Editorial
Daily Excelsior
Jul 13, 1999
Title: Gains from Kargil Author: Editorial Publication: Daily Excelsior Date: Jul 13, 1999 The two-month long war in Kargil has brought many gains for the country. First, India has scored an impressive military victory under the most trying conditions against well-entrenched Pak army that had occupied strategic posts this side of LoC. Indian Army and Air Force have proved that they are the finest lot the world over in terms of operational skills, utilisation of available weapon systems and excellent strategy to defeat the ruggadised enemy. This earns them not only nation's gratitude but also due recognition from world armies and governments. Even Clinton could be delighted to watch how Indian forces re-captured almost invincible heights like the Tiger Hills and that too with old equipment that has been with the services for decades. This immediately puts Indian soldier right on top of world armies who wield much more sophisticated weapons and yet fail to have the desired impact. Second gain is in terms of total support from even traditional anti-Indian countries who invariably went the Pak way all these five decades. It is for the first time that Pakistan stood isolated and all its diplomatic efforts to get support from its traditional mentors and friends failed to click. In fact, it received massive rebuff to whomsoever it approached and they all asked Pakistan to withdraw its forces from Kargil and respect LoC. India, in diplomatic terminology, never had it so good. Third gain is in terms of capturing back territory from the enemy which has happened first time since independence. In 1947-48 India surrendered one-third of Jammu & Kashmir to Pakistan besides internationalising the issue by going to United Nations. This happened at a time when Indian forces were in the process of dislodging tribals backed by Pak regular forces and needed less than a week to liberate entire PoK. Even after five decades this territory remains unretrieved. In 1962 Chinese aggression, entire Aksai Chin area in Ladakh totalling 38,000 sq. km was lost and till this day it continues to be under the control of China. No government ever thought of recovering it back. In 1965 war even though India won several Pak areas, they were all given back to Pakistan. In addition, the aggressor was also rewarded with Hajipeer and some more areas. Such has been the defeatist mind-set of the rulers. In 1971 war, India was again victorious and political leadership let down the forces by surrendering Chhamb and returning one lakh prisoners of war without any positive and constructive deal on Kashmir to settle it once for all. Thus, vital initiatives were abjectly surrendered. Pak has engaged this country in 10 year long proxy war in Kashmir by infiltrating mercenaries and opening many training camps for infiltrators. They still continue with the nasty game. It therefore augurs well for the country that those who infiltrated in Kargil have been dislodged or made to withdraw. By the erstwhile yardsticks, this time round action has been quick, rapid, impressive and substantial to re-capture the most arduous strategic heights. Fourth, Kargil war earns the soldiers great recognition and gratitude of the nation as never before. This time round the packages for the families of the martyrs have been very liberal and quick. Sacrifices of the soldiers have been in terms of better deal and more could be on the anvil. This tempo is at its zenith with each martyr, even a sepoy, being given the most befitting departure from the good earth with full honours. None of them departs unsung irrespective of rank. The mass media has glorified them all to inform the nation what a soldier's life happens to be. Never before in any war, there has been so much glorification visually reflected on mass media for mass impact. Fifth, Deficiencies and obsolescence of the weapon systems and equipment have been noticed and it is only a matter of days when Indian armed forces would get all that it needs to fight not only Kargil type war but any war. Sixth, entire nation is full of patriotic fervour backing up the soldiers for the job well executed. This fervour can be channelised to make the nation strong politically and otherwise. Lastly, India gains vantage positions not only in the war zone but also diplomatically. It can now talk from a position of strength to Pakistan to withdraw mercenaries from other parts of Kashmir as well and stop sponsoring cross border terrorism. India should also tell Pakistan to cease forthwith all ISI activities in other parts of the country if it sincerely desires lasting peace. Irrespective of what Pakistan says that it has succeeded in internationalising Kashmir issue, the fact remains all countries that matter have asked Pakistan to solve it bilaterally through dialogue with India. America has made it abundantly clear that it has no intention of mediation. One hopes that current advantage will not be allowed to go waste while talking to Pakistan, Lahore Declaration notwithstanding.
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