To Tackle China-We need an alliance on the lines of NATO With ASEAN

India hosted the 25th ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on the eve of Republic Day 2018. The very presence of leaders from the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)which includes Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei was a message to a rising and belligerent China that India will not shy away from being a pro-active player in the ASEAN region which has a huge strategic value as over 80 percent of China's oil imports transits straits of Malacca which  is a gateway to South China Sea where 50% of India’s trade flows.

Among the ASEAN Countries Myanmar in recent years has been in China's sphere of influence,Myanmar has allowed China to construct new pipelines to transport gas and oil overland.It will be quite interesting to see how India brings Myanmar back into it's fold.

China enjoys unmatched riparian dominance it has 110 transnational rivers and lakes flowing into 18 downstream countries.Recently China cut off the flow of a tributary of the Brahmaputra River to build a dam as part of a major hydroelectric project in Tibet.China has also built six mega-dams on the Mekong River-the longest river in Southeast Asia.Mekong rises in southeastern Qinghai province, China, it flows through the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province, after which it forms part of the international border between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, as well as between Laos and Thailand. The river then flows through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea south of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

China proclaims South China Sea belongs to China at the same time it also declares Indian Ocean doesn't belong to India.In recent years China has got into high-tempered disputes with Vietnam, Philippines and Laos over disputed islands on the South China Sea.

The recent political crisis in Maldives where the incumbent President Abdulla Yameen who is known for his pro-China policies has imposed emergency and has arrested Chief Justice of Supreme Court.If we allow the situation to slip away we will be losing perhaps the last golden opportunity to keep chinese away.

We should use this differences to build an alliance on the Lines of NATO(In which if any one of these nations was attacked, the others were bound to help defend it.) with ASEAN countries & USA  because neither India or any of ASEAN countries has the Military might to face China alone.

Recently,Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a press conferance confessed China after agreeing to disengage from Doklam stand-off has built helipads,sentry posts and trenches for its army personnel in close vicinity.China will keep us on tenterhooks and keep us engaged on multiple fronts.Time and again we have gone extra mile to improve ties with our neighbours be it Pakistan or China only to be backstabbed again.Biggest example of our foolishness is recognizing Tibet as a part of China in 2003 when China has been fomenting terrorism, insurgencies, and separatism in North-East India since 1960s.China has always supported Pakistan by military aid inorder to keep India engaged in fighting Insurgency.Using it's veto power China has even gone to the extent of repeatedly blocking India’s move to designate Masood Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee.Ironically it was India which passed on the veto power which it was offered to it and suggested China for the same.Today China supplies 63% of Islamabad’s arms need.Chinese like Pakistanis have been playing dirty game with us.

Recently Indian Army COAS General Bipin Rawat said ISI & China have purposely formented Bangladesh immigrants problem inorder to change North Eastern states demographics.Many ASEAN countries have shown intrest in purchasing BRAHMOS Supersonic Cruise missile and AKASH Surface To Air Missile.A Militarily strongh ASEAN will be in our nation interest.Recently our government in a strategic movie signed an agreement with Singapore for using their Naval base for refuelling,re-arming.Also there are reports of India being allowed to build Naval Base in Oman and Seychelles.In order to tame China an Alliance with ASEAN Countries alongwith USA on the lines of NATO is the only way.Our survival whenever war breaks out will depend in how much measure USA will support us.It all depends on USA.

China-Transformation from Dragon to Python

China has always been referred as Dragon because of Dragon's involvement in many Chinese mythological stories and Chinese festival's,But in recent years,Chinese moves are similar to how Python attacks it's prey.Python lurks in a clandestine manner and when ready, swoop in on the unsuspecting prey by rapidly using it's teeth to seize the animal.It then proceeds to coil the prey's body preventing breathing from continuing, and therefore triggering suffocation. This constriction promptly kills the animal. When the animal breathes out, the python's grip gets more and more severe until the animal stops breathing.

