archive: Kargil: Surrender or Die
Kargil: Surrender or Die
Posted by Ashok Chowgule (ashokvc@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in)
Rediff on Net
July 5, 1999
Title: Kargil: Surrender or Die
Author:
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: July 5, 1999
The Rediff Special/ Colonel Anil Athale (retd)
Kargil was certainly a 'wake up' call for the Indians, certainly for
the monopolistic (empty) think-tanks in Delhi. But it must be stressed
that it is no less a warning signal to the entire international
community. Pakistani brigandage in Kargil is as perfidious as the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and certainly more devious than the
Soviet action in October 1962 when it placed short range missiles
armed with nuclear weapons in Cuba.
As time passes and more details of involvement of regular Pakistani
army in the intrusion come to light, the situation presents a grim
picture of a state that is economically bankrupt, is wedded to
medieval notions and ideology, and faces population explosion such as
human history has never seen. The fact that this entity also has
nuclear weapons should send shivers down the spine of not just Indians
but the entire world.
Dr Henry Kissinger was rather prophetic when he wrote that within a
few decades many Third World countries will possess the wherewithal to
make nuclear weapons. 'But nuclear weapons in the hands of weak,
irresponsible or merely ignorant governments presents great dangers'
He goes on to say that therefore the US may well have to lay down the
ground rules for their (nuclear weapons) graduated employment. Else,
many areas of the world will begin to play the traditional role of the
Balkans, the fuse that sets off a holocaust. (Foreign Affairs April
1956). Interestingly, the Kargil episode coincided with a crisis in
the Balkans!
The resemblance between the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the
Kargil adventure are rather striking. It was a economically weak and
militarily insecure (the Penkovsky papers released later showed that
the so-called missile gap and Soviet superiority was a hoax) Soviet
Union (Khrushchev or the military hawks?) that placed the missiles in
Cuba to correct a perceived imbalance. In Kargil it is Pakistan that
sensed that the proxy war in Kashmir was lost, ventured into Kargil,
with doubts about the authorship of the move (the PM or the
military?). In the Cuban missile crisis the US was firm that the only
way to defuse the crisis was to remove those missiles, so is the
Indian position today.
Where the two events differ is that today the world while bringing
pressure on Pakistan is also simultaneously (privately) trying to find
a 'face saving' way put for Pakistan. The safe corridor for retreat of
intruders is one such measure. While in the initial stages that was
indeed an option, but not today. After having shed a lot of blood and
that too due to adherence to the tactic of not crossing the Line of
Control, this is simply unacceptable to Indians, both soldiers and
civilians. But even more importantly, a retreat will be soon paraded
as a victory in Pakistan. Thus at some future date another Pakistani
regime may well attempt a repeat. This is not in the interest of
either India or the world.
The only way to make Pakistani people (let there be no doubt that the
Kargil adventure enjoys widespread support there, 'wah.. wah' brigade
of the Indian peaceniks notwithstanding) realise the enormity of their
crime is to mete out suitable punishment.
The international community will have to move beyond words and impose
economic sanctions on Pakistan. In addition there is a need to impose
an arms embargo on that country. But besides that and in order to
strengthen the forces of moderation in that country and reduce the
influence of religious right, it is necessary to humiliate Pakistan
militarily.
The best way to do it would be to give only two options to the
intruders, surrender or die. Once the intruders surrender, those
responsible for the mutilation and torture need to be tried under
Indian law. The remaining 'soldiers' (not mercenaries) could be
returned to Pakistan via the Wagah border, preferably by the same bus
in which Vajpayee began his quest for peace. Anything less than this
will be a betrayal of brave soldiers who have laid down their lives in
Kargil so that we may live, peacefully.
Colonel Anil A Athale (retired), a Pune-based defence analyst, is a
former head of the War History division at the defence ministry. He
specialises in counterinsurgency and peace keeping operations.
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