HONOURING MARTYRS AND INCULCATING NATIONAL PRIDE Anil Bhat

HONOURING  MARTYRS  AND INCULCATING NATIONAL PRIDE

Anil Bhat

14 August 2015 will go down as the blackest day in India’s post –Independence history and for India’s Armed Forces, whose veterans peacefully agitating at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, for non-implementation of  One Rank One Pension, were assaulted by Delhi Police. Military veterans, in the age group of  60 to 85 years at least, who fought and survived some post-Independence wars and conflicts for maintaining that same hard- won Independence, were on the 61^st day of their peaceful relay hunger strike, pounced upon by Delhi Police to evict them from Jantar Mantar for-indeed most ironically-being a security risk to the anti-terrorist measures being taken in the capital for Independence Day, in view of a declared threat by Pakistani terrorist groups. This dastardly action by the police yet again ironically amounts to adding injury to insult as firstly, why should our war veterans need to agitate for their dues promised by the BJP government after over 40 years of expecting for the same and secondly, getting roughed up by the police despite agitating most peacefully.

India’s politico-bureaucratic establishment and people must learn from some other countries how their armed force personnel are paid and respected.     

India Gate was made by the British as a tribute to 74,187 Indian soldiers, who were killed out of 1.5 million who participated in World War (WW) I. The Teen Murti was a memorial to honour personnel of the Indian Cavalry, who died in WW I. In WW II, 2.5 million Indian personnel were the decisive factor for Allied victory, but the Brits left in too much of a hurry to make another war memorial. Indian troops have been paid impressive tributes by a number of Allied countries for their role in both WWs I and II, with citations of their gallantry well recorded in museums and memorials . The Indian Government since Independence  obviously had no time to even think about even one war memorial despite being responsible for ordering the Armed Forces to fight several wars and conflicts since then.

While USA entered both WW I and II late, it built imposing memorials and/or museums for both. There is also a memorial for  US Marine Corps in WW II, as well as veterans memorials for those involved in Korea and Vietnam. And all of these are in Washington DC. The Arlington cemetery spread over 624 acres in Virginia, is as good as in Washington . There is a separate memorial for women soldiers.

Visiting the Arlington National Cemetery during this visit to the US recently, was indeed a moving experience. And as I noticed, it is an emotional exercise for not only American soldiers and veterans but civilians too. The crowds that come to visit national war memorials in the US are a testimony to the fact that no matter what the cause of deployment in any conflict-even those publicly perceived as futile or unnecessary-the respect that dead soldiers get is indeed wide and heartfelt. I am indeed sad to express that the experience of visiting Washington DC and the war memorials as an Indian, re-awoke utter disgust about how the Indian government since Independence has failed in inculcating national pride and how shabbily it has treated its Armed Forces. Republic Day parades, Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremonies and broadcasting patriotic songs are certainly not anywhere near what needs to be done for Indians to feel proud of their nation. Without being an admirer of many aspects American, on the very important aspect of nationalism, India needs to learn  from the US.

The Army National Military Cemeteries, consisting of Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia and Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery in Washington, DC, are under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army. The Secretary of the Army consolidated authorities and created the Executive Director of the Army National Cemeteries Program to effectively and efficiently develop, operate manage and administer the program. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of beauty and peace for our guests. The rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age and complement the gardens found throughout the 624 acres of the cemetery. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
The Tomb of the Unknowns, also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in Arlington National Cemetery is a monument dedicated to American servicemen who died without their remains being identified. The World War I "Unknown" is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and several other foreign nations' highest service awards. The U.S. Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. Presidents who presided over their funerals.
Some details about the military guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are worth knowing. The guard takes 21 marches steps across the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in keeping with the custom of the 21 gun salute given as the highest honor to any military or foreign  dignitary. He hesitates for 21 seconds after his about -turn to begin  his return march for the same reason. His gloves  are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the  rifle.  He always carries the rifle on the  shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the  path, he  executes an about-turn and moves the rifle to the outside  shoulder. Guards are changed every thirty  minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a  year. 

