Showing posts with label ADM & MORALE. Show all posts

Monday, May 8, 2017

No doubt, Army for people

SOURCE:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/no-doubt-army-for-people/399154.html

PART TWO OF TWO PARTS

PART ONE :

[A]

http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2017/05/an-army-for-people-m-g-devasahayam.html

PART TWO:

[ B ]

http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2017/04/no-doubt-army-for-people.html

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No Doubt, Army for People

by

Lt Gen R.S Sujlana (retd)

IN LINE OF FIRE: Army personnel guard the Panzgam camp, 120 km from Srinagar, which was attacked by militants recently. PTI

The Oped titled, "An Army for the People?" (April 26, 2017) conveys a matter of serious concern as it expresses doubts that the Army it is no longer for the people of this country (specially in relation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir). It ends with the question: “Should our Army be different now?”

A reference has been made to tying up of a stone-thrower in front of an Army jeep, evidently inspired by methods of the Israeli Occupation Force in illegal occupation of Palestine. Tellingly, it has also been conveyed that armed with the so-called draconian powers the Army has under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), instead of defending democracy, it has become oppressive at the whim of an autocratic state.

Let me first address the episode of tying an individual (who was one among the many others pelting stones on the security force personnel performing their duty) in front of a jeep. This impromptu action by the quick-thinking commander at a critical juncture warded off a potentially dangerous situation, saved many lives and it needs to be commended. What were the options and expectations from the young Army officer? Realising the inadequacy of his small force to counter the large hostile crowd out to lynch the security personnel on duty, his first reaction could have been to pull back to safety, in which case he could be charged with dereliction of duty and cowardice. Another reaction could have been to open fire, leading to heavy collateral damage and civilian casualties and get charged for use of unwarranted force and fuelling the nefarious propaganda machine of the sponsors of terrorism sitting across the border. It would have been foolhardy to be at the receiving end of the hostile stone-pelting crowd, leading to many own casualties. Expectedly, the young Major did not choose to take any of the above options but showed presence of mind. His ingenuity ensured safe evacuation of all security personnel with no casualties to the rioting civilians or collateral damage and needs appreciation. It must be reiterated that this is a clear example of the Army advocacy and teaching of maximum constraint despite extreme provocation at the risk of even suffering own casualties.

The credit and mastering (if these two words can be used loosely) the art of using humans as shields goes to the terrorists who shamelessly position women and children in front of them. The terrorists literally hid behind skirts (or rather phirans) and then from the safety of this screen of hapless citizens not only inflict casualties on the Army but make good their escape, leaving women and children in the lurch and in danger. Can anything be more unmanly and cowardly? Does it leave a doubt of what treatment the population will receive in the vaporous and no-longer- talked-of idea of "Azadi" but of radical Islam and world-wide jihad?

The very thought of the Army taking a leaf from the Israel Occupation Force is outlandish. The Indian Army is not an occupation force but operating in its own land. Moreover, operations are always launched ensuring minimum collateral and discomfort to the local population or giving a reason for any discord. The Army in its' over six decades of experience in battling insurgents/ terrorists/ anti-national elements has refined strategy and tactics to fight the terrorists, while interacting with and providing solace to the affected local civilian population. Such has been its' expertise that armies the world over (ranging from the US, UK, Russia, to Central Asian Republics, Japan to South-East Asia and South Asia) have sought joint training through exercises with the Indian Army at various levels to learn from its experience. Their outstanding contribution to effectively fight the scourge of terrorism has been widely appreciated. Yes, the armed forces does procure Israeli weapons and advanced technology but it does not need to import any lessons to fight battles.

In the Army's fight against terrorism, an important and well-structured thrust has been on being people friendly. Under the aegis of Operation “Sadhbhavna” in Jammu and Kashmir and Operation “Samaritan” in the North-East, the Army has earnestly taken up the duties of a failed civil administration and literally brought to the door steps of the population a range of elusive facilities: education and exposure to technology through institutions like “Good-will Schools”, medical, veterinary, sports and travel facilities etc.

A question that may rankle: Why, despite all these measures the population is still hostile and the security forces are not appreciated? Resolving the Kashmir problem is a national challenge and not the sole prerogative of the Army. Rather, the latter has only a minor role which is restricted to controlling the hostile situation to enable the civil administration to take control of the reigns. Such a controlled situation was created in 2014 which enabled the conduct of peaceful elections and witnessed heavy polling, the terrorists sway was down. The yeoman service of the Army during the deluge and disaster caused by the waters of Jhelum and people-oriented actions added to the confidence of the locals. However, what followed was disastrous. The advent of winter saw the Darbar with all politicians and bureaucrats shifting to the salubrious environs of Jammu. Even the separatist leaders flew away and left the population in misery to fend for themselves.

