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'There is a tendency in our country to remember soldiers only in times of trouble.'
General (retd) VP Malik : Hello friends. I am here to
answer your questions on Kargil war. Today is the second anniversary of the war.
I think we should remember today for three main reasons: First, to pay homage to
soldiers who made supreme sacrifice for the nation: Second, to recollect our
lessons from that war: Third, to take inspiration from the success achieved
during the war.
Shiva : General Malik: Do you support VAjpayee's move of
inviting General Musharraf? General (retd) VP Malik : Yes.
India and Pakistan are geographically ordained to be neighbours. We can't be
fighting always. After every war we have to look for peace. So I am not against
the effort to resolve our differences.
Jeevan : Mr Malik: Do you think it was intellegence
failure from our side? If yes, why? General (retd) VP
Malik : I would like to draw your attention to the report
submitted by the Kargil review committee, which went into great details on this
aspect. There were weaknesses in collection, collation and making proper
assessment initially.
rags : gen malik how did brig surinder get fixed wheras
the bigger culprits - gen budwar and GOC 15 Corps get away without any
action General (retd) VP Malik : I do not wish to go into
these details except to say that all these actions were based on courts of
inquiries and other investigations done at unit and formation levels.
rajujs : SIR, DO U THINK THAT IT WAS INDIA'S MISTAKE TO
ALLOW THE TERROROSTS TO ESCAPE WHILE AGREEING FOR CEASFIRE General (retd)
VP Malik : Please remember people who intruded in Kargil sector
were not terrorists. They were Pakistan Army personnel in the garb of jehadis.
These people withdrew after India and Pakistan agreed on the ceasefire and their
withdrawal.
tyger : can we not do extensive mining and wiring in
Kashmir General (retd) VP Malik : These can be breached, so
it would reduce infiltration but not eliminate it. Incidentally most of the LoC
stands mined and wired already.
rakeshkumarojha : Don't you think sir that Gen. Musharraf
should have sorry to the family of Kargil Martyr's General (retd) VP
Malik : I can not answer this question. He is the President of
Pakistan now.
roy : Why did we deploy age old fighter jet aircraft like
MIG-21 and MIG-27 when we had the sukhoi multifunctional fighter jets. Are those
jets too valuable to lose? General (retd) VP Malik : Sukhois
had not been inducted for combat at that time. The Air Force used all types of
planes which they considered most ideal for that environment.
Ashutosh : What do think Sir, will ultimately happen to
J&K and the terrorist menace? General (retd) VP
Malik : This has internal as well as external dimensions. With the
kind of support being given by Pakistan, I am not able to predict when we will
be able to overcome this menace. We have to remain alert and keep fighting it.
But either through terrorists or directly Pakistan is not capable of annexing
our part of J&K.
srikanth : Sir, given a chance under no political
obligations can the three defence services clearup the mess in
kashmir. General (retd) VP Malik : In a democratic set up
such policies must be laid down by political leadership.
Nidheesh : sir why can't we attack these terrorsit gropus
in pakistan thru a secret mission General (retd) VP
Malik : It has political implications. I cannot answer it as a
military man.
anantsrivastava : Mr. General why did indian army lost so
many of it's soldier's in this war General (retd) VP
Malik : Because of the terrain and the fact that our earlier
assessment, which was wrong, that they were jehadis. But I would also like to
inform you that Pakistan lost about 700 soldiers, more than us, as per
intelligence assessments.
manish : sir why the win of TIGER hill was so
difficult? General (retd) VP Malik : The photograph of Tiger
Hill will tell you.
bharat : general. i think we should take israil type army
action agaiest terrorist in kashmir General (retd) VP
Malik : I like your thinking. We may have to think in terms of
special groups, if the jehadi menace continues to persist.
anandabose : What do you think was the most effective step
taken by the India Army that resulted in the fadeout of the Pakistani
Forces General (retd) VP Malik : It was a righteous war.
Every soldier knew it on the ground and wanted victory. Our politico-military
strategy made it clear that we shall take all steps to defend our territory.
vishalmishra : how you are feeling today? General
(retd) VP Malik : I feel sad remembering the soldiers whom we
lost. But I also feel proud that we achieved our aim, and came out victorious.
Roshan : General , Where do you see the Kashmir issue
going General (retd) VP Malik : Long way to go and I am an
optimist.
sonam : Why Tibetan Army name are not mention in Indian
News paper. As I know that they some have also work hard for the nation. Please
answer my request. General (retd) VP Malik : I do not know
of Tibetan Army. But Some Tibetans who are now Indian citizens participated in
the war and did well.
Sumantra : General Sir, I feel sorry for those Junior
Officers who are being persecuted, why this treatment? Your comments
Sir General (retd) VP Malik : I do not know the details of
these cases except from what is appearing in the newspapers. Such matters are
decided at the lower levels. But I do not believe that any commander is taking
action against anyone due to vindictivness or without detailed investigations.
The Army Act and Army rules are there to ensure that justice is done.
