Bar none’, and also ‘very boulders. A gun was placed on top of it The Secunderabad Club was clever’. However, the ICS father (also the to ward off any advancing rebels and established on April 26, 1878 and was Resident who inaugurated the Clock the area was called Gun Rock hill. Later originally known as the Secunderabad Tower in 1897) did not allow his the gun was deemed to be no longer Public Rooms. It was renamed the daughter to enter into marriage with an required and a water tank was built Secunderabad Garrison Club, the impecunious army officer. Churchill there to supply water. Immediately after Secunderabad Gymkhana Club and the returned to Bangalore, longed for the treaty, as the East India Company United Services Club. It became the action, and soon left for Nowshera to did not have the required troops in Secunderabad Club in March 1903 and join the Malakand Field Force which Deccan, it requisitioned some troops moved to its current location, an was battling truculent tribes on the from northern parts of India. Among erstwhile hunting lodge gifted by Salar North-west Frontier. them were tall burly Sikhs, giving the Jung I, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad In Hyderabad earlier Persian and name of an area in Secunderabad as State, to the British resident. It was since 1884 Urdu was the official Sikhul Thota, now called the Sikh located in the Tokatta village, which was language. But in Secunderabad it was Village. However, many historians differ Salar Jung’s personal jagir. The story English. Lallaguda, in one corner of on this as the Sikhs were not recruited goes that the Club was situated in a Secunderabad became a ‘Little by the British until the fall of the Sikh small run-down building and when the England’, as South Lallaguda had a empire in 1846 and the name may be Resident desired to come to the Club, sizeable population of Anglo-Indians, therefore attributed to Nizam's Sikh Salar Jung got to know of it and offered with most of them Catholics. Lallaguda troops being settled here about a his hunting lodge as a fitting building to initially was a fortified village century ago. The second version house the Club where the Resident constructed on orders of Thaniat un- appears likely, as corroborated by could come in and spend his evening. Nissa Begum alias Bibi Sahaba, the Count Edouard de Warren, a French The rules of the Secunderabad Club favourite queen of Nizam Ali Khan, and soldier of fortune working for the mention that the Salar Jung’s lineal the mother of Sikander Jah. Here a Nizam, who confirmed the presence of descendants will be made members of palace and a garden, near Moula Ali Sikh, Afghan and Arab mercenaries in Secunderabad Club without ballot or were constructed under the supervision Nizam’s Army. admission fee which is followed to this of Lalla, one of the best architects of day. Hyderabad. Originally called Tahniat The Sekunderabad Flourishes Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Nagar or Bibinagar, it came to be called The town grew and the Secunderabad Minister of the United Kingdom during Lallaguda after her death. Railway Station was established in 1874. World War II, stayed in Bolarum in 1886 Being a British cantonment, It was the main station of the Nizam's as a subaltern in the British Army. He Secunderabad was exempted from Railway, a private company owned by visited the then Secunderabad Garrison customs duty on imported goods thus the Nizams, and connected Hyderabad Club and indulged in some peace-time making trade very profitable. New with the main line at Wadi Junction, of soldiering. He moved to Bangalore in markets such as Regimental Bazaar and the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, a October 1896. Around this time he was General Bazaar were created. Indians company owned by the British. While generally broke, and ‘Lieutenant W. S. were allowed to shop only in Secunderabad was coming up, large Churchill’ still owes the Bangalore Club Regimental Bazaar. A shaded avenue areas were left vacant by the British, thirteen rupees, as proudly displayed in from Begumpet to Maredpally was with a view to enable the servants, the lounge of the Bangalore Club. called the Alexandra Road, primarily gardeners, cooks, khansamas (male Apparently, while no dues are balance intended for the British, though stewards), Bhishtis (water-carriers) and at Secunderabad Club, Churchill’s Hyderabad nobility was welcomed due ayahs to live. Later these spaces were connections to Secunderabad were to their deep pockets. It divided the filled up with the present day civil romantic. His memoir, My Early Life, cantonment from its civilian settlements. In 1860, to honour the provides a vivid description of a polo appendage. Alexandra Road and Oxford progress achieved by the British officers tournament in Hyderabad won by Street had the most fashionable stationed at Secunderabad, the British Churchill’s regiment. Ramachandra European shops.They included Badam government gave 10 acres of land for Guha notes that it was here in Pyle (confectioners), Mapin and Webb building a clock tower. A 120-feet high Secunderabad that Churchill fell in love (cutlery and crockery), Richard & Co. clock tower was constructed in 1896 for the first time. The lady’s name was (goldsmith), Spenser (aerated drinks), and inaugurated by then British Pamela Plowden, and her father was a John Pile (general stores) and Bright & Resident Sir Trevor John Chichele high official of the Indian Civil Service Co. (chemists). John Burton was Plowden on February 1, 1897 (whose (ICS). She was, Winston wrote to his reputedly the most fashionable draper daughter was meanwhile seeing mother, ‘the most beautiful girl I have and tailor. The second son of Nizam VII,

