Books on 1965 and 1971 wars were released in Hyderabad on November 20
Nagaraj Rao, Hyderabad
Stating that Pakistan has been resorting to proxy war with India, since its defeat in 1971 war, several speakers questioned on the rational of Indian Government
involving in talks with such a country. Speaking at a seminar Social Cause on “1965 & 1971 wars : How they shaped India’s security architecture” at ASCI on November 20, they said that with these two wars Pakistan had realised that it can never win a war against India, so it is resorting to proxy war.
Indian War Veterans Association Secretary General and former Director of Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi Maj Gen Dhruv C Katoch speaking at the seminar declared that with 1965 war Indian army defeated Pakistan designs of occupying Kashmir once for all and lifted high spirits of the countrymen. Expressing concern over failure of our intelligence networks in providing advance inputs on Pakistan’s designs, he stressed on the need to strengthen the network. He deplored that since Independence India has been neglecting its arms production. As a result it remained as the largest arms importer in the world. Appreciating the initiatives being taken by present Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar towards self-sufficiency in defence productions, he hoped that it would take our defence preparedness to a great forward.
He said, “While in all democratic countries large numbers of army officials are being deputed in department of defence, it is only in India that not a single defence officer has been deputed in Defence Ministry.” Accusing it was due to Nehru’s policy of civil-army relations that was intended to destroy the army, he said that had been hampering our defence policies. Stating that the Parliament is hardly debating defence budget in depth, he felt the need for detailed discussions on all policy issues.
Former Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah presiding over the seminar said that it was not three, but eight wars Pakistan imposed on us. They include proxy wars like militancy in Punjab, unrest in Kashmir and importing terror.
Stating that barring few years since Independence, Pakistan had been waging some kind of war against India, he too felt how diplomatic relations or talks with that country make difference. Stating that dealing with Pakistan is a very critical issue, he said that the country had never shown any inkling for a peaceful existence, nor was it a wishful option to go out for a war.
He deplored that there was 100s of militant groups working in India with the active support from Pakistan
creating disturbances here. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghathan Vice Chairman Perala Chandrasekhar Rao said that since 1980 Pakistan had been continuing proxy war against India. ‘Though our Armed forces have achieved commendable victories against Pakistan Army several times on several fronts, it is political leadership that fails us.’ He hoped that the present political leadership in the country would provide all the necessary support to the Army and also ensure security of the country. Organiser weekly editor Prafulla Ketkar said, “India is failing in countering Pakistan’s narrative propaganda on various issues. For example, till now we are treating Pak occupied area as ‘Pak Occupied Kashmir’, though not an inch of the land is part of it. The land actually is part of Ladakh and Jammu.”
Likewise, he questioned the rationality of suggestion of discussing Kashmir issue with Pakistan, when the land is legally part of India about which J&K Assembly passed a resolution and even the Assembly has no power to amend this resolution now. In the same way referring to question of human rights violations, he wondered why no one was raising the issue of fate of Kashmiri pundits, who are, for the second generation, unable to exercise their votes in J&K. He deplored that we are not aware of our centuries of history. Indian heroes were defeated no where but had registered numerous victories only. Stating that several Universities in the world are studying the war tactics of Shivaji and other Indian heroes, he asked why we do not make our people remember them.
Many veterans of 1965 and 1971 wars were felicitated on this occasion.
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