jairamesh Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Putting our children in line of fire by Lt. Gen ® Shahid Aziz http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/06-Jan-2013/putting-our-children-in-line-of-fire Kargil, like every other meaningless war that we have fought, brings home lessons we continue to refuse to learn. Instead, we proudly call it our history written in the blood of our children. Indeed, our children penning down our misdeeds with their blood! Medals for some, few songs, a cross road renamed, and of course annual remembrance day and a memorial for those who sacrificed their tomorrow for our today; thus preparing more war fodder for our continuing misadventures. Since nothing went wrong, so there is nothing to learn. We shall do it again. We decide. You die. We sing. Cut off from the reality of pain and affliction that would be brought upon the nation, the decision maker takes the course most suited to his whimsical ambitions. Possible hurdles are sidetracked, on the basis of ÃÃeed to know? or merely bulldozed. Never has there been an institutional decision for the bloodshed. And at the end of each fiasco, original objectives are redefined to cry, Å©urrah! We have won? Our leaders seek personal glory, and desire honour in the eyes of other nations. Sadly, that has become our definition of national honour; but how can we be respected when we have little self respect? So concerned have we become about how they perceive us that we openly deride our religion and all the social values that we once stood for. The whole truth about Kargil is yet to be known. We await the stories of forgotten starved soldiers hiding behind cold desolate rocks, with empty guns still held in their hands. What stood them there could only be a love higher than that of life. Some refused to withdraw even when ordered, and stayed to fight the proverbial last man last round. Such precious blood spilled without cause! Whatever little I know, took a while to emerge, since General Musharraf had put a tight lid on Kargil. Three years later, a study commenced by GHQ to identify issues of concern at the lowest levels of command, was forcefully stopped by him. Ÿhat is your intent? he asked. His cover-up was revealed many years later, on publication of his book. An unsound military plan based on invalid assumptions, launched with little preparations and in total disregard to the regional and international environment, was bound to fail. That may well have been the reason for its secrecy. It was a total disaster. The question then arises why was it undertaken? Were there motives other than those proclaimed, or was it only a blunder, as I had assumed for many years? It certainly wasnÃÕ a defensive manoeuvre. There were no indications of an Indian attack. We didnÃÕ pre-empt anything; nothing was on the cards. I was then heading the Analysis Wing of Inter Services Intelligence and it was my job to know. Our clearly expressed intent was to cut the supply line to Siachen and force the Indians to pull out. This was not a small result we sought and cannot be classified as a tactical manoeuvre, where no one other than the local commander needed to be aware. General Musharraf himself writes, ?00 sq kms of area was captured.... and it created strategic effects? To say that occupying empty spaces along the Line of Control was not a violation of any agreement and came under the purview of the local commander is astounding. This area was with the Indians as a result of Simla Agreement, and there had been no major violation of the Line of Control since 1971. The entire planning and execution was done in a cavalier manner, in total disregard of military convention. In justification, to say that our assessment was not wrong, but there was, ÅÖnreasonably escalated Indian response is a sorry excuse for not being able to assess Indian reaction. Assumptions were made that they would not be able to dislodge us and the world would sit back idly. There were no mujahideen, only taped wireless messages, which fooled no one. Our soldiers were made to occupy barren ridges, with hand held weapons and ammunition. There was no way to dig in, so they were told to make parapets with lose stones and sit behind them, with no overhead protection. The boys were comforted by their commanderÃÔ assessment that no serious response would come. But it did wave after wave, supported by massive air bursting artillery and repeated air attacks. The enemy still couldnÃÕ manage to capture the peaks, and instead filled in the valleys. Cut off and forsaken, our posts started collapsing one after the other, though the general publicly denied it. The gung-ho mannerism, when there were no pressures, was cowed when lines started shrinking and the international setting became frightening. There was no will to stay the course. Media was hushed to silence, so that pulling out does not become a political issue. We will sing when our songs donÃÕ tie us down. The operation, in any case, didnÃÕ have the capacity to choke Siachen. When this truth surfaced, the initial aim was quickly modified. Now the book reads, Ū would like to state emphatically that whatever movement has taken place so far in the direction of finding a solution to Kashmir is due considerably to the Kargil conflict. Glory be to the victors. We continue to indulge in bloody enterprises, under the hoax of safeguarding national interest. How many more medals will we put on coffins? How many more songs are we to sing? And how many more martyrs will our silences hide? If there is purpose to war then yes, we shall all go to the battle front, but a war where truth has to be hidden, makes one wonder whose interest is it serving? It must be Allah's country, for who else is holding it afloat?! The writer is a retired lieutenant general and former corps commander of Lahore. It is sickening to the core how Indian media continue to court the enemy of state, Musharraf, continue to invite him to debates in India, it's sad that this bastard is allowed to step foot on Indian soil.
Trichromatic Posted January 28, 2013 Posted January 28, 2013 Putting our children in line of fire by Lt. Gen ® Shahid Aziz http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/columns/06-Jan-2013/putting-our-children-in-line-of-fire It is sickening to the core how Indian media continue to court the enemy of state, Musharraf, continue to invite him to debates in India, it's sad that this bastard is allowed to step foot on Indian soil. As long as he gives them headlines, it's ok for them.