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Prince Muazzam Jah had his sherwanis agreed therein that in the transferred of the Hyderabad State army. Post stitched at Burton’s. When he was there, area, ‘high standards of services and Operation Polo, the officer who led the no one was allowed entry, except cleanliness’ would be maintained. It Indian attack from Solapur, Major European women. He would also buy was also agreed that the Percy’s, General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri (later the whole roll of cloth so that no one Montgomery and Whitehall hotels the Army Chief) became the next else would have a similar sherwani. would remain open to visiting army president of the Club, replacing Major officers for accommodation, concerts General El Edross. The Freedom post Midnight and parties. The closing time for bars in Secunderabad still remains a By mid of 20th century, Indian Secunderabad, 9.30 pm, would be charming and liberal cantonment. The independence was on the horizon. But maintained. The quaint cantonment year 2006 marked two centuries since Hyderabad still remained out of bounds was endeavouring to retain its unique the birth of Secunderabad from 1806 for the soldiery of Secunderabad. The character of a cosmopolitan and broad- when the order to grant land for the cantonment was formally signed by the Nizam. The old 1897 Clock Tower was chosen as the logo for these bi- centenary celebrations. A decade hence, the year 2016 marks the golden jubilee of the Bison Division, the only fighting formation in the Deccan, which calls Secunderabad its home and the rich history of the place as its cherished inheritance. Its logo, so to say, is the indomitable Bison, and the motto is ‘Bash on Regardless’. The clock never stops ticking and the Bison never rests. The histories of Secunderabad and the Bison Division are inseparable, and perhaps everlasting.

An alumnus of RIMC and the NDA, Col Shailender Arya city therefore had to provide all minded colonial town, which in many was commissioned in 44 Medium amenities for a diverse citizenry. In ways it has. Regiment in December 1998, which he 1945, the British restored an area of 5.6 Hyderabad state joined the Indian is now commanding since December square kilometres south of Alexandra Union in September 1948 after a 2013. He has served as GSO 2 of a Road with a population of about military action codenamed Operation mountain artillery brigade, a company 100,000 to the Nizam, called the Polo, apparently because the commander with Assam Rifles in rendition of Secunderabad to the Hyderabad city had number of polo Nagaland, Staff Officer with the United Nizam by the Resident. At that time, grounds and race courses. Operation Nations in Sudan and a GSO 1 according to Narendra Luther, the Polo resulted in some unintended (Operations) of a newly raised AR author of Hyderabad: A Biography; consequences on the social pecking Sector HQ in a counter-insurgency before the rendition, a meeting was order of Secunderabad. The President environment in South Manipur. A four held between the Sub Area Commander of Secunderabad Club was Major time USI essay competition winner, he of Secunderabad and high officials of General Syed Ahmed El Edross, an contributes regularly to various Hyderabad on April 5,1945. It was Egyptian and the commander-in-chief defence journals and magazines.

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NEWS: LEMOA

LOGISTICS EXCHANGE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (LEMOA)

India and the United States signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum Of Agreement (LEMOA) on 29 August 2016 in Washington, during the visit of India’s Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar to the United States. LEMOA is a facilitating agreement that establishes basic terms, conditions, and procedures for reciprocal provision of Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services between the armed forces of India and the United States. First mooted in 2003, the Agreement represents a significant step forward for Indo- US defence cooperation, indicating a clear commonality of goals and signalling closer military ties between the two countries. With the Agreement coming into force, assertive in the South China Sea and in agreement with a major power was the the militaries of the two countries can use the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), it would to Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship each other’s assets and bases for repair an extent seek to counter the growing and Cooperation in August 1971 just and replenishment of supplies. This maritime assertiveness of China. It will ahead of the Bangladesh war. While that includes food, water, billeting, also assist India in undertaking treaty was strategic in nature, with little transportation, petroleum, oils, lubricants, humanitarian missions in conflict zones cooperation at the level of the two clothing, communication services, medical and providing disaster relief as access to militaries, LEMOA allows for closer services, storage services, training America’s network of military bases cooperation between the Indian and services, spare parts and components, around the world would be enabled. The American militaries. repair and maintenance services, US stands to benefit on similar lines. More For the U.S., this is one part of the calibration services, and port services on importantly, it sets a precedent for other much larger “pivot” to Asia intended by a “reimbursable basis”. Both the nations future military pacts between the two President Obama to meet a rising China. can share each others bases for various countries. The U.S. Navy plans to deploy 60 percent operations to include port visits, joint LEMOA is one of the three foundational of its surface ships in the Indo-Pacific in exercises, joint training, and humanitarian agreements, which were announced during the near future. Instead of having to build assistance and disaster relief efforts. the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defence facilities virtually from the ground up, as in Provision of logistic support, supplies, and Ashton Carter to New Delhi in April 2016. Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. has the services from one party to the other would New Delhi has chosen to proceed for the benefit of simple arrangements for the be in return for either cash payment or the moment on LEMOA, deferring as of now tremendous Indian facilities. For India, it reciprocal provision of logistic support, the Communications and Information increases the reach of its naval assets by supplies, and services. Logistic support Security Memorandum of Agreement banking on US assets spread across the for any other cooperative efforts would (CISMOA) and a Basic Exchange and Indian and Pacific Oceans and is a step however require prior mutual consent of Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial towards a new alliance with the U.S. (and both the parties, consistent with their Information and Services Cooperation possibly Japan and Australia) to respective laws, regulations and policies, (BECA). The U.S. signs foundational countervail Chinese assertiveness in the on a case-to-case basis. agreements with countries with which it South China sea and in the IOR. It will also The Agreement does not create any has close military ties, to build basic be beneficial to both countries in the fight obligation on either party to carry out any ground work and promote interoperability against terrorism and radical jihadi joint activity nor does it provide for the between militaries by creating common elements, thereby enhancing regional establishment of any bases or basing standards and systems. They also guide security as more supportive naval forces arrangements. However, coming as it sale and transfer of high-end technologies. would be operating with closer availability does when China is becoming increasingly The only similar case of an Indian of bases.