China is encircling it's prey-India by developing Commercial ports at Seychelles, Gwadar, Karachi, Colombo, Hambantota, Coco Island and Sittwe.It will in future double up as Chinese Naval Base.Last year, Maldives sold the Feydhoo Finolhu island to China.We have failed to influence countries like Sri Lanka ,Maldives,Myanmar in leasing out their ports to China.Last year, Maldives sold the Feydhoo Finolhu island to China.China constructed road in Gilgit-Baltistan which is technically our territory for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to link China’s Xinjiang to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port,Today China can transport crude oil supplies from Gwadar to Xinjiang.Similarly China has invested heavily in constructing new pipelines to transport gas and oil overland in Myanmar in order to ease it's dependency on Straits of Malacca where in 2016, approximately 80 per cent of China’s oil imports and 11 per cent of natural gas imports transited, with a Myanmar-China gas pipeline completed in October last year.Defense experts routinely talk about our country's armed forces prepardness to fight two-front war when in reality it will be a multi-front war.

India has always been the quintessential soft state. We are unable (or unwilling) to project power beyond its borders, even in our own neighborhood.Our historically timid foreign policy has ensured that we evoke neither respect nor fear among our neighbors. Despite our enormous size, we are  unable to influence or shape our external environment to suit our country's national interests.However the recent standoff at Doklam where our troops crossed into Bhutan and stopped China in it's tracks is a rare show of spine.Though the situation was diffused diplomatically,the truth is we have lived to fight another day and make no mistake,War will come to our doorstep, if not today then in a decade.It is perhaps our lack of strategic planning that we have failed to evolve a consistent, long-term policy towards China which is a upcoming superpower.The Chinese are slowly becoming the regional hegemon. Just like how before 1962 war,Chinese started 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai' propaganda and then followed it by humiliating us in 1962 war,China has consistently back-stabbed us and like always we have always acted foolishly whether it was formally recognizing Tibet as a Chinese territory or whether it was declining a United States offer to India to "take the permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council" around 1953.Not only we rejected this golden offer but our then PM suggested China for the same which they grabbed it with both hands.China exercised the same veto power by blocking a bid at the United Nations by the US, France and Britain to list Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group, as a global terrorist.The same Maulana Masood Azhar whom we had to release in exchange of our hostages of Indian Airlines Flight 814 (IC814) Hijacking.The same China has been fomenting terrorism, insurgencies, and separatism in North-East India and the so-called “red corridor” since the 1960s.In the below attached pic Naga separatist leaders can be seen at the Great Wall of China, 1960s.  

China also claims South China Sea as China's Sea at the same time it declares Indian Ocean is not India's Ocean.When it comes to hypocrisy the Chinese today will put even Americans to shame .China has evolved from an impoverished slumbering introvert to deep-pocketed mercantilist with economic interests across the globe.And in this process it is rapidly building blue-water navy to protect it's Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOC).Recently it commissioned it's Naval Base in Djibouti where Half of China’s oil imports sail through the Mandeb Strait, the choke point off Djibouti that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Since India also depends on Gulf for it's crude oil supplies China in future with it's Naval Base in Dijbouti and port like Gwadar,Hambantota where today Chinese Navy makes port call can potentially block off our oil supplies at it's own timing.As Commerce with South Asian and East Asian nations accounts for around 45 per cent of India’s foreign trade,In order to secure our  Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOC),our government has signed a bilateral agreement that will allow Indian Navy ships logistical support, including refueling, at Singapore’s Changi naval base located near the disputed South China Sea,we will have to secure similar deal in Gulf in order to have dominance over China and thwart off China's evil design.

Economically as well as in Military might China is far more powerful than us.In order to stand up to China's belligerent and bullying strategic moves we need an alliance like NATO.Apart from India,China has territorial or maritime disputes with most of it's neighbor's including Japan,Philipines,Vietnam and Malaysia.In 1971,Indian government brilliantly foresaw the benefits of an alliance with the erstwhile Soviet Union which resulted in signing of  Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation because of which Soviets then sent their Naval Fleet and were able to thwart off American 7th fleet threat.We can no longer rely on Russia blindly when it comes to China because Russia sided with China in ensuring that Pakistan does not get isolated globally. At the 2016 BRICS summit in Goa, Russia did not back India’s demand to name two Pakistan-based terror groups as perpetrators of terrorism against India, thereby shielding Pakistan from censure.Also recently owing to growing Indian Military hardware purchase from USA,Russia supplied 4 Mi-35M attack helicopters.Today we need a treaty like  Indo–Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation with USA,because only USA today can save us from China whenever it makes its move.

