Gen Bandicoot came to ceasefire after Operation Parakram and Kargil from May 99 to middle of 2002, he had run out options, PAF, PN were in no position to fight, it picked up again only after the new block 50/52 F-16's, upgrade of and purchase of older F-16's came with 500 Amraams, LGB's and GBU's by 2010. Annouced by Bush Admin in 2005, for its own reasons UPA-1 did not protest this aid beign given to Pakis.Anujan wrote:Audacious move, hopefully it works out.
I am dhoti shivering for two reasons
1. UT with Legislative assembly means that nobody has any power. Usually the chance that you can someday get power is what makes people behave. What happens to Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba? Will they go gently into the good night? Or start cutting deals with Bakistan and hurrirats? If people reject moderates (yes they are moderates, at least they are not totting a AK), who will their leaders be?
2. This gives Bakistan no reason to behave. Not that they were behaving in the past, but remember that Gen Bandicoot's ceasefire is what enabled us to fence the border. They send in jiahadis, we go door to door, some young kid starts pelting stones, rinse and repeat.
I hope better sense prevails for at least two years and in those two years I hope that the administration is efficient, roots out all the fat corrupt rats, there is direct delivery of services and development to the people and they see real improvement in their lives and reject the gun.
Items like Denel/ Soltam 155mm upgrades, Anti material rifles were playing Havoc with the PA.
It depends on the PA and PAF and their assessment of IA and IAF. If they think there is too much pain for them they will keep quiet, if they think they have a chance to well, they will go for it.