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DEFENCE NEWS JOINT EXERCISES WITH FOREIGN ARMIES

PRABAL DOSTYK-16 (ROBUST FRIENDSHIP) Troops of Indian & Kazakhstan Army engaged in a joint exercise ‘PRABAL DOSTYK – 16 over a two week period ending on 17 September 2016. The Indian Army was represented by a platoon strength, while the Kazakhstan Army contingent comprised of a platoon from Special Operating Force’s Unit. The exercise was conducted in Karaganda region of Kazakhstan with the aim of enhancing interoperability while undertaking Counter Terrorism & Counter Insurgency Operations in rural & semi-urban environment under the umbrella of United Nations. Conducted over two stages, the first stage was devoted to familiarisation with each others tactics, drills, weapons & equipment. In Stage 2, both armies jointly executed a helicopter borne operation in a simulated environment. The exercise marks a significant step towards fostering military as well as diplomatic ties between both countries.

YUDH ABHYAS - 2016 On 22 September, Indian troops from the Kumaon Regiment arrived Exercise YUDH ABHYAS 2016, a two week long joint military train- in Vladivostok, to take part in a joint military exercise with Russian ing exercise of Indian and US Armies, commenced on 15 troops. The exercise, called Indra 2016, will terminate on 2 September 2016 at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand with the Opening October. The India-Russia-Indian joint military exercise is being held Ceremony. Indian and US soldiers stood side by side in an impres- for the first time at the Sergeyevsky firing range in Russia’s Far sive military parade that saw the unfurling of the national flags of Eastern Primorye territory. An all arms formation from the Eastern both countries and the playing of their national anthems. The US Military District deployed in Primorye is participating in the exercise contingent is represented by a Company of 5th Infantry Battalion, with the Indian troops from the Kumaon Regiment. India and Russia 20 Infantry Regiment, 2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7 Infantry will hold their Indra naval wargames in the Indian Ocean around Division, US Army while the Indian side was represented by an December. infantry company from Twelfth Battalion, The Madras regiment. The two week joint exercises saw the troops from both countries honing their tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terror- ism in a UN Peace Keeping scenario involving a combined deploy- ment at a Brigade level. State of the art equipment for surveillance and tracking, specialist weapons for Close Quarter Battle with ter- rorists, explosive and lED detectors, as well as the latest communi- cation equipments were fielded by both sides, who jointly trained, planned, and executed a series of well developed tactical drills for neutralisation of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peace keeping operations.

INDRA 2016

ASEAN PLUS JOINT MEDICAL EXERCISES In September 2016, Indian Army Medical Teams participated in Joint Exercise of ASEAN PLUS countries at Thailand. Exercise was based on humanitarian action during natural calamity.