Human-shield:Crime or the Way Forward

Ever since Omar Abdullah tweeted photographs and video of an Army Convoy using an apprehended stone -pelter as a human-shield,many so called human right activist have been venting out their anger on social media and News channel debates.It has  now come in the open that the company commander -Major Gogoi had to rush to a polling station after receiving call from ITBP &local Police.They were surrounded by a mob who was about to lynch them.

Despite being in such an extreme pressure situation,Major Gogoi kept his nerve and with intention to avoid killing the stone-pelters who were baying for his and his troops blood,he took the decision to use one of the stone-pelter as a human shield.

Instead of commending Major Gogoi,people like Omar Abdullah are raising hue and cry over the tactics employed by the Major.

People like Omar Abdullah live under the blanket of freedom provided by Indian Army.Instead of being greateful to IA,these people question the manner in which IA provides it.

Garrisoned in a hostile environment far from home,our troops give their prime years in the security of our nation and when they retire they are labelled as a burden on exchequer and denied their rightful pension due,this despite Army personnel start retiring at the age of 33.

When it comes to our country,there are many Omar Abdullah's,who want Army to maintain law and order but when the same Army use strong arm tactics they are the first one to protest.

Many veterans who served in J&K during it's worst years have been voicing this human shield incident as wrong on the part of Major Gogoi.Their line of arguement is-by employing strong arm tactics against stone pelters we are playing right into the hands of seperatist and their masters across the LOC. To some extent this may be true but this is easier said than done.Employing too much restraint has it's negative impact also.The mob becomes more belligerent and will get more emboldened like what happened last week when one of the protester slapped a CRPF jawan.Such incidents brings down the moral of the troops.

Some Veterans may say that incidents like using human shield negates the goodwill reated by ARMY through it's people engagement programmes such as Operation Sadbhavna which 2 years ago established 46 schools in Kashmir.Also,in the past 5 years more than 7,800 youths of Jammu and Kashmir have embarked on educational and national integration tours sponsored by the army.These trips are aimed at providing them exposure to the development in the other parts of India, the new educational opportunities, other cultures and religious sites that demonstrate the secular character of the county, India's constitutional institutions and heritage sites.Operation Sadbhavana is not only a tactical or strategic maneuver of the army but it was also a resolve by men in uniform to come closer to the populace and develop a bond of mutual faith and trust which a soldier enjoys across the country.

Winning Hearts and Minds” (WHAM) activities had an impact in influencing a hostile populace to a more neutral position. The concept emerged during the early years of the insurgency in the Northeast, when units deployed in those areas undertook small scale civic action programmes such as holding medical camps and providing basic goods in remote areas. The small gains manifested into bigger employment of resources by the Army as the protracted insurgency had led to a complete breakdown of government machinery and people were denied basic facilities in terms of health care and education. The Army’s presence and assistance thus had a positive impact on the minds of the local population.

Though such programmes made the difference in North-East ,it is unlikely to help end the bloodbath in J&K.There are many reason for this.

People like Dr Farooq Abdullah often tells on TV,peace in Kashmir can never be achieved withouth talks and composite dialogues with Pakistan.Though 2003 ceasefire between India and Pakistan and gradual thaw in bilateral relations further brought down both the violence and the infiltration levels. But once the talks collapsed in 2007, a new form of resistance — mass protests and stone-pelting — emerged.And it will never end if we don't deal with Pakistan,the way we should deal with it.

People like Dr Farooq Abdullah and many other Indians don't realise,the reason Pakistan sponsors terrorism in Kashmir is to avenge it's humiliation of 1971.They started with Punjab and when we effectively supressed the Punjab Problem,they shifted it north to Kashmir.

The reason Army's people engagement program won't work in J&K because young Kashmiris are being fed on a diet of blood and shahadat.They have been emboldened by the lack of resolve of any government in Delhi to tackle -Pakistan.The bitterness in Local population is driven by purely driven by primordial religious difference.From nearly a quarter century the valley has been ethnically cleansed of its minority Hindus.Such people who kill innocents in the name of religion can never stop their gruesome crimes howsoever well executed programmes such as Operation Sadbhavna will be.
Such people can never be won over.

