a_kumar wrote:
Thats an example of when India had the luxury to pick the time. Its an exception for India's defensive posture.
Earlier comment was on when other side picks the time of conflict, which is how next war will start. In case you forgot, there was no prior warning (that India caught) on Kargil.
I agree, it was unprovoked and we were caught off-guard. But, it was a low-intensity conflict (as in, not a through-and-through war) - Pakistan was not "officially" involved. For the same reason, if I mentioned that if the Pak nuclear arsenal was to "accidentally" fall in hands of Taliban - in that case our best defence would be a dozen BrahMos landing on Chagai Hills and for that cases we should have a missile deterrant in place.
However, such could not be the case in case of China. Even with superior military, they cannot afford a war - it will be self-annihilation. So, in such circumstances is when we should be reading the signs.
SaiK wrote:If politicians knows everything about mil preparedness, then we should be seeing an already super power India rather a great power in reckoning.
Since our democracy is entirely driven by people politics, it is better to have systems and policies in place for the worst.
mil speak, we better say only what we have right now in hand.
Yes, I think it's best to be conservative in estimating our strengths. If the Brooks-Bhagat report were to be declassified, this will be loudest and clearest message of the report.