Applicants for guard duty at the tomb must  be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and with a waist  size not exceeding 30 inches. They must commit 2  years of life to guard the tomb, live in barracks under the tomb,  give up drinking any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their  lives. They cannot swear in public for the rest  of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any  way. After two years, the guard is given a  wreath pin that is worn on the lapel  signifying his service as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey  these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath  pin. The shoes are specially made with very  thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal  heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud  click as they come to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for  duty in front of a full-length  mirror. The first six months of duty a guard  cannot talk to anyone nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people  laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery . A  guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Every guard spends five hours a day  getting his uniforms ready for guard  duty In 2003, as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, the US  Senate/House took 2 days off in anticipation of the storm. Because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of  the Unknown Soldier were given  permission to suspend the assignment.  They respectfully declined the offer, "No way,  Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be accorded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

With all that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke during his pre-election rallies and after assuming charge, about the need for nationalism/national pride and a sense of history, it is hoped that (a)  a long overdue collation of post Independence war history will be done and (b) a befitting national war memorial and a museum to honour those who sacrificed their lives to maintain that independence and integrity of India, will finally find a pride of place in the India’s capital. During his interim tenure as Defence Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley had reportedly announced that a war memorial will be made at the statue pedestal traffic roundabout behind India Gate with a war museum at nearby Princess Park connected to the war memorial by an underground tunnel.

BJP’S CHALLENGE OF MANAGING J&K

BJP’S CHALLENGE OF MANAGING  J&K

Anil Bhat

A series of events from 01 March 2015 played out like the theatre of the absurd and the BJP’s responses raises some questions. 

When Mufti Mohammad Sayeed finally got sworn in as  Chief Minister Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) on 01 March following long hectic negotiations between the BJP and PDP, while he sounded ecstatic, he displayed amnesia. Praising Pakistan, its terrorists and the Hurriyat/separatists, for allowing successful elections in J&K, shocking the non PDP in the gathering  and the rest of India who heard him on tv channels, in hindsight, does not seem surprising.

Release of Hurriyat hardliner and organizer of the 2010 stone-pelting campaign, Masarat Alam and reports of J&K government planning to release 800 more separatists evoked further uproar. While Alam’s release turned out to be of the making of the previous National Conference government, the present government eventually announced that there would be no more releases of prisoners.

Addressing the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on 20 March, Mufti said that his government would  initiate the process of scrapping the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state. "I can't promise as there is involvement of the Ministry of Defence but we will start the gradual process of scrapping of the AFSPA," he said.

Obviously, Mufti ‘forgot’, or chose to forget Pakistan’s desperate but concerted escalation of terrorist violence to disrupt the J&K poll process. According to South Asia Terrorism Portal during the voting period between November 25 and December 20, 2014, a total of 46 persons, including 11 civilians, 16 security forces personnel, and 19 terrorists were killed in terrorist attacks  across J&K.

On 27 November 2014, terrorists launched a cross-border suicide attack on the Army in Arnia sector of Jammu District, killing five civilians and three SF personnel. The four attackers were also killed. On December 5 itself, there were five terrorist attacks including one on the Army. Further, Kashmiri terrorists directed by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had again called for a boycott of the polls, along with threats from Pakistani terrorist groups and those in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

On 08 March, when Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar visited Pakistan for the SAARC Summit, advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz said that his country wants to resolve all outstanding issues with India, including Kashmir, through dialogue. 

However, only 12 days later on 20 March  terrorists and/or Pak army soldiers wearing Indian Army uniforms intercepted a jeep going from Jammu to  Pathankot on the pretext of checking the vehicle. They then hijacked the jeep which had three passengers and fled towards the Rajbagh police station, Kathua where they shot dead the sentry, hurled grenades at the police station and opened indiscriminate fire injuring seven CRPF personnel, a policeman and a civilian.
On 21 March, the Hindu and Parsi new year, two terrorists opened fire at the entrance of 81 Armoured Regiment on Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba, fired under-slung grenades and escaped into the wooded area nearby, where they were chased and killed.

Both these attacks were an almost exact repetition of those in September 2013.
“The two back to back terror attacks in Jammu is an attempt by the militants to boost their morale which has come down due to the Army operations”, said Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said. While  J&K Assembly became a wrestling pad, Mufti reportedly “condemned” these attacks.

On 23 and 24 March reportedly about two dozen , Kashmiri separatists, including their leaders-some of who openly say they are not Indians and some of who have been on Pak’s payroll for organizing terrorist activities in India-were partying at the Pakistan High Commission. They also had detailed discussions with Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit on “further plans for J&K”. In Srinagar and all Kashmir valley districts, Dukhtaran e Millat celebrated Pakiatan Day by raising its flags, passionately singing its national anthem and extolling on “our responsibilities towards Pakistan”,while spewing venom against India. These acts amount to treachery. J&K government’s BJP component pressed hard  for arresting Andarabi, some days later she was booked, but not arrested.

