Indian Army News & Discussions - 11 June 2014

[Pratyush]

Condolences to the family of the young officer.

[chaanakya]

Its very sad. May he come back to serve the Nation again.

[member_28482]

RIP Major Dhruv. Sad news..

[member_28482]

Any Information about the Incidence, How it happened apart from media news..

[shiv]

So sad.

http://idrw.org/army-officer-killed-in- ... more-74216

A young Army officer was killed in a freak accident during a training exercise in the Pokhran range in Rajasthan last night.

Major Dhruv Yadav, believed to be in his late twenties, was struck by a splinter during a fire power demonstration involving Arjun tanks of the Army’s 75 Armoured Regiment.
NDTV has learnt that Major Yadav may have either been struck by a splinter from a misfired round from a tank behind the one that he was travelling on or by a splinter from an artillery shell.

A post-mortem is being conducted to ascertain the cause of death and the Army has launched a full inquiry.

Sources have told NDTV that the young Major was told by fellow soldiers that he was bleeding from the neck. Major Yadav finally succumbed to his injuries.

Formerly an Instructor at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Major Yadav is survived by his wife who is eight months pregnant.

[shiv]

And the soldier leaves behind a 8 month pregnant wife...the father of the officer gave permission for last rites to be undertaken at the unit itself. Such are the vagaries of soldiering...RIP Sir.

[Raja Bose]

He may not have even realized initially thay he was mortally wounded by the splinter. Sad.

[Rahul M]

and this is a day in office in the life of a soldier, something us civvies can know of but never really appreciate.

[Vivek K]

RIP brave heart! Extremely sad.

[member_22539]

and this is a day in office in the life of a soldier, something us civvies can know of but never really appreciate.

So true. People in civilian life only expect dangers to soldiers engaged in active combat. They (we) blissfully forget that the very environment these brave souls inhabit is rife with danger, combat or no combat.

[Thakur_B]

Credit to whoever decided to repaint that ugly brown furniture on the INSAS. Looks much smarter now.

Insas was always available in black. Army ordered it in leaf brown colour. They also order Akms in the same colour.

[Viv S]

Article in the Guardian. Fairly critical about UN peacekeeping efforts. Several examples involve the IA. Gives out the other perspective too (viz. the West being unwilling to send its troops either). Can someone add info/clarifications to that the quoted examples?

What's the point of peacekeepers when they don't keep the peace?

India, which has sent more soldiers on UN missions than any other country – 180,000 on 49 missions – is openly challenging the move towards what some see as mostly rich and powerful countries on the security council sending the poor to fight and die.

“India is completely committed to peacekeeping provided peacekeeping is what we know it to be,” said India’s ambassador to the UN, Asoke Kumar Mukerji. “The soldiers in the blue helmets, under the blue flag, are impartial. They are not supposed to be partisan. If somebody wants soldiers to go in and fight they should hire mercenaries, not take UN soldiers.”

In 2000, British forces landed in Sierra Leone after UN peacekeepers stood aside or fled an advance on the country’s capital, Freetown, by a notoriously brutal rebel group, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). Several hundred peacekeepers surrendered to the rebels.

A British general, David Richards, was sent in by London to evacuate foreign citizens. Confronted with the RUF’s horrific record and the imminent killing of large numbers of civilians, he defied his instructions and used UK troops to spearhead a counter attack.

Richards, who went on to become Britain’s chief of the defence staff, said he was “staggered” to find that the Indian UN force commander, Major General Vijay Jetley, interpreted his mandate as that of a neutral intermediary. In Richards’ view the UN should have been siding with the elected government against rebels breaking a peace agreement.

“I had a real argument with Major General Jetley about this. The Indian hierarchy were very reluctant to lose a single person on a UN operation,” said Richards. “They were very reluctant to fight and that permeated quite a lot of the other contingents as well, to the point where I remember going in to the UN headquarters on my first day there in May 2000 and finding Jetley. I said General, we’ve got to stop the RUF, you’ve got to tell your people to fight. At least hold their positions. He was very reluctant to do it.”