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DEFENCE NEWS

Destroyer on 17 September 2016. In keeping with maritime traditions, Smt Reena Lanba, President, Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), broke a coconut on the ship’s bow and launched the ship, as invocation from the Atharva Veda was being rendered. The warship named Mormugao, belongs to Visakhapatnam class of ships being constructed under Project 15B, at Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders Limited (MDL), Mumbai. Mormugao is a modern warship equipped with the latest weapons package in continuation of the lineage of the highly successful Delhi and Kolkata Class ships. Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff said that “this event is yet another moment of truth for the Indian Navy and India’s quest for self-reliance and indigenisation. The Indian Navy stands fully committed to the call of ‘Make in India’ and we are extremely proud of the fact that all of our warships and submarines on order today are being constructed within the country”. Project 15B ships feature cutting edge advanced technology PRESIDENT REVIEWS and are comparable to the best ships of similar class anywhere in the world. Designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval PASSING OUT PARADE Design, New Delhi, each ship spans 163 metres in length and 17.4 metres at beam and displaces 7300 tonnes. Propelled by AT OTA four gas turbines to achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots, the On 10 Sep 2016, in the Passing Out Parade at the Officers P15B destroyers incorporate new design concepts for improved Training Academy, Chennai, a total of 269 Officer Cadets were survivability, sea keeping, stealth and ship manoeuvrability. commissioned as Officers. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India reviewed the spectacular parade which was commanded by VIETNAM ORDERS HIGH SPEED Academy Under Officer (AUO) Varun Singh Chauhan. It is only the third time in the 53 year old history of OTA, that the President is PATROL BOATS FROM L&T reviewing the Parade. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed the principle contract with Vietnam Border Guard valued at USD 99.7 Million for design and construction of high speed patrol vessels in India as well as for transfer of design and technology for construction of follow-on vessels at a Vietnam shipyard. The high-speed patrol vessels are purpose-built for controlling and protecting sea security and sovereignty, detecting illegal activities such as smuggling, and undertaking search and rescue missions. In keeping with the Government of India’s Make in India policy, complete design and engineering of these vessels will be undertaken at L&T’s dedicated Warship Design Centre with the vessels being built at L&T’s state of the art Kattupalli Shipyard, off Chennai. Commenting on the occasion, Mr.S.N. Subrahmanyan, President and Deputy Managing Director of L&T, said that the contract is a testimony to L&T’s world-class technological capabilities. He also hoped for the contract to pave the way for stronger bilateral ties between India and Vietnam. L&T is presently executing Indian MoD contracts for design and construction of 54 Interceptor Boats (IBs) for Indian Coast Guard, out of which 28 IBs have already been delivered with the last boat having been delivered GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER two years ahead of schedule. L&T is also executing orders for design and construction of seven Offshore Patrol Vessels for the ‘MORMUGAO’ LAUNCHED Indian Coast Guard against a contract of Rs.1432 Crores and a India achieved a significant milestone in indigenous warship Floating Dock for the Indian Navy with a contract value of Rs.468 design and construction with the launch of Guided Missile Crores.

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RAISINA HILL

INDIA’S INFORMATION INITIATIVE AGAINST PAKISTAN

the global terrorist wanted in India for orchestrating the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, Dawood Ibrahim, whose extradition India has sought from Pakistan, is confirmed as residing in Pakistan, after the United Nations approved six of his addresses provided to it by India. After the dastardly terrorist attack by Pakistani terrorists on the Army in Uri Lt Col Anil Bhat archives in 1998, are available and of on 18 September, killing 18 Indian great importance to India in the soldiers, while there is an context of Jammu and Kashmir and unprecedented groundswell of public For decades since its painful birth, Pakistan. ‘Unravelling the Kashmir opinion for a prompt punitive response Pakistan practiced the art and science Knot’, by Aman Hingorani (Sage) is an on ground, PM Modi has so far of propaganda and doggedly followed apt trail-blazer. launched a major psychological the principle of repeating a lie to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warfare campaign. Reaching out to the it sound like the truth. India on the opening of the Balochistan account Pakistani public by differentiating other hand, mostly not only failed over and a reference- albeit brief- to between them and their government, those decades to counter Pakistan’s lies Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) on Mr.Modi said the “anger” in India over but also failed to highlight a lot of Independence Day this year is a long the Uri attack “symbolises our national truths, which would have worked well overdue master stroke, irrespective of consciousness” and “I will just for its own security and standing in the what his chronic critics say. The follow- reiterate… that the guilty will certainly world. up by visuals of Pakistan’s suppression be punished”. On his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ India was partitioned and of POK and interviews of Brahumdagh radio programme, he said: “The trifurcated by the British with a definite Bugti in the media, with Baluch country is proud of its Army. Citizens aim of creating a neighbour of India, protests spreading to London, and politicians get many opportunities which would remain loyal to Britain Germany etc, statements by Afghan to speak, and do speak. The Army does and as its ploy in the Great Game then, President Ashraf Ghani during his not speak, the Army takes action, prevent the spread of Russian recent visit to India and statements shows its prowess.” influence. Kashmir was also expected from Bangladesh of Pakistan’s role in The Army had stated that it will react to be included in West Pakistan by destabilising both nations, all have on the ground at a time and place of its having it gobbled in the garb of it being been very impactful in further exposing choosing. That moment came on 29 attacked by tribals. India’s Governor and isolating Pakistan. September, when the Army struck at a General and Indian and Pakistani army Alongside, the U.S. helped by number of terrorist camps across the chiefs then were still British. providing proof confirming that the 02 LoC. For the first time also, there is talk Unfortunately for the British and January 2016 terrorist attack at about strategic options, involving rivers Pakistan, the princely state of Pathankot airbase emanated from flowing through both the countries. At Kashmir’s then ruler seceded to India. Pakistan. US informed the National the United Nations General Assembly, a And ironically, much later after Investigation Agency (NIA) that the IP haunted looking PM Nawaz Sharif Pakistan’s second war waged against addresses of Facebook accounts of mouthed lies and glorified terrorists, India in 1965, the Russians/USSR Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) handlers whereas India’s External Affairs became India’s greatest strategic ally who masterminded the attack and the Minister Sushma Swaraj was confident, providing it with over 70 percent of its IP address of its financial wing Al correct and assertive. much needed weapons and Rahmat Trust’s website. Also revealed India’s diplomatic deluge must be equipment. were Facebook groups accessed by sustained and the declassified British Independent India’s political friends of JeM handler Kashif Jaan, with archives must be made best use of, but founding fathers-most of them under photographs of the four killed as this writer has concluded umpteen its then head, worked hard at terrorists, Nasir Hussain, Hafiz Abu times, India must develop its political suppressing important facts, which Bakar, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum. will to covertly and cunningly catch or after the declassification of British It was also reported in media that kill Pakistan’s hate and terror mongers.

