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'Every system resist change'
genadmacm : admiral, so will admiral sushil kumar
finally be appointed as india's first CDS?? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : Only Prime Minister Vajpayee knows but I suppose he has as
good a chance as anyone else.
babulal : Good evening Sir. Is the CDS going to be similar
to the chairman, joint chiefs of staff, of the US military forces? Vice
Admiral (retd) PS Das : Yes and No. HE will be the permanent
chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee but unlike the American chairman, JCS,
he will not have operational control over the armed forces. He will be the
coordinator of all plans and programmes leading to force development and will
coordinate joint operations, training and education. He will also be the
administrative controller of the Strategic Command as and when that is formed.
general : Sir given that it is the army that is actually
doing all the fighting and most of the security work, shd not the cds be an army
chap??? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : No, I do not think that
is necessary. The CDS function is a larger one involving long term force
development and in the environment of today the Navy and the Air Force are as
relevant in the national security business as the Army. So it does not really
matter which service the CDS come from.
admiral : Good Evening! Why did Admiral Kumar withdraw
from the race? Can he still be appointed? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : I really have no idea. In any event since the job has not
been offered yet how does one withdraw from it. I see no reason why government
cannot appoint anyone they wish to.
Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Hello. I am here to answer
your questions and sort out your doubts and hope we will have a pleasant
interaction.
airchiefmarshal : Are not nuclear weapons always under the
control of the air force and the navy? So why is India looking at keeping it
with the army? Will that not hamper our strategic manueuvribility? Vice
Admiral (retd) PS Das : The actual director and controller of the
nuclear decision is going to be the Prime Minister and obviously there is going
to be a chain of command. The control of weapons weather on land, in the air or
at sea may vest with the individual service and in due course with the strategic
command. I am not sure that there is any proposal to keep any weapons under the
Army, or any service specifically.
mahi : Sir, why do most of our weaponries are russian
made? Why can't we produce them in India? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : We are producing the Delhi class destroyers which are among
the best ships of that type produced anywhere. We have also produced most
sophisticated sonar system for our ships. So there is reason to believe that we
are progressing.
amtu : I mean is it possible to include President directly
in defence deals more then 100 crore rupees? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : The President of India is only the notional head in so far
as defence procurement is concerned. THe actual business is done by the
competent person to whom authority is delegated and generally even the largest
deals are signed on behalf of the government by the Defence Secretary after
approval of the Raksha Mantri, or Prime Minister depending upon the amount. The
President does not come in the picture.
babulal : But Sir, that was how the American JCS chairman
used to be until the mid-1980s. Then they found that having a chairman of the
defence forces with no powers except to act as a postman between the defence
secretary and the armed forces chiefs was meaningless. So they gave him
operational control and independence. You may be aware that current Secretary of
State Colin Powell was the first chairman to enjoy these powers. Vice
Admiral (retd) PS Das : I am sure a time will come when our CDS
will have powers not much different to that of the American chairman presently
has. But for the time being, it has been decided to give our CDS a force
development role rather than an operational role. Obviously, the position will
be reviewed frequently and changes made as required. Force development means
control over money, and you can rest assured that the CDS who enjoys this power
will not be a postman.
sam : Good evening sir.Do think we need invest a lot on
nuclear weapons when we are still fighting against poverty and
unemployment Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : The guns versus
butter argument has gone on in every country from time immemorial. Every country
has to draw a balance between how much it needs for its security needs and
otherwise. Ultimately for countries to develop economically they need to have
some assurance of security. THere is investment in nuclear weapons no doubt, but
in the enviroment in which we are placed it is inescapable.
amtu : Sir, have you seen PRADHAN MANTRI on Zee TV yet? If
yes, what is your opinion about the war time events handdled by the
director? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Yes, I have seen the
serial on Zee TV and it is as good as the Yes, Minister series. I am not yet
seen any version on war time events but I hope the director will cover them soon
because they will be interesting.
vasanth : Sir,Do u think the rift between India-China will
come to an end Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : There is no rift
between India and China as such. We have a historical problem which people are
trying to resolve, admittedly with not much success. I suppose the dialogue has
to continue and as our relative economical and other positions change the
political equation will also have to be readjusted.