India said its troops were sent to monitor the peace, not enforce it. The UN mission in Sierra Leone was further complicated by antipathy between some of the national forces, particularly Jetley and his Nigerian deputy, Brigadier General Mohammed Garba.

In an internal UN report, Jetley accused Garba and other senior Nigerians of being more interested in smuggling diamonds than keeping the peace. Nigeria’s military responded by accusing the Indian general of “trying to justify his ineptitude, inaction and inefficiency in the leadership of a multinational force”.

Such differences of opinion over the role of UN peacekeepers were replicated 12 years later in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as rebels advanced on the eastern town of Goma. The Indian commander of part of the largest peacekeeping force in the world ignored orders from UN officials to defend the town and called the Indian defence ministry in New Delhi to ask what he should do. He was told not to resist. The rebels seized Goma to the anger of Ban Ki-Moon, who regarded it as a “personal humiliation”, according to a senior UN official.

By then members of the wider UN mission in the DRC had come to look like bystanders to mass killing, rape and terror. Richard Gowan, until recently research director at the Centre on International Cooperation, a thinktank in New York that works closely with the UN on peacekeeping, said Indian forces in Sierra Leone and the DRC were taking orders from the defence ministry in New Delhi, not the UN commanders on the ground.

“It’s very clear that there are directions from New Delhi to avoid all risk, and that there are parallel lines of command between New Delhi and their guys in the field. That’s true of a lot of countries. A lot of field officers, if they get any order to take a significant risk in a peace operation, they’ll immediately phone home. That’s making it almost impossible for some force commanders to get anything done because they have no true control over their own units,” he said.

India strongly opposes a move towards more forceful peacekeeping. “When it has been used as a tool to ensure that a peace agreement is observed so that peace building can take place, or as a tool to facilitate a political resolution, it works,” said Mukerji, the Indian ambassador to the UN.

“But if peacekeeping is to be seen as peace enforcement, then unfortunately we can’t see the UN charter allowing such a radical departure of the use of peacekeeping.

“Peacekeeping is not an end in itself. The end is political stability and peacekeeping is just a tool to bring about political stability. What’s happening now is the cart is being put before the horse. I think that’s a very unfortunate development.”

Gowan is sceptical for different reasons. “I think that we may be stumbling into an enormous strategic trap because if we have learned over the last decade that very highly capable Nato forces, US forces, actually can’t suppress Islamic extremist groups, why on earth do we think slightly strengthening UN missions is going to give us a tool that allows us to fight terrorists?” he said.

[uddu]

Incident from Nov 2012, during the secular UPA regime. Similar to the policy during that time when border violations from Pakistan happened every now and then our Army has to call someone in Delhi to get permission to fire back which never happened.

[Bob V]

I was under the assumption that Gen. Jetley did a good job at that time OR was Operation Khukri, outside the preview of UN peacekeeping efforts.

[rohitvats]

I was under the assumption that Gen. Jetley did a good job at that time OR was Operation Khukri, outside the preview of UN peacekeeping efforts.

Operation Khukri was launched to relieve the Indian contingent which were encircled by the rebel troops. It was not undertaken to stop the advance of rebels or help the government forces in any way. Which is what the news item linked above wants to happen.

[shiv]

That is what I like to hear
Attacking Pak Army Hqrs an option: Indian Army

Srinagar, Sept 29:
Brigadier J S Cheema of the Army’s Baramulla-based 19th Infantry Division said attacking Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi was an option with the Indian Army.
Addressing a conference organized by the Army to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of 1965 war at Army’s strategic Srinagar-based 15 Corps headquarters, Brig Cheema said, attacking Pakistan Army headquarters was an option with the Indian Army.

“What are we waiting for? Another 26/11?” he said.