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VETERANS ALERT FUND BATTLE Hony Capt Baldev Singh

ENHANCEMENT OF RATE OF Armed Forces Personnel/ Defence Civilian pensioners MARRIAGE GRANT including family pensioners on par with the existing system as The Standing Committee on applicable to Central Government Pensioners (Civil). All the Defence (16th Lok Sabha) agency banks were advised to issue suitable instructions to their directed vide para 56 to 58 of its pension paying branches. (Ref. DGBA.GAD. H- 2nd Report that rate of marriage 17663/45.05.031/ 2006-07 dated June 12, 2007). grant to needy ESM (upto the rank of Hav/equivalent) and their NEWS FORM PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK widows be enhanced from Rs The bank believes that defence pensioners after putting in 16,000/- to Rs 50,000/- per service at difficult terrains, has earned a right to be served with daughter (2 daughters). The honour. The banks is the first to: Standing Committee also desired • Revise pension under One Rank One Pension; that an additional allocation of Rs 10.30 crore may be provided • Implement e-PPO with Ministry of Defence; to DESW to meet the requirement of enhanced Marriage Grant. • Integrate Digital Life Certificate at all branches where Accordingly Army, Navy & Air Force has agreed to provide the pensioners from additional funds on basis i.e. 85:5:10, annually. any bank can submit digital Life Certificate Approval of competent authority is conveyed from Rs 16,000/- • Bank is ready to implement revision under 7th Pay to Rs 50,000/- per daughter (for 2 daughters) to ESM (up to the Commission. rank of Hav/equivalent) and their widows w.e.f. 1.4.2016. • Set up a OROP Review Cell with mail id Authority: MoD, l.D. No. l02lLFFD/Marriage GranV2016-D(Res- [email protected] where mail may be sent by any lI) dated l5th July,20l6 defence pensioner not satisfied with OROP Revision; ARMY WELFARE FUNDBATTLE CASUALTIES • Set up Veterans Facilitation Centre cum e-lobby at the office of Post the recent tragedy at Siachen, where one JCO and nine OR Directorate of Indian Army Veterans (DIAV), Delhi Cantt. We are of 19 MADRAS lost their lives due to an avalanche, there was a also going to open a Financial Counselling Centre at the same groundswell of sentiment by Indian citizens, to financially assist location; the families of those who laid down their lives in the service of • Bank is in the process of setting up of CPPC at Allahabad the nation. To facilitate individuals/ organisations who desire to exclusively for pensioners of Indian Army. make such donations, the Indian Army has opened an • Created a CPPC Cell at Navy Mumbai office to facilitate Navy account,titled “Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties” at pensioners, it has separate mail id [email protected] Syndicate Bank, South Block Branch, New Delhi (IFSC Code: where navy pensioners can post their grievances/ queries; SYNB0009055), with account number 90552010165915. Money • Separate e-mail IDs created for Army and Air Force pensioners transfers may be made directly by desirous citizens to the above [email protected] and [email protected] account or cheques may be sent to Accounts Section/CW • Actively participated in all Defence Pension Adalats organised Directorate, Room No 28B, South Block, IHQ, MoD (Army), New by PCDA for immediate resolution of pensioners’ grievances Delhi, made payable to “Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties”. • Special processing for commutation & gratuity between 8-10th The donations received in the fund will be utilised to pay every month so that Defence pensioners get terminal due financial assistance/ grant to widows of our battle casualties, immediately after discharge; their next of kin and dependents. It may be noted that the Army • Exclusive benefits in Defence Saving accounts under PNB does not accept funds which are for the widows/ dependents of Rakshak Scheme; a specific family. Such contributions are to be given directly by • Bifurcated details of pension in Pass Book; the donor to the family concerned. However, for such cases, the • Multiple pension processing for immediate release of above directorate could facilitate the same. Commutation & Gratuity and DR arrears; • Automatic release of additional pension and restoration of Disbursement of Central Government pension through commutation; Public Sector Banks: Issue of Pension Slips to Defence • SMS alert in October every year to submit Life Certificate in Pensioners: November; Immediate start of pension where Letter of It has been decided in consultation with the Office of Chief Undertaking received with PPO; Controller of Defence Accounts and the Department of Ex- • Collect LC from home/ hospital in case of infirm, weak and Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence to issue pension slip to handicapped pensioners.

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BOOK REVIEW IS INDIA’S DEFENCE SECURE?

