Modern warfare requires modern techniques. An Israeli team who surveyed the wreckage after 26/11/08 had mentioned that the Indian commandos were equipped with improper weapons. In a hostage situation, the commandos needed to be given light weapons so that innocents don't get hurt in the cross-fire. Which wasn't the case.
The problem is not just with the commando units but the entire 1-million strong Indian Army. The Indian Army comprises of very brave men and women equipped with weapons and trained for conventional war. This is a relic of our British colonial past. The British had marshalled the forces to counter: An internal revolt like the 1857 First war of Independence and to fight classical European style wars on behalf of the British.
To that end the Indian Army performed magnificently. The Sikh and Gorkha regiments remained loyal to the British and helped them quell the 1857 uprising and the Indian Army was the decisive force that helped the Allied forces win both World Wars.
Then the British left and the Indian Army was split between two countries. Both being similarly trained, fought 3 conventional wars where the Indian Army's size proved to be the decisive factor in India's favour. At the same time its inability to halt the '62 Chinese incursion exposed its inherent and obvious flaws in being at sea on the mountains.
Since then the Indian Army top brass and their political masters have only been reactive. They've continued to style the army for an improbable conventional war, buying tanks, aircrafts and ships which are of little use in countering our crafty enemy's strategy.
Pakistan, having realized after '71 that victory against India through a conventional war is impossible have moved to a different strategy to finish India, it's called, "Death by a thousand cuts." The strategy used by Muslim Bedouin tribes in North Africa to kill the elephant.
The 'Elephant' is India and their strategy is a series of terror attacks across the country to bleed India to death.
They need a reason and Kashmir is it. It's not that Pakistan wants or care for Kashmir. But by keeping the issue alive, it gives them a reason, a steady flow of dumb-ass miyas willing to blow themselves up for that cause and a counter to India when we raise the issue of cross-border terrorism at international forums.
It's a well-known strategy and all elephants bleed to death after a 1000 cuts. We will too if we don't counter it.
The first part of our plan has to begin with our army and the way we understand and appreciate how wars will be fought in the future and most importantly now, in the present.
It's a wonderful feeling to watch our smart army men march past us on 26th of January in their fine uniforms. Their turbans, plumes and tanks are like the tusks of an elephant. Look very fierce and impressive but absolutely useless in modern warfare. In fact they're a hindrance.
Tell me what use was a tank in these Pathankot attacks? They were useless because they could have blown apart an aircraft if they missed. And what use is a fighter aircraft? The enemy uses missiles not bombers these days. And you can't fight dog-fights in these supersonic jets, I hope you know that. Fighter jets are useful when huge distances are to be covered. But they're costly and require training besides also jeopardizing the lives of our pilots. They're also not made here so very costly to procure from American/European countries.
But do we need so many fighter planes? Our threat is from our neighbours. And fortunately we have the world's best missile technologists in our own country. We can easily batter both enemies at a fraction of the cost using accurate missiles. So why aren't we doing it?
Our 1-miilion army, similarly needs to be trained to counter these low-intensity wars. How do we dissuade the Pakistani elite from attacking our innocent people. Why can't we target their soft underbellies? Why don't we attack their families? Right now they have nothing to lose. They don't care if a lakh dumb-ass fiyadeens die. But if one of their own is killed they'll think. First they'll cry, then swear revenge, but when more bodies come in, they'll realize. That the elephant can hit back where it hurts the most.
War is dirty. But you have a choice. Either die like a bakri or fight like a tiger. The Pakistanis changed the rules to suit themselves. Let's change it again, to suit us.
Let's make them bleed. Let's make them cry instead of us watching the young widows and bereaved children cry at the funeral of our brave faujis.
The problem is not just with the commando units but the entire 1-million strong Indian Army. The Indian Army comprises of very brave men and women equipped with weapons and trained for conventional war. This is a relic of our British colonial past. The British had marshalled the forces to counter: An internal revolt like the 1857 First war of Independence and to fight classical European style wars on behalf of the British.
To that end the Indian Army performed magnificently. The Sikh and Gorkha regiments remained loyal to the British and helped them quell the 1857 uprising and the Indian Army was the decisive force that helped the Allied forces win both World Wars.
Then the British left and the Indian Army was split between two countries. Both being similarly trained, fought 3 conventional wars where the Indian Army's size proved to be the decisive factor in India's favour. At the same time its inability to halt the '62 Chinese incursion exposed its inherent and obvious flaws in being at sea on the mountains.
Since then the Indian Army top brass and their political masters have only been reactive. They've continued to style the army for an improbable conventional war, buying tanks, aircrafts and ships which are of little use in countering our crafty enemy's strategy.
Pakistan, having realized after '71 that victory against India through a conventional war is impossible have moved to a different strategy to finish India, it's called, "Death by a thousand cuts." The strategy used by Muslim Bedouin tribes in North Africa to kill the elephant.
The 'Elephant' is India and their strategy is a series of terror attacks across the country to bleed India to death.
They need a reason and Kashmir is it. It's not that Pakistan wants or care for Kashmir. But by keeping the issue alive, it gives them a reason, a steady flow of dumb-ass miyas willing to blow themselves up for that cause and a counter to India when we raise the issue of cross-border terrorism at international forums.
It's a well-known strategy and all elephants bleed to death after a 1000 cuts. We will too if we don't counter it.
The first part of our plan has to begin with our army and the way we understand and appreciate how wars will be fought in the future and most importantly now, in the present.
It's a wonderful feeling to watch our smart army men march past us on 26th of January in their fine uniforms. Their turbans, plumes and tanks are like the tusks of an elephant. Look very fierce and impressive but absolutely useless in modern warfare. In fact they're a hindrance.
Tell me what use was a tank in these Pathankot attacks? They were useless because they could have blown apart an aircraft if they missed. And what use is a fighter aircraft? The enemy uses missiles not bombers these days. And you can't fight dog-fights in these supersonic jets, I hope you know that. Fighter jets are useful when huge distances are to be covered. But they're costly and require training besides also jeopardizing the lives of our pilots. They're also not made here so very costly to procure from American/European countries.
But do we need so many fighter planes? Our threat is from our neighbours. And fortunately we have the world's best missile technologists in our own country. We can easily batter both enemies at a fraction of the cost using accurate missiles. So why aren't we doing it?
Our 1-miilion army, similarly needs to be trained to counter these low-intensity wars. How do we dissuade the Pakistani elite from attacking our innocent people. Why can't we target their soft underbellies? Why don't we attack their families? Right now they have nothing to lose. They don't care if a lakh dumb-ass fiyadeens die. But if one of their own is killed they'll think. First they'll cry, then swear revenge, but when more bodies come in, they'll realize. That the elephant can hit back where it hurts the most.
War is dirty. But you have a choice. Either die like a bakri or fight like a tiger. The Pakistanis changed the rules to suit themselves. Let's change it again, to suit us.
Let's make them bleed. Let's make them cry instead of us watching the young widows and bereaved children cry at the funeral of our brave faujis.
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