In any town,village or city if people should have any fear.It should be fear of the law.When the local population itself turns into goons,the forces will have to take unconventional steps.And that's what Major Gogoi did.

Pakistan-You reap what you sow

Yesterday 13-February-2017,Lahore was rocked by a suicide blast which according to latest News report took life of 16 people.4 hours later another city Quetta was also rocked by bomb blast which took another 2 lives.Immediately on Twitter scores of Pakistanis started blaming India for yesterday's attack.If Pakistan truly wants to prosper then it's citizen should get rid of this herd mentality.

To solve any problem,the first mandatory step is to acknowledge that there is one.There is a very popular adage-'You reap what you sow' and today Pakistan is the biggest example of it.But we all know the Pakistanis will never learn.They will continue to use asymmetric warfare to further their strategic needs.The world powers will just continue to act as spectators,just like how they did during 2001 Parliament attack in New Delhi and worse did nothing even after 26/11.The reason for this indifference is that Pakistan sponsored terrorism is a money minting machine not only for Pakistan Army Top Brass but also for American Arm companies.Pakistan Army Top brass continue to show that without military aide their nuclear arsenal runs the risk of being captured by terrorist and this precise reason is used by American policy makers to give military aide to Pakistan which is a boon to American Arm companies.

On other end we have China which cunningly vetoes proposal at UN to designate Masood Azhar a terrorist.The same China seeks regional and global support in it's fight against Uighur terrorists.China’s double standards reinforce the fact that Indo-China counter-terrorism cooperation,which both declared jointly in November 2015 is rhetorical, with no real substance in it.

This teaches only one thing,We have to fight this menace-Pakistan all alone.After URI attack in which we lost 19 soldiers we retaliated in a right note in all spheres.Militarily surgical strike was the retribution attack for URI,Diplomatically we boycotted the SAARC summit in Islamabad, leading to its postponement because we were able to convince several other nations to pull out of the summit.But like always we have always faltered in diplomacy.

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)  is one of the  organisations promoting Pakistan's ongoing showpiece Karachi Literature Festival (KLF). ICCR is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India’s external cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their people.This is nothing but an insult to those 19 soldiers we lost in URI and an insult to all the soldiers we lost after URI Attack.God only knows why of all the literature festival,ICCR chose 'Karachi Literature Festival'.There is nothing wrong in what West calls we Indians-Fools.The people of Pakistan hate us to the core.And this hatred is because of their humiliation in 1971 war.And it is that revenge that they have been unleashing on us.It started with supporting and financing Khalistani movement and when we had crushed that movement they just shifted their treacherous strategy to further north-Kashmir.It is for this reason they bred snakes in their backyard to bite us but you cannot just breed snakes in your backyard in the hope that it will only bite your neighbors,someday it will also bite the one who harbored it and that's what happened in Lahore.

Bombs for Bullet

Yesterday when I first saw the tweets on Indian Army's surgical strikes in POK,a very different feeling,the type of which i never experienced in my life took over me.This was the moment I was dying to hear ever since 2006 serial train blast on Mumbai locals.When the blast took place,I was standing near Cooper Hospital- a Major Muncipal Hospital in Mumbai.I saw scores of ambulance going past me.I could clearly see the ambulance filled with blood of injured or in most cases dead people.Since then I was eagerly waiting for the news bulletin that we all saw yesterday.My blood was all charged up.I am sure every Indian felt the same way.That feeling can never be described it can only be experienced.Every Indian is proud of our Army for carrying out the strike in POK.

The public declaration of the strike marks a paridgm shift in India's approach towards Pakistan.It is now upto Modi government to ensure that we are always on higher side of moral ascendancy.The ball is now in Pakistan's court.Now that we have sent the message to the men in Rawalpindi,it's time to prepare for another retaliation because in all reality Pakistan Army will retaliate.Pakistan Army COAS General Raheel Sharif is set to retire on November 30.He will not retire with this taint of having been humilated by India.Pakistani's have always mastered the art of initiation.Following are some of the options that General Sharif will  probably explore,