Brig Cheema said New Delhi should deal with Islamabad the way the United States dealt with Pakistan when it carried the Operation Neptune Spear in May 2011 that resulted in the death of the former Al-Qaeda chief, Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

He said Indian Army had already carried attacks inside another country – Myanmar - by attacking the camps of its rebel leaders and attacking Pakistan Army headquarters would not be something new.
Indian Army had “crossed over to Myanmar territory” and launched a massive search involving hundreds of Army men and helicopters to track down the rebels during the operation.

Brig Cheema also said that the Army needs to play a role in making the separatist leadership in Kashmir irrelevant.
“Issues of trivial nature are raked up and call for bands are being initiated,” he said. “Syed Ali Geelani, who has been a politician and contested polls in the past, is afraid of contesting polls now.”

Brig Cheema said if Army does not indulge in human rights violations, separatists would be marginalized.
Chalking out roles for the Army, he said, “Our job is to maintain the sanctity of the borders and help in maintaining peace in the hinterland.”

Major General Raj Shukla of the 19th Infantry Division, in his speech said, New Delhi need not worry about the growing Islamabad-Beijing military partnership. “China has never come to the rescue of Pakistan in wars,” he said. “That kind of military assistance is not forthcoming although there is transfer of military technology and the economic corridor coming up between the two countries.”

He said as far as the India-Pakistan military relations were concerned, Indian Army was defensive in larger sense but at the operational and tactical level, there was an offensive intent. Seconding Brig J S Cheema, he said if Pakistan initiates any conflict, Indian Army can escalate the conflict in a number of ways and attacking the Pakistan Army’s headquarter in Rawalpindi was an option.

He said Army’s counter-infiltration grid was better now but the recruitment of qualified youth by militant groups was a cause of concern. Brig Shukla said the India-Pakistan conflict was not a case of a Hindu state of India versus a Muslim state of Pakistan as Muslim population in India was more than the Muslim population in Pakistan.
He said the 1965 war between India and Pakistan was a result of Pakistan’s obsession of Kashmir. “Pakistan’s economy then was more vibrant than outs and they first tried negotiations which proved futile,” Brig Shukla said. “Then they thought force will work and went for a war.”

Brigadier Rajeev Puri, the Commander of Kigam Garrison of the Army, said there was no reality in Kashmiri youth joining Islamic State (IS).“There are reports of only one Kashmiri having joined the IS,” he said. “Waving IS flag is something else and may be only about showing solidarity.” faisul@risingkashmir.com

[Karan M]

Can one imagine a conference like the above in pipsqueak MMS's time? Pliant media would be raging about warmonger generals taking over role of GOI and what not.

[Karan M]

https://twitter.com/SJha1618?ref_src=tw ... wgr^author

Respect!!

The Rashtriya Rifles celebrate their silver jubilee tmrw. They have won 'only' 6 Ashok, 34 Kirti & 221 Shaurya Chakras till date.

It is safe to say that RR is yet another Indian Army institution that we are all extremely proud of.

Moreover RR has also neutralized 'only' 16,368 terrorists, which includes 8,522 killed, 6,737 apprehended and 1,109 surrendered till date.

[Karan M]

For folks who are new to this:

The Ashok Chakra is awarded for valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for the "most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice" other than in the face of the enemy.

The RR has six.

The Kirti Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, including posthumous awards. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Maha Vir Chakra. It is second in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards; it comes after Ashoka Chakra and before Shaurya Chakra. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class II.

The RR has 34.

The Shaurya Chakra is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel, sometimes posthumously. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Vir Chakra. It is generally awarded for Counter-Insurgency operations and actions against the enemy during peace-time. It is third in order of precedence of peacetime gallantry awards and comes after the Ashoka Chakra and the Kirti Chakra. It precedes the Sena Medal. Before 1967, the award was known as the Ashoka Chakra, Class III.

The RR has 221.

In short, the equivalents of their wartime PVC, MVC, VC. And those are 8522 terrorists and who knows how many 26/11s the men and women of the Army and RR have protected the rest of India from.