Krishnan Srinivasan

This is a seminal book, with 25 distance that separates the contributions, all Indian except politico-bureaucratic leadership two from U.S.A. and one each from and the military leadership ... the Australia, New Zealand and UK, only nuclear power where the excellently put together by Harsh military functions outside the Pant. It is mandatory reading for government”. Our civilians will not uniformed and civil personnel entrust nuclear weapons to dealing with Indian defence, and military control, defence for foreign friends and adversaries management systems are not alike, who will study it to their great functioning well, there are tensions benefit. in civil-military affairs, acrimony India faces a multitude of between the three services, internal and external threats. Apart disputes between the prime from Pakistan as the more minister’s office, the external immediate one, there is affairs and defence ministries, and competition from China, dealing lack of strategic planning. with terror strikes from non- state The concept of autonomous actors, fighting insurgencies services led to the lack of unified without alienating the civil precepts. Both civil and military population, and the nuclearisation circles oppose this fundamental of India and Pakistan that requires requirement, unlike the U.S.A., India to launch limited military U.K. and other nations where a HANDBOOK OF INDIAN action below the nuclear unified command is mandated by threshold. There is no substitute law. There have been dozens of DEFENCE POLICY for strategic thinking and ‘doctrines’ promulgated but Themes, Structures and institutional effectiveness, without without any clarity, even of the Doctrines which there can be neither military nuclear doctrine. Each service has muscle nor protection of strategic developed its own ‘doctrine’ interests. In India there is no without coordination or reference By Harsh V Pant (ed) holistic vision and changes of to other two, and the civilian Routledge, South Asia government have not resolved bureaucracy has no interest in 426 pages these problems. The army’s post- diluting its authority. Reforms Price: Rs. 1995 (Hard cover) 2002 ‘Cold Start’ designed for suggested by expert reports are decisive limited strikes within two never implemented, delayed or days against Pakistan found little partially implemented. The support from the other two government must enunciate the services or the government. guidance and the military must Overall, there is a failure of political formulate the doctrine, which has will to tackle a persisting policy to be in conjunction with the paralysis. nuclear doctrine. This has not This book uncovers an unhappy happened. picture. Since Nehru’s days the The military needs to adapt to socialist-economic pacifist view the new concepts of technological and tight hierarchical bureaucratic warfare, which call for control has held primacy over modernisation, but there is no defence growth, revealing “the significant change in the operating

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BOOK REVIEW

systems. The manpower-intensive one of the oldest and largest federal prioritisation of defence over offence police and paramilitary forces, India is remains, though the 1998 nuclear tests unable to deploy them effectively. and Kargil revealed the lack of cutting- With the second largest standing edge technology and changed deterrent military force and one of biggest calculations. The gulf between the defence budgets, India aims to assert its scientists and the military is political and military profile in South entrenched, and Indian leaders see the Asia and the Indian Ocean. Yet it faces nuclear weapon as political and not critical shortages; the army may not be military. The threat from Pakistan and able to sustain a full-fledged war for 20 China is addressed mainly with days, ground-based air defence systems conventional weapons, and it is are obsolescent and the submarine fleet unknown if the army deploys warheads is depleted. India continues to import and missiles together. Perhaps our 70 percent of requirements at an annual scientists and engineers have more outlay of $8 billion in spite of control over nuclear weapons than the cumbersome contract procedures. political leaders, which raises serious Relations with USA and Europe are doubts about the credibility value of our growing, with diversification away from deterrent. India has never declared a Russia, but arms acquisition is ad hoc space policy, and official claims to have and vendor-adversarial, and the an effective anti-ballistic missile shield performance of indigenous are met with scepticism. manufacturing is “abysmal”. In the The Indian ‘teeth to tail’ ratio is one 1980s the defence budget- to - GDP of worst among modern militaries. The ratio was below two percent and will army has a shortage of officers, and the not be significantly different in future. navy’s force structure falls “woefully The provision for capital expenditure is short” of the desired level. There are no usually unspent due to bureaucratic integrated theatre commands even caution and checks and balances which after Mumbai in 2008. There is no the military view as an “inattentive and roadmap for indigenous production, ossified civil polity”. Thus procurement expediting decisions, synergy between becomes “arming without aiming”. local producers, foreign suppliers and There are few flaws in this book; private sector. It is unlikely that India there is no list of abbreviations despite a can emerge as a hegemon in the near plethora of acronyms on every page, future, and primacy in the Indian Ocean and with so many contributions there is is only “aspirational”. some inevitable duplication. But Pant The two-front question is not with has achieved remarkable success in Pakistan and China, but the internal presenting a highly informed, skilled and external scenario. The Chinese and comprehensive picture. We are left threat is seen as conventional, and to sadly conclude that defence reform India has no wish to enter an arms race and modernisation, like the economy, with China. Internally, India confronts a will only happen “incrementally” and in hybrid threat from Indian militants, homeopathic doses, which is just not foreign militants and Pakistani good enough. intelligence services. It only recently accepted that its citizens could be Krishnan Srinivasan was Indian home-grown terrorists acting on their Foreign Secretary and Deputy own and not for Pakistan, while the Secretary-General of the decline in violence from Maoists is no Commonwealth. He has published permanent victory. Intelligence books and regular columns in agencies have a shortage of appropriate newspapers and journals on human talent; the police are inadequate international relations. This review was structurally and ideologically, class first published in The Telegraph on 6 riven and feudalistic. Despite having May 2016

