Bhopal: There is no military solution to Kashmir issue, it can only be resolved politically said defence personnel during an event organised to pay tributes to the martyrs on the occasion of 19Th Kargil Vijay Diwas here on Thursday.
“No military, police or security forces can solve Kashmir issue, it needs political solution,” said army and navy officials in an interaction with Free Press. The event was organised by directorate of Sainik Welfare MP, district Sainik Welfare Office, Bhopal under the aegis of Ex Services League, Bhopal and directorate culture at Shaheed Bhawan.
Terming the Kagril war as an unconventional war, some of the defence personnel termed it as an intelligence failure stating and it may repeat if we remained “defensive and not offensive.” They also talked about stone pelting in Kashmir and the controversy over the surgical strike.
Excerpts:
Retd. Lieut. General Milan Naidu
It is very difficult to stop militancy in Kashmir. At present, Kashmiri people are getting food on low rate because of militancy. So why should they wish to stop militancy. Kashmir problem is political problem. It needs political resolution. No military, police and security forces will solve it.
The defence budget is 11.62 % which is less than what it was in 1962. Government should think about army, after all we are part of them. We need good range of equipment, and it should be latest so that we can fight our enemies. I think, people should avoid doing politics on surgical strikes.
Col. O P Mishra
I was posted thrice in Kashmir. In fact my first posting was in Kashmir. If we talk about stone pelting in Kashmir, I would say that it is more of a political thing. If we want then it can be resolved in a day or can continue for next 10 years because it is politically motivated. There is nothing strategic or tactical in it.
From where the stone pelters come and get money, I don’t want to comment on it. It is all political strategy; army has nothing to do with it. On Kargil war, he said “Our Indian forces believe in defence and not offence. It may be due to the influence of Lord Buddha and adherence to the principle of non-violence. And if we continue believing in it, there is more chances of similar Kargil war, but we are also ready to deal with the situation.”
Commander R Dixit
Whatever happened in Kargil was just because of intelligence failure, it should not be repeated again. Our forces are ready to handle any such situation. We are better equipped than earlier. We are also keeping an eye on satellite imagery too. So, Kargil war will not be repeated.
However, stone pelting is political problem which is wrong. And we have to find out its political solution to it. I don’t think there could be Indo-Pak war as the two countries have nuclear power. But in case, it occurs, we are ready for it.
Retd. Col. S C Dixit
Our army is strongest in the world, but we have lack of resources. Last year, our chief of the army staff told the parliament that we fo not have enough resources for war but the authority to take decision is with defence ministry and not us. At the time of Parliament attack, our soldiers had to fight in PT shoes because they did not have boots but then they gave a tough fight and won. We have to stand tall in all situations as we believe in do and die.
The event began with welcome speech of Brigdier R Vinayak, VSM. Major General P N Tripathi and Col OP Mishra, mention-in-dispatch were keynote speakers. On the occasion, singer Julfikar Ali and his troupe presented some patriotic songs like ‘Vande Matram…,’ ‘Ye Mere Vatan Ke Logon…’ and ‘Tu Pyar Ka Sagar Hai…’
Nirmala Sharma, mother of Martyr Devashish Sharma and Martyr Ajay Prasad’s father R N Prasad were also present in the event. Major General T P S Rawat, VSM, GOC Sub Area was chief guest. Retd. Lieut. General Milan Naidu, Major Genreal P N Tripathi, VSM, Brigadier R S Nautiyal and DSDO, Bhopal, Col Yashwant K Singh, SC (Shaurya Chakra) were present to pay tributes to the Kargil heroes.