BJP’s reaction to the Pak-Day partying separatists was a tremendous comedown from August 2014, when New Delhi suspended Indo-Pak talks because of separatists meeting Basit.

Not arresting Andarabi, not taking any action against separatists partying with Pak diplomats and nominating former Army Chief and MoS External Affairs Gen V.K.Singh were definite indicators that BJP had stepped down on its Pak policy, which so far, apart from rhetoric of zero tolerance to Pak terror, remains unformulated and maybe even confused.

The mayhem begun by separatists in March only got further stepped up in April, the high point being Masarat Alam’s rally to welcome back Syed Ai Shah Gilani, returning from Delhi. Alam led the sloganeering by lustily shouting “Meri Jaan Meri Jaan, Pakistan, Pakistan….Kashmir banega Pakistan.” The statements/explanations of some separatists and PDP spokesperson/leaders were that such pro-Pak agitations in the Valley were nothing new and that they are by only a fringe or by very few elements. It took 48 hours at least to have Alam re-arrested. Even that did not help as Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the so-called milder separatist took over and continued holding rallies and calling for ‘bandhs’. House arrest of separatists makes no dent in their plans as they keep scheming and directing anti-India activities, The only effective measure will be if they are put in prisons out of J&K. And if the PDP-BJP government really want development,  return of Kashmiri Pandits and a modicum of peace in the Valley, then the separatists and lackeys of Pak/ ISI will have to be rounded up and rendered ineffective. The recent spurt in whipping up anti-India fervor is a direct reaction to these aims of the PDP-BJP government’s common minimum programme (CMP).

The Army, BSF  and all central and state police forces as well as intelligence agencies will have to maintain a high state of alert Pak army/ISI and menaces like Hafiz Saeed are already in overdrive  to bring back J&K to square one as in late 1980s  and also target other parts of India.     

While the Centre has been soft on separatists colluding with Pak High Commission, another fact that got exposed was the largesse of facilities that separatists have been enjoying by J&K government with taxpayers money. Thanks to the efforts of Jammu East BJP MLA Rajesh Gupta, it came to be known that in 2014-15, the J&K government spent over Rs 120 crore on vehicles, hotel bills and security of separatists/ activists, which is more than the state’s budget of Rs 100 crore to provide succour to widows and destitute women under welfare schemes and three times more than the Rs 40 crore allocated for integrated child development schemes and the creation of additional 1,000 anganwari centres.   

One cannot but help recalling Praveen Swami’s article titled  ‘A man of many parts - and parties’ (Frontline magazine, November 09 – 22, 2002)- an excerpt:“On December 11, 1989, five days after he (Mufti) was sworn in, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front kidnapped one of his three daughters, Rubaiya Sayeed. While both the N.C. and Central intelligence officials were convinced that the JKLF would release her in the face of public outrage, the Home Minister (Mufti)  ensured that the jailed terrorists for whose release the kidnapping had been committed were released. Most experts agree that the release set the tenor for an inchoate security response to an insurgency, which has by now claimed over 33,000 lives...Many experts believe that Sayeed's well-known mismanagement of the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir was just part of a larger inability to comprehend, and to engage with, the multiple problems of terrorism India was confronted with at the time.”