[Aditya G]

I was under the assumption that Gen. Jetley did a good job at that time OR was Operation Khukri, outside the preview of UN peacekeeping efforts.

IIRC there was severe breakdown of relationship between Gen Jetley and his sub-ordinates from other (african) nations. He did not tolerate their incompetence nor corruption and called it out in public as well.

[Karan M]

Not just the african nations but the brits too IIRC. They disliked having to serve under somebody not from their oh so posh NATO.

[arun]

Lt Gen Prem Nath Hoon, former Army commander of Western Command and Siachen hero , unfortunately seems to have caught the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s “conspiracy theory” disease, likely from his grandsons wife (Grandson of Lt Gen Hoon marries Pak girl) and comes up with a plot by then COAS and VCOAS, Gen. K Sundarji and Lt. Gen. S F Rodrigues, to topple Rajiv Gandhi's government in 1987 :

Army had plotted to topple Rajiv govt in 1987: Retd Gen

[rohitvats]

^^^What bl@ddy utter nonsense...moving three Para-Commando battalions to Delhi will allow for a coup?

[Rahul M]

trying to sell his book.

[johneeG]

Its a serious allegation coming from a former commander of western command. I don't think one can brush it aside just like that without a full probe unless the same person withdraws the comment.

For the record, I don't believe that allegation because there were too many other issues and there was simply no time for a coup even if we assume that Indian Army would do such a thing.

Just see the chronology of events of that time:
April, 1986: Pakistanis catpure the highest peak near siachin area. They fire on the Indian location in Siachen from these heights. The idea must be to force Indians to leave Siachen. In short, Pakistanis try to regain Siachen after the death of Indira Gandhi.
November, 1986: Operation Brasstacks by Indian Army in Rajasthan. It was a major military exercise that took place in 1986 until its execution in 1987. Operation Brasstacks involved numbers of infantry, mechanized, air assault divisions, and 600,000 army personnel who were massed to within 100 miles of Pakistan.
January, 1987: Pakistan had put its entire nuclear installations on "high-alert", and the crisis atmosphere was heightened. During this time, Abdul Qadeer Khan gave an interview to Indian diplomat, Kuldip Nayar in which he made it clear that "Pakistan would use its atomic weapons if its existence was threatened"; although he later denied having made such a statement. The Indian diplomats claimed that their diplomats in Islamabad were warned that Pakistan would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if attacked.
February, 1987: Cricket diplomacy by Zia ul Haq. Zia visited India for a cricket match between India & Pakistan having invited himself. Zia's estimation was that he and Rajiv could meet quite cordially but could not agree on substantive issues.
March, 1987: The tensions diminished due to cricket diplomacy and an agreement by the two nations to withdraw 150,000 troops in the Kashmir area, followed by a second agreement to withdraw more troops in the desert area was also signed the same month. But, Operation Brasstacks continued. Though Pakistani diplomats were invited to watch.
June 26, 1987: Operation Rajiv by Indian Army daringly captures the highest peaks of Siachen from Pakistan. Pakistan doesn't dare to escalate. So, operation Brasstacks seems to be a defensive mechanism to stop Pakistan from trying anything funny when Operation Rajiv is carried out.
July 1987: IPKF gets into Sri Lanka to fight the LTTE.

After that IPKF was involved in Sri Lanka until 1990 while Sundarji seems to have retired around 1988.

So, I don't see a window of opportunity for a coup. No army does a coup when it is getting involved with external enemies. And Rajiv Gandhi seems to have supported the Army and its plans to the hilt. So, I don't see any major reasons for a coup either.

So, there doesn't seem to be a motive or opportunity for a coup in 1986-1988 period.

[chetak]

trying to sell his book.

and rape the IA at the same time. A real pompous ...........

[rohitvats]

trying to sell his book.

and rape the IA at the same time. A real pompous ...........

IIRC, he had major difference of opinion with Sundarji on Operation Brasstacks.

