Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: The J&K Regional Branch of Indian Institute of Public Administration organized 12th Sat Paul Sahni Memorial lecture on the topic ‘Indo-China Conflict’.
Maroof Raza, Defence analyst from New Delhi delivered the memorial lecture while Maj Gen (Dr) GG Dwivedi (Retd), presided over the function.
While sharing the historical perspective on the topic, Raza said that the genesis of the conflict can be attributed to the two contested areas of Aksai Chin and the McMohan Line. While narrating the sequence of conflict post Independence, he said that 1962 Indo-China war was a leadership failure and India could have utilized its military strength to its advantage as done during Operation Falcon in 1987.
Further, due to China’s geo-strategic ambition and its water storage & control strategy, Chinese agenda of using Pakistan to destabilize India has been successful. He was of the opinion that India should balance the strategic equation by following a proactive and aggressive approach against China. While India has an advantage in a conventional war, China has the power to inflict more damage to India through Cyber and Space Warfare strategy. He suggested that since China is a power of consequence to the world, therefore, Indian leadership should strengthen its negotiation power by strengthening its economy and defence infrastructure.
Maj Gen Dwivedi emphasized on a long-term strategic policy towards China. He was of the view that the policy of appeasement will prove detrimental towards the strategic interest of India. He said India should exploit Chinese vulnerability by understanding the lacunas in their national objectives of stability, sovereignty, deception, relevance of conducive periphery and expansionist approach. He cautioned that Chinese have the tendency to violate all agreements and feared that once the current dispute settles, the gravity will shift towards Indian Ocean. According to him as the way forward to reduce the power differential, India should adopt a two-fold approach of improving economic &military strength, and build alliance with QUAD from defence perspective.
Lt Col (Retd) Karan Singh Joint Director (Seminars), IIPA J&K Regional Branch introduced the theme and build a perspective for the session.
Dr Ashok Bhan, IPS (Retd), Patron of IIPA, J&K Regional Branch and former DGP, J&K Police paid glowing tributes to the memory of Late Sat Paul Sahni and described him as multifaceted personality. Describing him as one of the most revered journalists of his time and a moving spirit of the IIPA, he said that it was fortune of many to have worked with him.
Prof Alka Sharma, Hony Secretary, presented the vote of thanks while the proceedings were conducted by the Dr Anil Gupta, Joint Secretary.
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