joecherian : how much commision did u get in the
deal? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Very little, Joe. Unless
you think a cup of coffee is a lot.
varun_27 : Can india ever become a corruption-free
nation? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : It is very difficult to
say anything but right now it looks an impossibility with every rung from the
lowest upwards engaged in it. But we should not give up hope and contribute our
own bit to avoid becoming part of the system.
ashish1970 : The navy in india is a paper force I dont
think it is in the run for carriage of nuclear weapons!!! Vice Admiral
(retd) PS Das : You need to ask some other navies of the world if
the Indian Navy is a paper force. Fortunately, they all think differently. Our
Navy is reasonably strong and can meet the tasks assigned to it. As for nuclear
weapons, I do not see any on the horizon.
vasanth : Sir,Is it true that IAF is a point of
differences with GOI related to the appointment of CDS Vice Admiral (retd)
PS Das : There are bound to be different points of view on such an
important matter. And such differences have been there in every country which
has taken the CDS route. The main thing is that when a decision is taken it is
implemented in the right spirit and with sincerity. And I am certain this will
happen here also.
indian : Sir,your comment abt 'admiral korshkov',the
russian gift with price Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Until
1997 India had two aircraft carriers- the Vikrant and the Viraat. Unfortunately,
Vikrant had to be phased out in 1997 and now we are left with only one. We must
have a second aircraft carrier. One has been ordered to be built in India but
will not be ready until 2010. In the meantime, we have to get a second ship and
Gorshkov offers that possibility at a reasonably economical prize. The aircraft
carriers are the crucial elements which give the Indian Navy a dominant position
in these waters.
nairnv : i have great respect to our defence personals
Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Thank you. They do a very
difficult job under very difficult conditions and without any care for their own
safety or comfort. They need the good wishes of their countrymen.
MAYUR : WILL THERE BE A VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF ALSO
Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Yes, there will be a Vice
Chief of Defence Staff who will really be the main coordinator of the entire
Defence Planning and Coordination machinery. He will represent the Defence
Forces in every coordination group and will head the Defence Crisis Management
Organization.
raman : why do we always go for second-hand russian
equipment? I think buying russian made Migs (flying coffins) or ships is the
greatest disservice you are doing for your country. Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : The MIG aircraft is the one of the most successful designs
of aeroplanes flawn anywhere. We have larger accidents in them because they
constitute the largest numbers of aeroplanes in our Air Force. THere are also
some regretable gaps in training because of not having a proper trainer, and
something should be done to overcome this quickly. As far as ships and
submarines are concerned what we have from Russia are comparable to any similar
equivalents which could be available from anywhere else.
raman : Is there any defence to to Pakistani Exocet
Missiles? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Yes. The answer is to
destroy the platform from which the missiles can be launched before the launch
itself so we have to destroy the aeroplane or the ship or the submarnie where
these missiles are fitted before they can launch them. And for this the aircraft
carriers are absolutely essential.
amtu : Sir, how does media serve our nation's armed
forces? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : The media plays and
extremely important role because it takes the Armed Forces into your homes. YOu
get to know what the people for whom you are paying your taxes are doing.
Sometimes, some negative reports are there but we have to learn to live with
them.
abhishekgupta : sir how will the aquistion of latest
augosta class submarines affect the battle strength of the indian
navy Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : The Agosta submarines are
with Pakistan. We obviously have to take their capabilities into account while
planning our own forces. But there is no reason to feel that we are not going to
be able to tackle them just as we have tackled other Pakistani threats in the
past.
peri : sir would you consider allowing corporate , private
industries to take part in defence research and development helpful as far as
indian defence and security is concerned Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : You are absolutely right. We have a very competent private
sector both in industry and in research and development, specially in
information technology. We have to make much more use of their strength than we
have done so far. And I am told that measures are already underway.
surenhere : Does Indian defence burecuacry can rise to the
demands of CDS functioning with much of interfences from politcal babus as it
happeneds in past Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Every system
resist change. And the Indian defence bureaucracy, as much as the military
bureaucracy, will have to change with the times. If this does not happen
willingly, I am sure, events will force it down, but there is reason to believe
that despite media reporting the situation is moving along positively.
girish : Do u think the navy will get its due under the
CDS system with Army alwa wanting to be the Big brother? Vice Admiral
(retd) PS Das : All the services will get their due under the CDS.