From Wikipedia:

The commander of the Indian Army's Western Command, Lieutenant General P.N. Hoon, maintained that, "Operation Brasstacks was a mobilization of the entire army of India."[7]

The magnitude and large scale direction of the exercise led to Pakistan fears that India was displaying an overwhelming conventional superiority and was planning to invade Pakistan, and dismember it by surgical strikes, as it did with East Pakistan during the Indo-Pak 1971 Winter war.[8] According to General Hoon's memoirs, a letter was directed to Sundarji by Western Command, arguing that "when such a large exercise is conceived", the movement of Indian forces is going to attract the attention of Pakistan.[7] General Hoon maintained that, General Sundarji did not inform Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi about the scale of the operation and such details were hidden to him.[7] Hoon also wrote in his memoir: "Brasstacks was no military exercise. It was a plan to build up the situation for a fourth war with Pakistan." Indian scholar, Paul Kapur further argues that during the Operation Brasstacks, Indian army persuaded multiple times, but unsuccessfully, to attack Pakistan.[9]

Brasstacks was no military exercise. It was a plan to build up a situation for a fourth war with Pakistan. And, what is even more shocking is that the Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, was not aware of these plans.

— Lieutenant General P.N. Hoon, Commander Western Command, source[10]

He has used every opportunity to highlight his difference of opinion with Sundarji and his negative opinion on the whole Exercise Brasstacks.

And people, before you start calling him names, do also remember that he was the brain behind Operation Meghdoot, which ensured that we beat PA to Siachen. And whose original plan for maintaining control over Siachen was much bolder and comprehensive than what it turned out to be.

[chetak]

^^^^^^^

unfortunately, it looks like namak/nishan lost the fight to book sales

[rohitvats]

<SNIP> June 26, 1987: Operation Rajiv by Indian Army daringly captures the highest peaks of Siachen from Pakistan. Pakistan doesn't dare to escalate. So, operation Brasstacks seems to be a defensive mechanism to stop Pakistan from trying anything funny when Operation Rajiv is carried out.<SNIP>

Let me tell you a small secret, a secret which people know but no one to-date, except Ravi Rikhye of Orbat.Com, has ever commented upon.

That Operation Brasstacks was an attempt to retake Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Yes, you heard me right. Exercises in Rajasthan was to ensure that if Pakistan opened up another front, we were ready. That unlike PA in 1965, IA was ready for counter-attack in plains. In fact, it was holding a dagger to heart of Pakistan to NOT escalate outside POK theater.

Sundarji had air-lifted 6 Mountain Division (which is Army HQ reserve) to Leh. And 4 Infantry Division was south of Zoji La - poised for Astore and Gilgit. It was to be a two-pronged attack - along the Indus towards Skardu and from Gurez to Astore and Gilgit.

And guess what? IAF airlifted BMP-1 IFV into Thoise/Shyok Valley in dead of winter. All planned for action towards west.

It was the Americans who got wind of the plan through satellite intelligence and alerted the Pakees. And they double reinforced the sector using the ever reliable C-130 Hercules.

That my dear good sir, was the genius of General Sundarji. And the last military effort made to take POK.

Read this account of airlift of BMP to Thoise and Shyok Valley:

http://airmarshalashokgoel.blogspot.in/ ... chive.html

The Facts : About Thoise operation by IL-76

I was then in command of NO44 Sqn. Operation Brass Tacks was at peak and blooming. All Sqdns of the IAF had been moved to their Op locations. So was 44 Sqn moved to Nagpur by mid Jan 1987.

I was called to Air Hq during 3rd week of Jan 1987. Then ACAS (Ops) briefed me that Cat ‘A’ vehicles of the Army (BMP’s) are to be moved to Shyok Valley. Thoise Runway was just 1700 meters at that time: I discussed the matter with the ACAS (ops) and the Dops (T & M). And desired that I would like to make a heptr recee to Thoise.