It may also be recalled how during PDP’s previous rule, then J&K Governor, Lt Gen S.K. Sinha was maligned  by Mufti for promoting Kashmiriyat,for his efforts to establish some universities, pursue rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and some other public welfare moves in J&K. Interacting with this writer, General Sinha recounted how as Chancellor of Kashmir University, he established an Institute of Kashmir Studies. On 25 May 2008, a highly successful international seminar on Kashmiriyat was organized at Srinagar by the Institute with participation of scholars from Pakistan and Central Asian Republics. High level delegations from all the eight South Asian countries attended this function, presided over by former President of India., Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam The following day the famous Junoon band from Pakistan was invited to play Sufi pop music. Despite the boycott calls given by the separatists and fundamentalists, there was a record turn out of several thousands for these functions. The leading English daily of Pakistan, Dawn, in its editorial on 28 May 2008 titled Breaking Barriers wrote, "Music knows no boundaries .... The people of Kashmir expressed their anger against religious militants and their violence." Dr Kalam wrote about General Sinha, "his approach to win the hearts of the people through Kasmiriyat was definitely making an impact.... General Sinha declared that he would do his best to promote Kashmiriyat which stood for amity and brotherhood cutting across religious divide. I could see this spirit in General Sinha during my visits to Jammu and Kashmir.". The separatists, very rattled at the success achieved in promoting Kashmiriyat and fearful of losing popular support, were on the look out for an opportunity for a counter offensive. Ironically on the same day as the Dawn wrote its editorial, the State Government sanctioned diversion/transfer of forest land to six different agencies. This was a routine affair. Among these six diversions/transfers was also the diversion of 100 acres of land at Baltal, traditionally used as base camp for pilgrims going to Amarnath. The separatists chose to pick on this for starting a communal agitation. They spread the canard that the Shrine Board was setting up a Hindu township to bring in Hindus and change the demography of the Valley like Israel had done in Palestine. It was part of a deep rooted conspiracy to arouse communal passion. A large amount of money was reportedly pumped from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to sustain this propaganda in the Valley media.”The canard also included that I was trying to exert Hindu cultural influence in Kashmir Valley”, said General Sinha.

Is the BJP’s current step-down on J&K a subtle “wait and watch” kind? Does the BJP believe in allowing Mufti’s indulgence of separatists to “let off steam” and expect to be able to retrieve its aims of the CMP gradually? Will the BJP walk the tightrope for long or will it come down with a heavy hand and straighten out matters? Or is the BJP actually confused about its JK-Pak policy, as some ‘experts’ are conveying? Options recommended for India’s security are not going to be easy, but if BJP means business, as promised in pre-election campaigning, some steps will have to be taken and soon, to nip in the bud any further possible midsummer madness in the Valley and on the borders.

Relating to border security there is an emergent requirement. the Line of Control (LoC) from Akhnur northwards, held by the army, has in addition to the fencing, an effective surveillance grid. The stretch of the International Boundary (IB) beginning from Akhnur southwards till Kathua, held by Border Security Force (BSF), has a series of lateral “chos” (rivulets), which adversely affect the border fencing. As such, what is required is to install a network of state of art surveillance devices for effective 24x7 surveillance. It is this stretch of the IB, which has been breached by Pak army/rangers, by digging tunnels, only some of which have been detected. Besides, the force level of BSF needs to be raised to reduce the gaps between its units and sub-units. That is how attempts by Pak army/battle action teams (combo of Pak army special forces and terrorists) have succeeded in crossing over and launching attacks on Indian Army and police units at Kalu Chak, Samba and Hiranagar.

For BJP, its alliance with PDP is an unprecedented opportunity and an acid test which it must pass for ensuring India’s territorial integrity.   

AFTER UFA, ‘OOFF’

AFTER UFA, ‘OOFF’

Anil Bhat

Having participated in three panel discussions on two Pakistani tv news channels recently in May-June 2015, one found it hard to believe that Pakistan would stick to whatever was jointly declared after the Modi-Nawaz Sharif meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Ufa, Russia. Because what emerged from the three panel discussions was that the Pakistani speakers, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, former DG, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Hamid Gul, former DGs, Inter Services Public Relations, Maj Gens Athar Abbas and Rashid Qureshi,  other retired generals/air marshals,  journalists and scholars, all were on the same page-that of vilifying India with a barrage of outright lies, misinterpretations, fabrications etc.

In changing back to its same old tune soon after the SCO summit was the Pakistani government playing to the international gallery at Ufa? Or was it the military-mullah combo that pushed Nawaz Sharif into an immediate u-turn? This writer maintains and has written often in the past that Pakistan will not hand over to India any suspected or proved guilty person or any evidence which will expose the role of Pak army or ISI. It may be recalled how in 2011, shortly after US special forces killed  Osama bin Laden, journalist/author Syed Saleem Shahzad was brutally killed by ISI for his book ‘Inside Al Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11’, then recently published and launched in London, which exposed the joint role ISI, Lashkar e Taiyaba and Al Qaeda in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai and also many other cross connections of great significance to India, US, Afghanistan and of course Pakistan, which suffers from its ‘compulsions’ to maintain them.
According to media reports, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in one of the meeting rooms of the Congress Hall in Ufa , he told Sharif that if people in India were asked to name a stumbling block in normalizing Indo-Pak relations, the majority would say it’s the release from jail of 26/11 attack accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. Sharif reportedly agreed on the need to speed up the Mumbai terror attack trial in Pakistan. So, both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the trial, including additional information like providing voice samples and also set up the National Security Advisor level dialogue on “all issues connected to terrorism”. They then raised the issue of the tension on the International Boundary (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC). “Why don’t we do something about it?” they said, and agreed that both the armies and border guarding forces should also talk to each other, as well as further agreed to schedule meetings between the DGs Military Operations (DGMOs) and DGs of India’s BSF and Pakistan’s Rangers.