Please do not forget that CDS is not a one man show, but an integrated
organization of people from every service so it is very alarmist to fear that
anyone service will suffer.
narendra : Sir,In your opinion, is our Navy truly a
professional Navy and if not steps needed to improve it Vice Admiral
(retd) PS Das : From what I know, our navy is by and large one of
the most professional navies in the world. We should not get carried away by
some aberrations which come to notice now and again. This is sad but it does not
reflect on the general capabilities of the Navy as a whole. There is need to
further strengthen our capability and it seems from the budget allocations that
the government is of the same view. So you should expect to see a growth in
naval capabilities in the years to come.
sandy5671@rediffmail.com : HELLO SIR.WHAT IS THE NECESSITY
TO MAKE cds? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : Just like you have
a managing director at the head of a board of directors you require a chairman
at the head of the service chiefs. It is not possible for a person heading one
service to also be the chairman effectively. Just as it is not possible for one
of the directors to also be the managing director. The CDS will act as the
principal military advisor to the political authority and will provide for the
type of joint and integrated advice which the military environment of today
requires.
sridhar : If the Indian Navy is given 10 points, How many
points do you give the Pakistani Navy?? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : 4.
abhishekgupta : what is the indian navys reaction to the
presence of chinese and american naval survey vessels in the indian
oceons??????could u pls explain. Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : The seas are international waters and anyone can move around
anywhere so long as they don't come into our territorial waters. We do keep a
watch on some movements which are of interst to us. If any transgression are
made of our territorial waters or in our exclusive economic zone then we will do
something.
indian1 : Sir,What is the Role of Indian Navy in Gun
trafficking in Burma,Bangladesh as mostof the weapons to NE militants enter thru
Chittagong port as media reports? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : The Narcotics trade, the arms trade and terrorism are all
inter-linked. India lies in the middle of two major narco centres. The Golden
Crescent on the west and the Golden Triangle on the east. Much of this trade is
being carried across by sea in our waters. The menace is becoming serious and it
is important that the Indian Navy should be involved fully in countering it as
Coast Guard alone does not have the capability. We also have to have cooperative
arrangments with other literal countries to counter this illegal activity which
can hit at the security of our contries as was seen in the Bombay blasts of 1993
when all the explosives had been smuggled in by sea.
sbm : Sir, doesn't India move towards reverse engineering
Russian SAMs, ASMs and AAMs to learn the technology the way China did ? Wouldn't
it also provide a back up to possible embargos ? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : This is already being done in some way. The Trishul, Akash
systems being developed by the DRDO are basically upgrades of the Russian
versions and when operationlized will provide enhanced capability.
amlan : hello sir when will be india complete making its
nuclear submarine ?isn't it cheaper to one from abroad? Vice Admiral
(retd) PS Das : Everybody knows that there is a ATV programme
which reportedly will lead to building of a nuclear-powered submarine
indegenously. One hopes that this will happen in the next six to seven years
because such submarines are essential in any credible naval force. For
somethings, we have to have our own capability, and nuclear submarines are one
such item. So I do not think it is adivisble to buy them from others and are
unlikely to be avilable anyway.
sandeep : WHY the heck dont we attack Pakistan instead of
getting into talkes with them???????? Vice Admiral (retd) PS
Das : Sandeep, we can select our friends but we cannot select our
neighbours. Pakistan is here and so is India and neither is going to go away. So
by decimating them we are not getting anywhere. Sooner or later, they will also
realize this if they have not realized it already. But they have to know that if
they do anything like they did in Kargil they are goin to be sufferers and not
us.
vaisal : Do u think that IFR 2001 was a
success? Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : By any standard, the
IFR was a outstanding success. It brought together in our country navies from 21
countries including their heads. I think they all had an exposure to what the
Indian navy is and what its capabilities are. And this message taken back by
them can only help the country's position and stature.
Vice Admiral (retd) PS Das : I am sorry time is up and we
have to say goodbye. So I will say what the French say when they bid goodbye:
"Au revoir".
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