The recee was done on 27/28 Jan 1987. A Broad white line was marked on the landing R/W to indicate the touchdown point. All touchdowns were to be ensured ± 1 meter of the white line. Any overshoot of white line would have resulted over shoot and the touchdown before the white line would have resulted a touchdown on Kaccha. WAT calculations were done and an empty aircraft (IL-76) landing was carried out on 29 Jan 1987. After that 2 IL-76 were positioned at Chandigarh and I commanded 18-20 sorties in about 4 days time.

Brief details

Date 29-30, 31 Jan & 1 Feb 1987 RW length at TE-1700 meter. Load carried –one BMP in each sortie was carried weighing 13.5 Tonnes.Off loading time at TE-7 minuts.

Spl Note- Every time I landed at Thoise Lt Gen Handoo, then Army Cdr NC, used to bring a cup of tea and a samosa for me and hug me and state “Ashok you have done yeoman service to the Indian Army. At that time IL-76 were operating even at sea level to airfields of 2400 meter length.

Later on IL-76 started regular operations to Thoise when R/W was extended to 2700 meters. I was AOC CG during 1992-1993. Now R/W length at Thoise is 3500 meters. That is the story of Thoise. One of the most satisfying operations, at that time. Senior Tpt Pilots had warned me “don’t be fool hardy. You would kill yourself”. The firsthand account of Thoise operations

[rkhanna]

Blood on their hands: Expose of Indian Army's shocking staged encounters (Book Review)

http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 270_1.html

[Karan M]

LOL, so an entire book based on ONE anonymous interview (and that too with zero evidence or proof apart from author's claims)? In any other country, Harpers Collins would have never published this based on the dubious legality and potential for slander, lawsuits. Of course this is 3rd world India, and anything goes.

The MOD and Indian Army should examine these allegations and take Harper Collins to court if these allegations are false.

[ShauryaT]

That Operation Brasstacks was an attempt to retake Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Yes, you heard me right. Exercises in Rajasthan was to ensure that if Pakistan opened up another front, we were ready. That unlike PA in 1965, IA was ready for counter-attack in plains. In fact, it was holding a dagger to heart of Pakistan to NOT escalate outside POK theater.

Sundarji had air-lifted 6 Mountain Division (which is Army HQ reserve) to Leh. And 4 Infantry Division was south of Zoji La - poised for Astore and Gilgit. It was to be a two-pronged attack - along the Indus towards Skardu and from Gurez to Astore and Gilgit.

COAS Sundarji had many operations under his belt from Brasstacks, Trident, Checker Board and Falcon. Apart from Operation Pawan and the escalation in Punjab during his term, which of the operations of maneuver were real and to what purpose, the full record for the same is yet to come out. This was also the time the Americans were deeply embedded and supportive of the PA due to USSR in Afghanistan. An intent and capability to retake PoK at that time is extremely doubtful

[chaitanya]

Didn't know where else to put this:

National War Memorial, new AIIMS & bonus for railway employees: 7 things Cabinet cleared today

Here are the seven things that the Cabinet okayed today:

1) National War Memorial and a National War Museum at Princess Park, near India Gate, for soldiers who died post-independence. The estimated cost of the project will be around Rs 500 crore and the total time for completion of the entire project is estimated to be five years.

[arun]

X Posted from the STFUP thread.

Indian Army opposes govt’s plan for border embankments

Mischievous Article By Paki Newspaper ?

According to the paper, this is the same project over which Pakistan complained to the UN Security Council a few days ago. Pakistan’s Ambassador to UN Maleeha Lodhi, in a letter to the President of the Security Council, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, alleged that India was planning to construct a ‘wall’ along the border, which it called a working boundary, to convert it “into a quasi international border”.

All the more reason, the project should go go ahead

No. The article is sourced from The Hindu:

Army opposes plan for bund on border; PMO to take a call

[arun]

Military version of the Red Light Culture of the Politico's and Babu's ?