1. Carrying out serial blast simultaneously in our major cities like Mumbai,Pune,Delhi,Hyderabad & Bangalore.This can be easily done through sleeper cells that Pakistan has created and used them before.To deny their involvement Pak Army will influence Indian Mujahideen to claim responsibility for the attack.It can also use ISIS card.If this option is explored by Pak Army,then they will hit us when it will hurt us the most.With Dussehra and Diwali coming up in October the terror strike most probably will be carried out at that time.
2. With Pakistan denying India's claim over Surgical Strike and terming it as usual cross border firing,it is probably biding it's time to carry out similar strike.
3. Stroking communal tension through fake images and videos on social media.Already Pakistan Social Media warriors have started uploading videos of terrorist attacking Pak Army personnel as that attack on Indian Army soldiers by Pak Army.In days ahead many fake videos will be uploaded on Social media.

We are fighting the most devious nation on the planet.We have kicked their butt.We know they will retaliate,and we will kick their butt again.Their will be dark days ahead.We are fighting a proxy war.In war there will be casualties.Remember our intelligence agency & our security apparatus has to be right always,but the terrorist have to be right only once,As initiation is from their end.Yesterday's strike brings a welcome change from the way earlier government conducted themselves.We should keep the tempo up.Every strike by Pakistan based terrorist organisation howsoever small it will be should be retaliated with brutal force.The casualties on Pakistan end should be way way more than what we will sustain.In Punjab,it was Bullet for Bullet that killed the militancy,in case of Pakistan only Bombs for bullet will keep them in their hole.

For Uri Attack-Blame the Gandhi in Us

Yesterday on 18-September-2016 terrorist from Pakistan attacked one of the Army Brigade HQ at Uri.Time and again we have absorbed such attacks and needless to say our Army has done a brilliant job in restoring normalcy to the valley which once was teeming with nearly 2000 terrorist in 90's.By not going for offensive raids into Pakistan we have ensured that a conducive environment is there for our economic growth.But this has also equally hurt us.We must agree-Pakistan strategy of bleeding India with thousand cuts has been successful so far.

For instance,our Army was not allowed to cross LOC during Kargil War.The erstwhile Vajpayee Government alarmed by the growing casualties of our men was considering to open another front where we will have strategic advantage.Many Ex-Military experts feel,had we explored this option earlier then we could have taught Pakistan a much needed lesson.We had another opportunity to pay Pakistan back when "Jaish-e-Mohammed" terrorist attacked our temple of Democracy-The Parliament.Many felt that the die has been cast for a full scale war with Pakistan.We failed miserably in what was India's was first Military Coercion as our Army units took nearly 20-days to get deployed on the border.By this time,Pakistan had shored up it's defences.Pakistan called our bluff and after many months on border,our units were called back.

Indian Army subsequently developed Cold-start Doctrine despite not acknowledging it.It involved swift mobilisation of strike corps to deliver a punitive blow to Pakistan before nuclear threshold is crossed.Recently Indian Army conducted a major exercise in the deserts of Rajasthan "Chakravyuh-2".The exercise was aimed to validate the battle readiness and operational effectivenessof the Pivot formation and Rapid Division of the Army along with all its affliated components.

But what is the use of all so called "Cold Doctrine" when we don't use it even after we were humilated during 26/11 attacks.We had a golden opportunity to reverse the mistakes of 1947.Yes,I agree we didn't have the military edge reuquisite for a full scale war in 2008 thanks to the Saint Anthony's stint as Defense Minister.In his bid to keep his clean image,Anthony put our Defence back by 10 years.By executing 26/11 attacks,Pakistan showed the entire world that Indian policy malkers are not only incompetent but also impotent.It was the most humilating attack on we Indians,more humilating than the defeat with China in 1962 war.The beheading of Lance Naik Hemraj was another incident which Pakistan showed to the world our incompetence.

BJP which was in opposition during the above two gruesome terror attack had advocated giving befiiting reply to Pakistan and openly proclaimed that had they been in the power things would have been different.

