Brig P K Langar
PLA (Army)’s action of unilaterally occupying certain areas in no-man’s land west of LAC in Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh, has resulted in face-off with Indian Army for the last four months. This cunning action of PLA (Army) is a spin-off of the Chinese dubious intensions of expansionism, claiming sovereignty over Indian Territory in consonance with her historical conventions. Also, the recently completed road, from Leh to Daulat Beg Goldie (DBG) passing through Galwan Valley, enables Indian Army holding and sustaining DBG in adequate strength, threatening China’s Aksai Chin, strategically located POK-China Road in Karakoram heights and the CPEC.
These Chinese aggressive actions against India are well planned and cater to offensive action by her Army against India, if situation so demands. Unlike India, China plans at least a few decades before taking any military or economic action against her adversaries often surprising the latter. According to one study, China had silently acquired excellent network of railways and roads, air bases, logistics installations, underground dumps for stocking weapons, ammunitions and the likes, along the 3500 kms LAC in Tibet bordering India. She has cunningly chosen certain vulnerable and strategically important areas in India’s Eastern Ladakh ( Western Sector), Himachal and Arunachal Pradesh (Central Sector) and Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh (Eastern Sector) for putting pressure on India. Doklam transgression and road building close to Sikkim border was one such case in May 2017. For quick deployment China has concentrated a large number of armoured, heavy field and air defense formations, missile and infantry formations in the orbit of Western Theater Command (WC) responsible for operations against India from South Tibet. She has well equipped troops which can be brought to bear upon Indian defenses in ratio of 3:1 all along LAC and the point of decision it could be enhanced to 9:1 since mountains eat troops. With preponderance of heavy artillery and missile covering fire, she could resort to carpet bombing technique to neutralize our defensive positions before the assault.
In contrast to China’s aggressive forward policy, successive Governments in India since 1947 have been very soft and on defensive mode forcing our one-sided friendship with Chinese leadership and paid little attention to preparation of defenses in erstwhile NEFA resulting in India’s debacle in 1962.
It’s heartening to note that the present day Government, especially the Prime Minister, has shown tremendous vision and has been planning ahead and very commendably executing building of road network, including infrastructure all along the LAC at neck breaking speed. The reactivation of disused air strips next to the LAC has given edge to IAF over PLA (Airforce). Also, Governments effort to procure a couple of latest fighter plane squadrons , modernization of weapon inventories of the three services including high caliber Howitzer and missile and Air Defense system , assault rifles for Infantry has been commendable.
The Indian Armed Forces, especially the Indian Army, are one of the best in the world, conducting operations with alacrity in all types of terrains especially the high altitude and snow bound areas. It is certain that even with the present state of weaponry as compared to Chinese Army, India will perform better than her rivals. However, to be fair to our men in uniform it is imperative for the Nation and the Government to make up for the deficiencies in the IAF squadrons and AWACs, howitzer artillery for mountains, light attack helicopters, WWR of ammunition for 40 days of intense fighting and nuclear powered submarines, mine sweepers, multi role helicopters for the Navy. Acquisition of two more aircraft carriers is a must for dominating Indian Ocean. Also, there is an urgent requirement of raising an Air Defense Command incorporating fool proof long range anti aircraft missile system like Russian S-400 and indigenous produced extended range air defense system. This will provide an air defense umbrella to India’s important cities, nuclear installments and strategic areas. Raising two additional mountain corps and locating them ab-initio over 9000 feet, for this will give military Commanders capability of launching a formidable counter attack for restoring an adverse situation or opening a new front at a chosen area at the LAC to off balance the enemy, like the capability we have in the Western Sector with Pakistan. Lack of dedicated strategic reserve in Northern Command Theatre was one reason why the Commanders could not occupy tactically important heights to counter Chinese action in Pangong Lake, Finger Area and the patrolling points along the LAC till presumably, reserves from the Western/ South Western Theaters moved up North.
The Chinese and Pakistani nexus is getting stronger and malicious by the day. Any future war with China will motivate Pakistan to settle the Kashmir issue with us to her advantage. The recent serious development has been that Pakistan plans to covert Gilgit- Balistan into her provisional province soon. This will give Pakistan licence to deploy PLA in large numbers in POK to motivate and strengthen her resolve to attack Kashmir when India is engaged with China along the LAC. The combined strength of Armed Forces of both the enemies will be more than double of the Indian Armed Forces, especially the Naval force, since the Chinese PLA (Navy) is the largest in the world. We will surely win regional battles but, if it a protracted conventional total war then there could be adverse situations for India when some of our strategic cities and areas in J&K and Central Sector may be threatened. This could cross the nation’s threshold where India may be forced to use Nuclear Weapon. However, this scenario must be avoided at all costs.
Hence, it is prudent that till the next few years when all deficiencies of the Indian Armed Forces are made up and troops strength increased as per the combined China-Pakistan threat perception, it is strongly recommended we should have a military- strategically pact with like minded democratic nations for the security and territorial integrity of our country. To this end, USA’s initiate of Quad comprising of Japan, Australia, India and USA should be converted to a mini NATO, offering other like minded countries of the region, like Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea and Philippines to join, for these countries are also threatened by Chinese expansionist policy.
The above mentioned countries could work out the modalities and terms of reference but, suffice to say that the main aim of this organization would be stop China’s domination in South China and East China Seas. Also, ensure free passage of shipping and use of air space in these areas as per UN mandate. This organization needs to have capability to choke Chinese trade in Malacca Straights and Arabian Sea during hot war scenario. Lastly, all member States should have multi-lateral agreement to come in aid of any member country when attacked by China, and for that purpose designated ports of all members be utilized as logistic bases, when required. This organisation could be termed as Indian Pacific No-War Agreement (IPNA). This agreement is a must for India since India has two most cunning and scheming nuclear power neighbours, battling with them by all by herself will divert India’s focus on the well being of our people and affect nation’s development. The strength and dominance of IPNA can also help disintegrate China in the near future like what NATO did for erstwhile USSR in late 1991. This will also stop communist China’s menace for the whole world’s economy and safety; and stop her from taking over small countries under the garb of One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The collateral benefit that India will reap is that, with subdued China, Pakistan will get deflated for good.
(The author is a retired Brigadier hailing from J&K)
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