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VETERANS AS ENTREPRENEURS A VETERAN SUCCESS STORY

More and more veterans are making a success of their second career, post retirement. Col. Sameer Kanwar has now joined that elite band of entrepreneurs, through his venture, PropChill. An alumnus of the NDA, Sameer was commissioned into the Corps of Signals in June 1990. He has a B.Tech degree in Telecommunications and a M.Tech degree in Computers and Information Technology. After command of a Strike Corps Signal Regiment, he was posted as a Faculty Commander (Instructor) at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow and from there, in December 2012, he proceeded on premature retirement (PMR) after 22 ½ years of service. This is his story, told in his own words. Sameer and Monica receiving the ‘Most Admired Website of the Year Award’ for PropChill “Having left the Army 3 1/2 years back and stepped into the big bad world (as we much later). Having plunged into the expects everything on a click of a button, call it in uniform), the feeling of insecurity murky real estate sector, one realised that and the Real Estate sector holds huge was immense (not that it’s any better things were not all that disorganised, it’s potential in digitisation. We wanted, now). Probably for the first time, I realised just that almost everybody who is in it, through www.PropChill.com to bridge the feeling one gets when the umbilical wants to make a quick buck. The last 3 ½ this digital gap with unbiased analysis cord is snapped. Before taking up PMR, I years’ journey has been challenging, but and authentic reliable information. We went through an agonising one year then that’s what one was trained for and wanted something that was user friendly, decision making cycle to ‘hang the here’s where our famous OODA (Orient, something that held the investors hand, uniform’, and the various phases of Observe, Decide and Act) loop, which we all through the tricky process of finding ‘yes(es)’ and ‘No(s)’ had taken their toll. so often used in uniform fitted-in and has the most suitable property for a person at Settling down in ‘civvy-street’ required us guided us. It has been an adventurous the most competitive rate in the real- to decide where we should relocate post entrepreneurial roller coaster with a very estate wilderness. PropChill, via its retirement. We were focused on settling steep learning curve. The toughest part of unprecedentedly meticulous platform down in the NCR - and so looked to Delhi, the journey has been raising a competent does exactly that. Which was why we did Noida or Gurgaon. It was an important team from scratch. not tie up with developers as part of our decision to make, for that is where the It took us almost 2 years of gruelling business model in order to provide new chapter of our life would begin. All effort to complete and launch Phase I of unbiased ratings and analysis. Our web charged-up and excited, my wife Monica PropChill in second half of 2015, followed portal has been very well received by the and I started our search on the internet by Phase II towards the end of the year. industry and we have already won 2 and through our friends’ circle to finalise My wife Monica, who is a graduate with awards - ‘The Consumer Facing our abode for a retired life (not literally). 15 years of teaching experience worked Enterprise of the Year in the real Estate To our horror, though unmanageable alongside with me in this project and is a Sector’ and ‘The Most Admired Real quantum of information was available on co-founder of PropChill. We are now Estate Website of the Year – 2016’. It has the internet and other sources, there did developing an App in phase 3, which also been nominated for the Website of not exist a single platform which could would allow a user to book property the Year (India) Award in the Housing and provide some analysis, comparisons or online and hope to launch it shortly. We Interior category and is competing conclusive suggestions (things which we also raised Seed Capital Funds this April. against the likes of 99Acres, Magicbricks, took for granted when in uniform). That’s I have often been asked, why we Housing, PepperFry, Urban Ladder etc.” where the idea of ‘Propchill.com’ decided to go into this particular field. germinated (though the name came The answer is that today’s population (As told to SALUTE Magazine)