Modi's Lahore stopover while returning from Afghanistan was seen by many as following in Vajpayee's legacy of taking initiative to bring ever-lasting peace in the Sub-Continent.Modi said that by engaging Pakistan he was trying to change the course of INDIA-PAKISTAN relations.The Pathankot attack was expected by everyone.India-Pakistan relations have always been 1 step forward,2 steps backward.Contrary to what many feel,Indian government was right in not taking any hostile stand with Pakistan because it would have made Modi's Lahore sojourn a complete failure and had we taken any aggressive stance we would have played right into the hands of Pakistan Army and it's notorious ISI.But what followed was a repeat of our foolishness,we allowed Pakistan investigation team to inspect Pathankot Air-Base,The Pakistani team came to India not to investigate the attacks but to study their failure in not able to penetrate the Technical Area and achieving their goals.Time and again we have been fooled by Pakistan.The Haji-Pir pass gives Pakistan an advantage in the area for infiltration.We foolishly returned it to Pakistan.We Indians are the biggest fools in the world.People including me blame Gandhi for the Partition and rightly so,but in reality we Indians should blame the Gandhi in us.Our tolerance level is often seen by the world as cowardiness and rightly so.

Which country would have acted like how we did post 26/11 attacks.We had a golden opportunity then,we have a golden opportunity now.But sadly we didn't have military edge in 2008,we don't have it now.Our Air-Force has become obsolete.Our Government has admitted that Indian Army has ammunition for only 19 days of intense fighting.This even after we being the largest importer of arms.The only way forward is self-reliance and in this regard the recent steps taken by Modi Government is really commendable.

Uri Attack has left Modi Govenment in a deep fix.The promises made by his party prior to elections of handling Pakistan strongly will definately play a part in Modi's next move.He has completed half of his term.If he doesn't order for retaliation attack,it will be seen as a sign of weakness.This is our chance to teach Pakistan a life-long lesson like we did in 1971.Everyone knows we don't have the capability for a full scale war which in any case is likely to end in stalemate bcoz both sides pocess Nuclear weapons.Surgical Airstrikes is another option but we don't have enough fighter jets to thwart retaliatory air-strikes on our cities.Covert Operation is another arena which will be possibly considered.Though Ex-Military officers like Gen V.K.Singh is right in saying Military decision should never be taken with emotion qoutient but if we don't retaliate and avenge the deaths of our boys,it will be seen as a sign of weakness by Pakistan.

We must not forget,"We have allowed ourselves to be victim of terrorism".People may say people like me who are eagerly waiting for retaliatory strikes as war mongers but the truth is in fighting the most devious nation on the earth,Moral ascendency is always required.

Listening to our DGMO's press briefing,It clearly indicates either there will be no retaliation or there is going to be a massive retaliation.Looking at the way Modi has conducted Pakistan Policy it looks like there will be no retaliation but i am praying that it's the other way round.


I will be most happy if my conjecture turns out wrong.

Why we don't deserve to be a Superpower!

The reason why we can only dream of being a superpower is because we Indian's don't have it in us what Americans have,the respect and care for the Military personnel.

People remember God only when they or a member of their family is in trouble.Likewise,people remember Soldiers only when the enemy is at the gates or whenever there is a natural calamity like earthquake or floods.But what does our government do once the conflict gets over or after the rescue operation launched following the calamity gets over,it denies them their rightful due.We deny them OROP(ONE RANK ONE PENSION) despite knowing that military personnel start retiring at the age of 36 years.Worse even we civilians turn a blind eye to our men who did violence on our behalf on many occasions so that we could sleep safely in our house.Last year on the eve of Independence Day,agitating ex-servicemen demanding OROP were manhandled by the Delhi Police ironically for security purpose.

Not only our government , but we as a nation have always denied our soldiers their due.Worse, we
have even forgotten that 56 of our men are languishing  in Pakistan jails since 1971.We Indians have
always failed miserably when it comes to negotiation.We released more than 92000 Pakistan soldiers following Shimla agreement without getting our men back who were captured by Pakistan during the
1971 war despite knowing that Pakistan had captured some of our men.What baffles me is why a leader like Indira Gandhi and COAS Maneckshaw couldn't get our 56 men repatriated when we released more than 92000 Pakistan soldiers.

Pakistan has always denied our charge.They have always done so not only when it came to POW but also denied that Osama Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan or for that matter.