Clarke Posted January 29, 2013 Posted January 29, 2013 We continue to indulge in bloody enterprises, under the hoax of safeguarding national interest. How many more medals will we put on coffins? How many more songs are we to sing? And how many more martyrs will our silences hide? If there is purpose to war then yes, we shall all go to the battle front, but a war where truth has to be hidden, makes one wonder whose interest is it serving? Wrong! The media ought to be controlled by the Fauj to ensure the best interests of the country and maintain peace unlike the irresponsible war-mongering Indian media. /Padosi mode
Crookbond Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 Sharif knew of Kargil intrusion. He wanted to know when the Pak Army was gifting him Kashmir, says retd Pak Gen Pakistani whistleblower - Lieutenant General (retired) Shahid Aziz - in his latest revelations on 1999 Kargil conflict with India has nailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's blatant lies. His latest revelations not only highlight Pakistan's duplicity, but might also revive a debate whether Pakistani civilian authorities could be trusted to take the peace process forward given the treachery in the past in collusion with notorious spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and army . In an interview, Aziz said a senior Pakistani officer told him once that Sharif wanted to know when the Pak army was "gifting him Kashmir". The conversation allegedly happened during a high level meet between army top brass and Pak government. Aziz also listed the chief architects of the Kargil conflict. He said it was the then army chief General Pervez Musharraf's brainchild. Lt Gen Mohammad Aziz, who was the chief of General Staff of Pakistani Army, along with then Force Command Northern Areas chief Lt Gen Javed Hassan and 10 Corps chief Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmad were the three other people who planned and executed Kargil intrusion under Musharraf's guidance. Aziz's candid talk has thrown fresh lights on whether Pakistan's political leadership should also be held guilty for Kargil misadventure and if the then Pakistani premier's defence and claim of innocence needs to be reassessed by the Indian think tank. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nawaz-sharif-shahid-aziz-kargil-conflict-gift-kashmir-pervez-musharraf/1/248283.html
The Outsider Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I have never been able to fathom the underlying reason for the Kargil intrusion/war. Did Pakistan and their think tank seriously think that blocking off the Leh-Srinagar highway would mean India handing over Kashmir? Okay, no one can be that dumb. But my next best guess is that they thought the UN would intervene and ceasefire would be on held positions? Even that's really dumb because none of the previous India - Pakistan wars followed that precedent. This is not a satirical or a rhetorical question, but what was the reason for the Kargil intrusion? Is there some good analysis of the thought process and background behind it which is available to be read?
Yoda-esque Posted January 31, 2013 Posted January 31, 2013 I have never been able to fathom the underlying reason for the Kargil intrusion/war. Did Pakistan and their think tank seriously think that blocking off the Leh-Srinagar highway would mean India handing over Kashmir? Okay' date= no one can be that dumb. But my next best guess is that they thought the UN would intervene and ceasefire would be on held positions? Even that's really dumb because none of the previous India - Pakistan wars followed that precedent. This is not a satirical or a rhetorical question, but what was the reason for the Kargil intrusion? Is there some good analysis of the thought process and background behind it which is available to be read? Yes It is rhetoric.
Ram Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 I have never been able to fathom the underlying reason for the Kargil intrusion/war. Did Pakistan and their think tank seriously think that blocking off the Leh-Srinagar highway would mean India handing over Kashmir? Okay, no one can be that dumb. But my next best guess is that they thought the UN would intervene and ceasefire would be on held positions? Even that's really dumb because none of the previous India - Pakistan wars followed that precedent. This is not a satirical or a rhetorical question, but what was the reason for the Kargil intrusion? Is there some good analysis of the thought process and background behind it which is available to be read? Here's my best guess - Internationalize the border dispute India-Pak to the point where the major world powers almost feel compelled to intervene and 'solve' the Kashmir problem. Its no secret that Pakistan has been desperately trying to make Kashmir one of the 'hotspots' of the planet, along the lines of Middle-east, Palestine etc. India on the other hand, has been adamant that this a bilateral issue and has rejected all outside intervention. What better way to make the leaders of the world think that Kashmir is indeed a huge problem than trying to start a small-scale war? If Kargil had its desired effect for Pakistan, it would have meant international peace conferences b/w India and Pakistan under the auspices of the West, with us potentially being prodded to make heavy concessions, including but not limited to a comprehensive troop pull out from Indian Kashmir.
Clarke Posted February 1, 2013 Posted February 1, 2013 Here's why I think Kargil happened: - Some sort of intended revenge for Siachen - The Generals who planned it were brought up on their racial superiority koolaid under Ayub Khan - Pak Army still had the cold war hangover, in their minds they had defeated a superpower. What was India in comparison ? Their efforts in Punjab & Kashmir also added to their already inflated egos, in particular since these actions went unpunished - The fresh nukes in their weaponry must have exploded their egos and obviously lowered the chances of a full scale war. What they might have calculated correctly was India not dragging the conflict into an extended war like 1965 - Conventional military wisdom says an attacking army needs a 3:1 advantage over the defender on regular terrain, all things being equal. When the terrain is heavily in favor of the defender, the attacker needs to be in 10:1 ratio. If India suffered thousands of casualties, because of the disadvantage on land, they estimated India's morale going down and a willingness for a ceasefire along a new LoC. The racist mind that categorizes an Indian as a hindu weakling might have again contributed here. They also did not estimate India acquiring laser guided munitions after the conflict started and dropping bombs from an altitude where the stingers don't matter.
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