Parag : Which is your birth place ? General (retd)
VP Malik : A place called Dera-Ismail Khan, which is in North West
Frontier Province of Pakistan. My family migrated to India just before
Partition.
vvrlswamy : Sir a serious question: Whats the guarantee
that Kargil misadventure wud not be repeated. operation vijay was successful, bu
the fact is India still spending a considerable % of GDP on its Defence
expenditure. General (retd) VP Malik : There is no gurantee
at all. We must remain alert and prepared. I do not agree with your statement on
the defence expenditure. India spends much less than most countries on defence.
There is scope to spend more and and also to get more out of every buck that we
spend.
chand : You have been an Army person for so long. When you
look back at the past and your life and introspect, do you think joining the
Army was the right choice. Do you really feel that fighting a war helps at at
all ? General (retd) VP Malik : I look back on my Army
career with satisfaction and pride. No one in right senses wants to fight a war.
But you must do so for the sake of your country whenever required.
vivek : general why is it that the Indian Army takes its
daily casualities in kashmir lightly.Imagine whether the Israelis will take this
type of killings lightly? General (retd) VP Malik : Army
does not take its casualties lightly. When you are fighting a war, proxy war or
any other type of war, casulties are inevitable. Israeli Army follows a
pro-active defence policy. Our policy is different.
artidesai : sir, salute to you and indian army who did
indeed great job two years back , sir, we our army is quite capable of handling
terririsom in Kashmir by figting with millitants however,it is always better to
solve the problem by peaseful talk to avoid loss of life for many but now when
after summit it is clear that the other side is not accepting the word
terririsom why army should not play a role and solve the issue once for all and
if the decision of the Civil authorities are required why army can not prevail
upon them and convince them for an action, why only a defensive play , why
should we not become aggresive? General (retd) VP Malik : I
am sure all aspects and their implications are discussed from time to time.
These are matters of policies.
Mund : Dont u think Lt Kenguruse should have been given a
PVC? General (retd) VP Malik : Lt Kenguruse was a brave
soldier and he did well. The awards are committee decisions.
srahul : sir when we know that in last 50 years talks,
ceasefire etc etc have resulted nothing than again we rely on same old theory
time and again..why ? General (retd) VP Malik : Because no
two countries can afford to fight for ever and ever. However, we have to remain
alert and prepared all the time.
Rambhamish : Sir is it true that Indian army has lost the
will to fight in kashmir and wants govt to go for political solution at any cost
???? General (retd) VP Malik : This is not correct. In all
internal security problems the final solution is a political decision. The
security forces create a situation where political process can start and lead to
a solution.
rush_in : I really apreciate the the then brigadier pathak
of 102 brigade for having taken stern action in badhaur complex in siachen
1992-93 by being offensive and killing the pakis brigadier and two major n
destoryning the heli in his own supervision on the ground for which he was
awarded yudh sewa medal , why is it then that the army the 4th largest in the
world is not allowed to cross loc in kargil conflict General (retd) VP
Malik : I am sure General Pathak would be happy to hear your
views. Crossing fo LoC is a political decision and it has serious
implications.
rahulsharma : SIR,DO you agree to the Pakistani statement
there are no POWs in Pakistan General (retd) VP Malik : No.
Anil : Sir dont you agree that we won Kargil on due to
braveness shown by our soldiers, where as it was totally non responsible
behivour of our Top Militery offcials, General (retd) VP
Malik : I do not agree. War is a combined effort, not only of the
Army and other services but also of the rest of the nation. Every soldier on the
ground needs strategic and operational directions and the necessary support.
kiran : sir, did all the money that we have collected and
gave to you did reach the soldiers or not after the war or during the
war?.. General (retd) VP Malik : I am certain that the money
sent to Army Central Welfare Fund has been utilized properly and payments have
been made to wounded soldiers and the families of the martyrs as per laid down
rules.
rakeshkumarojha : Sir, what measure should we adopt to
stop cross-border terrorism ??? General (retd) VP Malik : We
should stop cross-border infiltration by military and political means.
nanand : Sir, do you have any spiritual
leanings? General (retd) VP Malik : I am not an atheist.
KS : Sir In US if one soldier dies in war US president used
to come for the funeral or atleast to receive his body why this is not in
INDIA. is is beacause here we don't have any value for human life General
(retd) VP Malik : It should be done. There is a tendency in our
country to remember soldiers only in times of trouble.
kaushik1 : SIR, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE
SIACHEN GLACIER General (retd) VP Malik : Many times. I
can't recall the number.
General (retd) VP Malik : Before I sign off, I want to say
once again that during Kargil war Pak regular troops in the garb of jehadis
carried out intrusion into our territory but were forced to vacate and withdraw.
Pak plan was ambitious and achieved success so long as its surprise and
deception lasted. But it failed finally because of our military successes on the
battlefield and our politico-military strategy. It is not the beginning that
matters but how you end the war. I hope both India and Pakistan have learnt the
right lessons from Kargil war.
General (retd) VP Malik : I am unable to answer rest of
the questions due to time shortage. Thank you for your interest.
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