"A lieutenant general was recently ridiculed on social media after a boat he hired to scatter a relative's ashes in the Ganges was photographed sporting the official army flag and three stars ........................

Other examples of "overenthusiastic adornment" include mules in inaccessible mountainous areas and golf carts, caps, and caddy T-shirts at army golf courses across the country .........................." :


Indian Army rebukes officers for overenthusiastic insignia placement

[rsingh]

Such differences of opinion over the role of UN peacekeepers were replicated 12 years later in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as rebels advanced on the eastern town of Goma. The Indian commander of part of the largest peacekeeping force in the world ignored orders from UN officials to defend the town and called the Indian defence ministry in New Delhi to ask what he should do. He was told not to resist. The rebels seized Goma to the anger of Ban Ki-Moon, who regarded it as a “personal humiliation”, according to a senior UN official.

Peacekeepers are to keep peace anot not to win territory for a country. What fundoos are working at UN. This is basic;

[rohitvats]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/arm ... klQOJ.html

Army brings in artillery for LoC fight, ready to ‘shock’ Pakistan

A scrawl by a young army officer on the remnant of a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fired by Pakistani soldiers on an Indian position captures the mood along the Line of Control (LoC).

“En RPG fired at BT. Why? Inki itni himmat!” it says, with En standing for the word ‘enemy’ and BT for a post called ‘Big Tree’.
Pakistani provocations appear to have compelled India to shed its restraint and pursue a more aggressive approach, evident from the Army lifting a self-imposed restriction on bringing in artillery and commanders on the ground being told to be on the lookout for rogue border action teams (BAT).

Toughening its stance along the troubled border, the Army used 120mm mortars -- held by light artillery regiments -- for the first time in Poonch sector in early September after violations by the Pakistani army peaked in intensity and numbers. HT spotted an artillery battery equipped with these heavy mortars at a post called Forward Defended Locality 490, which was moved closer to the LoC on September 18 as hostilities grew.

“We fired 120mm mortars on two different occasions to good effect,” revealed Brigadier Navdeep Brar, commander of Poonch-based 93 infantry brigade. Battalion/ brigade commanders cannot order 120mm mortar fire and the go-ahead has to come from the Northern Army commander in Udhampur. Pakistan, however, uses the destructive weapon freely.

India’s response to border violations has been forceful and has seemingly compelled Pakistan to tone down its belligerence. Guns have been silent along the LoC since Indian and Pakistani commanders met at Chakan Da Bagh -- a border trading point on Poonch-Rawalakot road -- on September 21 to reduce rising hostilities that had left the ceasefire in tatters.

But there’s always a possibility of BAT raids. Terrorists suspected to be backed by Pakistani special forces form such teams, responsible for Indian soldier Hemraj’s gruesome beheading and the cold-blooded murder of five other soldiers in separate cross-border assaults two years ago.

“I have asked battalion commanders to stay ready for BAT raids. It gives us the opportunity to kill them,” said Lieutenant General RR Nimbhorkar, commander of the Nagrota-based 16 Corps.

HT visited several forward posts and found the LoC to be tense, but quiet. It may appear to be a good starting point for the upcoming dialogue between the two director generals of military operations for which dates are being worked out. But just for how long the fragile will peace hold is a question commanders find difficult to answer.

“No one knows when the guns start booming again. It can happen tonight, it may happen tomorrow. But they will be in for a shock if they go back to their old ways,” said Brigadier HS Sahi, commander, I20 infantry brigade located at Bhimber Gali.

His men defend a 45-km meandering stretch of the LoC and also man positions along the fence behind it, the second tier of the Army’s counter-infiltration grid

[ArmenT]

Just reminding members of our latest article on the front page, written by Brigadier Rattan Kaul:
Battle of Atgram - 20th/21st November 1971

Main Army page on BRF is here: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/

Please leave feedback

[Rahul M]

this just blew me away. slick ad !

[Mihir]

Have you seen the full 11 minute ad? It's brilliant!