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LEISURE & LIFESTYLE PAV BHAJI: THE STREET FOOD OF MUMBAI

Aditi Pathak

I was always intrigued by the humble Pav Bhaji. T h e collection of vegetables, the onions for garnish, the lemon to squeeze on top - all together, it just seemed a very exciting package! So I finally made this myself and was quite happy with the result. Do try it out for yourself too; it's great as a light snack or even for breakfast too, which is what I did this time. Ingredients G Cauliflower 1 cup grated G 3 - 4 mashed boiled potatoes the cauliflower in a grater but if you water slowly and keep the consistency G Boiled mashed peas 1/2 cup prefer you could use an electric grinder relatively thick. Next goes in the finely G 1 Capsicum finely chopped too. chopped capsicum and let cook for G Tomatoes finely chopped 5 - 6 Heat oil in a wide pan. When hot add another few minutes. You can choose to G Onions 2 - 3 finely chopped the onions and sauté till lightly brown. add more or less of any other vegetables G Green chillies finely chopped Then add the ginger and garlic paste (I to your Bhaji, so feel free to experiment G Pau Bhaji masala 1-2 tablespoons personally prefer using fresh ginger and as per your choice. Now add the salt and G Salt to taste garlic and I use them finely chopped but adjust to taste. At this stage you can add G Ginger paste 1 tablespoon even ready made ginger and garlic paste more tomato purée if your Bhaji has not G Garlic paste 1 tablespoon is fine). Add the green chillies too. Now taken on the distinctive lightly reddish G Tomato purée 2 - 3 tablespoons it's time for the tomatoes; sauté and let colour but if you do then cook for G Coriander chopped 2 - 3 tablespoons them cook for a few minutes. Next goes another few minutes. And finally goes in G Oil 2 - 3 tablespoons in the tomato purée (I needed to add the chopped coriander. Your Pav Bhaji is G Water 1/2 cup more tomato purée as my tomatoes now ready. G Pau buns were more orangish in colour). Now add To serve, heat Pav in a pan with G Butter to heat the Pau the readymade Pav Bhaji masala. You butter. Place Bhaji in the serving bowl G Onions to garnish can choose whichever brand your and top with onions. Now squeeze some G Cut limes to top the dish. prefer. You can also adjust the quantity lime juice on top or just place cut lime Recipe according to your taste. Stir this every on the side. Serve with freshly heated To start, prepare all the vegetables as few minutes till the tomatoes have Pav on the side. Enjoy! indicated above in the ingredient list softened and seem well mixed with the and set aside. The potatoes and peas masala. Now add the cauliflower. Let Ms Aditi Pathak is based in need to be boiled, mashed and set aside. this cook for a few minutes. Next goes in Singapore. Widely travelled and from a The onions, tomatoes, capsicum and the mashed potatoes followed by Services background, cooking is one of chillies must be finely chopped. I grated mashed peas and continue to mix. Add her many passions.

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MAROOF’S MUSINGS

he finalisation of the Rafale deal was big news in military circles till the announcement that Indian Army’s Special Forces units have carried Tout at least eight successful strikes across the Line of Control on terrorist camps and launch pads in POK. This is clearly a turning point in Indo-Pak relations, as for the first time there has been a formal acknowledgement from India, of such attacks on targets in POK. This is a legitimate operation, acceptable internationally as ‘hot pursuit’ operations. However, the question that many experts are asking is whether India has the capacity to do go even beyond such raids into Pakistan militarily, if required? Will having state of the art fighter aircrafts serve such a purpose, whether with the Rafale or with any of its rival contenders? Critics say that the IAF has been for too long, obsessed with only making up its squadron deficiencies. With its squadron number pitched originally at 42 several decades ago, that today stands at 32 squadrons, notwithstanding the force multiplication ability of the new generation aircrafts, or even that of the two decade old Sukhoi-30 MKI. It is now public knowledge that following the Pakistani attack on the Maroof Raza Indian parliament in 2001, the government of the day was willing to authorise surgical air strikes on terror camps in POK (that in any case is Indian territory, as stated in the Constitution of India), but these weren’t initiated due to the GEAR UP lack of specific and accurate information of the location of terror camps. Then again in 2008, this was the similar lament, as is perhaps the case now. EVEN MORE Moreover, even if air strikes are ruled out – as some would say that these could be an act of war - what India’s Special Forces most certainly needed then as they do now, especially as India has decided to take this line of action, are not TO STRIKE just fighter jets, but radar evading and night flying helicopters (like the U.S. used to get at Osama bin Laden). The question is why haven’t such helicopters TERROR CAMPS been purchased despite their need being felt for at least 15 years – as long as the search for a new fighter for the IAF took. Money certainly wasn’t the issue, as the Rafale fighter jets deal has shown. Our service chief’s need to insist on not only fulfilling conventional weapon deficiencies– and yes, there are some critical shortages- when the nation expects much more, and that at least one vertical of India’s military capability must be to comprehensively address the threat of cross border terror attacks. This has been our biggest challenge for over two decades and we still are only ready with troops, not the air arm, to deal with them. For that, India needs an inter-services special services command- under the Chief’s of Staff Committee - that must include all the special forces units of the three services, with adequate intelligence and technical staff, so that they can be launched swiftly after the next terror strike, without too much time being wasted on deliberations either politically or militarily. Moreover, setting up such a command headquarter would cost about the same as one Rafale fighter jet! So we must get on with it. As of now, every service is shamelessly guarding its turf of operations, with each ready to go to war on its own! There is neither a national security doctrine that enunciates a combined operations philosophy nor is there much integration between the three services. And while it is good to keep raising the demand for a CDS or its equivalent and for greater civil-military cooperation, our services would do well to address this crying need, to begin with.

For more details on Maroof Raza, visit: https:/ / www.maroofraza.com.

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“SALUTE” HAS PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF SPECIAL ISSUES, COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON A THEME OR A REGIMENT

SALUTE welcomes queries for a Special Issue. For more details please email us at [email protected] Visit our website: https://www.salute.co.in and https://saluteindia.org 44-Back Page AD_00_COVER_1.qxd 10/7/2016 10:56 AM Page 1

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