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.Indira Gandhi discontinued
#OROP in 1973,Two years after 1971 war.We have always been foolish when it comes to negotiation,Whether it was 1965 where we gave away to Soviet Union Pressure for signing a peace agreement in Tashkent or  Shimla Agreement,where Indira Gandhi could have bargained for POK in return for repatriation of over 92000 Pakistan soldiers.

No Prime Minister except for P.V.Narasimha Rao showed any interest in bringing back our soldiers.None of our COAS all these years did nothing for the cause.

It will always remain a mystery how a leader like Indira Gandhi failed to get our men back.This when there was clear proof of our men being held in Pakistan jails.

On December 9, 1974, M L Bhaskar, an Indian spy who was repatriated under the Shimla Agreement of 1972 after spending seven years in Pakistani jails told the Indian government that about 40-50 Indian Defense personnel were being held at the time at Attock Fort.


Take for example Major A.K.Ghosh

The above picture is that of Major A.K.Ghosh in Pakistan Jail.This picture was published in Time Magazine dated December 27,1971.

Major Ashok Suri:-
On January 7, 1972, the capture of Ashok Suri of Faridabad was mentioned in the Punjabi Darbar program of Radio Lahore.On December 26, 1974,Ashok Suri's father, received a handwritten note by Ashok Suri dated December 7, 1974.On August 13, 1975, R.S. Suri received a note dated 14, 15 and 16 June 1975 from Karachi written by Ashok Suri disclosing that there were 20 officers detained in Pakistan.

Flight Lieutenant V.V. Tambay:- 
The Sunday Pakistan Observer, dated December 5, 1971, published from Rawalpindi that five Indian pilots have been captured alive. One of the names published was that of Flight Lieutenant Tambay.Tambay's wife had a chance meeting in 1978 with a Bangladeshi Naval Officer who was taken prisoner in Pakistan during the war. In Lyallpur jail, he had come across a person named Tambay. The Officer remembered that Tambay had a scar on the chin (which was true she confirmed).Daljit Singh, who was repatriated from Pakistan on March 24, 1988, saw Flight Lieutenant Tambay at the Lahore Interrogation Centre in February,1978.Tambay's name was mentioned in Karachi Sunday Observer as Flt Lt Tombay among four pilots captured alive..

Captain Ravinder Kaura:-
Captain Ravinder Kaura's name was announced on Radio Lahore on December 7, 1971.
Mukhtiar Singh,who was repatriated from Pakistan on July 5, 1988, said that Captain Kaura was in Multan jail around 1981 and was presently in Kot Lakhpat jail.

Government on many occasions has publicly acknowledged that our men are still languishing in Pakistan Jails,But did nothing for their return.

In 1979, Union minister of state for defence production,Samarendra Kundu told Parliament that 40 Indian defence personnel were still in Pakistan jails.

On September 4, 1996, two members of the Rajya Sabha, O.P. Kohli and Satish Pradhan, asked I.K. Gujral, then minister of external affairs, Whether the government was aware that as many as 40 defense personnel were Captured by Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict were still in Pakistan custody. The minister replied that according to available, 54 missing Indian defense personnel were believed to be in Pakistan's custody.

Chuck Yeager,the US Air-Force pilot who was the first person to exceed the speed of sound also revealed in an autobiography that during the 1971 war that he had personally interviewed Indian pilots captured by the Pakistanis. IAF Pilots were of particular interest to the Americans because, at the height of the Cold War, the men had attended training 

in Soviet Union and were flying Soviet designed and manufactured aircraft.

Other Nations have always gone out of the way when it came to the lives of their soldier's.
The Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange was a 2011 agreement between Israel and Hamas for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 terrorists.

On June 3, 1973,Israel exchanged 46 Syrian prisoners for 3 Israeli Air Force pilots who were in Syrian captivity for three years.

Robert Bergdahl,the lone American soldier captured by Taliban was released in exchange of 5 Taliban detainees.

Pakistan has always stabbed us not from back,but from front but we Indian's never learn.
Those who don't learn from History are condemned to repeat it.

Government has taken a bold move to engage with Pakistan,but we should extend our hand only if Pakistan releases our men,which in all probability they will never do.We have chosen to forget the very same men who gave us a decisive victory in 1971.Do u still think,we can become a Superpower?Or Do we deserve to a Superpower.The answer is no.