While Pakistani terrorists attacked across the Line of Control (LoC) at Uri, in Baramula killing Constable Krishna Kumar Dubey, of BSF, on 09 July 2015, during the Ufa summit itself, on returning from Ufa, Pakistan’s first salvo was outright refusal to provide Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s voice samples. The next were salvos of bullets and rockets/mortars against civil population across the International Boundary (IB) stretch of Jammu & Kashmir and more terrorist attacks across the LoC.   

From all the ranting by Pakistani speakers on their  tv news channels/most of media and by terrorist leaders in their rallies, it is quite clear that the military and mullahs have been livid and frustrated ever  since the Modi- BJP takeover. This has been reflected in ISI upping the ante through separatists/traitors in the Valley by demonstrations with Pakistani and ISIS flags and stone-pelting etc. Some of these traitors have been implicated by Enforcement Directorate for receiving terror funds linked to 26/11.  

While Indian Army has prevented many cross LoC attempts at infiltration and effectively dealt with post infiltration attacks, responses of BSF to cross-IB firings have become fiercer. Unfortunately during the UPA’s rule, particularly its second tenure, India’s responses to both cross LoC attempts/attacks and cross IB firings had become rather weak, with 2013 being the nadir.

Interacting with media recently, Lt Gen Subrata Saha, GOC, 15 Corps headquartered at Srinagar, said that all the agencies which are dealing with the situation have come together. "Most of the mechanisms which we use to prevent infiltration are active and more robust than in the previous year," he said, adding the Army is prepared to respond to any challenge. On the hoisting of Pakistani and ISIS flags in the Valley, he clarified that it was a law and order problem which must be dealt firmly by the police. Commenting that it deserves highest attention of the security agencies, he said, "even if it is isolated, it ought to be taken up very seriously. It has to be investigated and taken to its logical conclusion before any trend or pattern develops." He also expressed concern on Kashmiri youth being attracted/recruited by Pak terrorist outfits

Frustration levels of Pakistani leaders appear to be severely affecting their brains. Defence Minister Asif exceeded his earlier rants by shooting his mouth off that Pak’s nukes were not mere showpieces/can be used, or words to the effect. Shortly afterwards came a brand new rabbit out of the hat-Pak’s claim of shooting an Indian “spy drone being used for aerial photography” near the LoC. What they shot was a Chinese drone used by their own forces. It could not have pleased Pak that its journalist Mariana Baabar stated on a tv channel that some days ago Pak forces had also shot a drone, which was their own. Later Pak was further embarrassed by a Chinese media report stating that the drone Pak forces shot was made in China. The ISI is also reported to have supplied drones to terrorist outfits for assisting them in their anti-India operations. Whether Pak forces were incompetent in shooting their own drones or did so deliberately as a new trick to malign India, their attempt literally “ misfired”.

Pakistan’s lies/propaganda has deluded its public and deprived its younger generations of actual history or simply indoctrinated them. How ironic was a question by young Pakistani News anchor, “Pakistan ne unka kya bigaaraa hai?” (what harm has Pakistan done (to India)?). Referring to Pak army’s lack of  professionalism and use of terrorists as force multipliers, who are attacking its own people also, this writer could not help asking Pakistani  tv viewers what kind of a Pakistan its rulers were preparing for its future generations.

Meanwhile, whether talks progress or not, India has little recourse but to respond forcefully to Pakistan’s export of terror, which will continue unabated anyway. Alongside India will also have to ensure that it expedites long pending acquisitions/replacements of arms and equipment, as it cannot be put past Pak army to trigger off yet another full-fledged or limited  war.