While the Army and other security forces had done their job, when the need was for the politicians and the civil administration to proactively perform they failed to do so. The Pakistan-based sponsors saw an appropriate opportunity and lashed out with every trick in perception management, while we failed to counter and exploit the success of elections. Just two years down, we witnessed the result of thumb twiddling and losing the narrative — a 7 per cent election turnout with smashed EVMs floating in the Jhelum. An integrated national effort, the need of the hour, is nowhere in sight.

The Army's resolve to ensure mission accomplishment, apolitical conduct and preserve democracy is no different today than the days of Emergency when all pillars of democracy — including the judiciary, bureaucracy and media — crawled to submission. It was left to the Army to stand sentinel over the citizens' liberty and rights. Like in the past, so too in the future, whenever the need arises even for any secondary task the Army will always endeavour to ameliorate any hardship that people may face.

No doubts need to be raised and no witnesses are needed, their selfless conduct, with thousands having made the ultimate sacrifice, bears testimony to this. The Army led by gallant soldiers and officers at all levels will continue to outperform the enemy within and without. The nation must TRUST them. A start would be to raise a National War Memorial, which remains a pipedream despite repeated promises

including one by the present 56"-chest

regime.

The writer is former Commandant, IMA & ex-Chairman, PPSC.
The Army in J&K, facing hostile stone-throwers and cross-border terrorism, needs to be supported by proactive political measures. Paramilitary forces in the Naxal-affected areas too need to be backed by technology, synergy and development on the ground.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

An Army for the people? M. G. Devasahayam

SOURCE:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/an-army-for-the-people/397454.html

PART ONE OF TWO PARTS

PART ONE :

[A]

http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2017/05/an-army-for-people-m-g-devasahayam.html

PART TWO:

[ B ]

http://bcvasundhra.blogspot.in/2017/04/no-doubt-army-for-people.html

***************************************************************
DONT TAKE INDIAN ARMED FORCES FOR GRANTED. ARMED FORCES ARE THE CUSTODIAN OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION
&
LOYALTY OF ARMY IS GUARANTEED AS LONG AS THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION IS RESPECTED AND INTEGRITY OF THE NATION IS ENSURED - VASUNDHRA

Powerless?Farooq Dar tied to the Army vehicle as a human shield. Former Chief Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to display his anguish and attached the video screenshot of Dar.

An Army for the People?

BY

M. G. Devasahayam

Army’s healing touch:The Army was the saviour for people devastated by the floods. Army doctors provide medicines to the flood-hit people at a medical camp in Srinagar. PTI

Next Image

L’affaire Human Shield’ of the Indian Army tying a stone-thrower on their jeep in Kashmir has evoked mixed reactions. Many, including Army veterans, are defending it as a tactical means to avoid stone-throwing and thus permit operations with minimal bloodshed of protestors and Army personnel alike. Many others condemn it vehemently.

Among the latter are those who call it part of "D doctrine" that draws its inspiration and ideology from the state of Israel. While this can be the Standard Operating Procedure for the Israeli Occupation Force in illegal occupation of Palestine, it cannot be an SOP in the Indian Army or any other self-respecting military.

For the moderate objectors, the Army personnel who used the tactic are clearly at the end of their tether in being deployed in internal security operations with no end in sight. They feel soldiers on-the-ground would not have used the tactic had they not been frustrated with having to take the blame for failures and the bullets and grenades from militants over the decades, for pulling politicians' chestnuts out of the fire, a job that the police are not quite up to.

Those who defend the "human shield" quote paragraph 305 of the "Regulations for the Army" for deployment of troops on duties in aid of civil authorities: "The strength and composition of the force, the amount of ammunition to be taken and the manner of carrying out the task are matters for the decision of the military authorities alone."

Paragraph 306 (d) provides immunity to officers if they act in good faith which is held to mean "with due care and attention". For them, the young commander in Budgam faced with a hostile crowd of over 900 and the option of opening fire undoubtedly acted in good faith, exercising due care and attention, thereby averting a potential catastrophe.

Both sides have merits in their argument. But the problem is with the common denominator-the prolonged and endless deployment of the Army in internal security duty which is the job of the police and at best of the para-military forces for a short period. As per the Army Doctrine-2004, the Indian Army's primary role is to preserve national interests and safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of India against any external threats by deterrence or by waging war. To perform this role, the Army keeps aloof from the civilian crowd, concentrating on their training and battle readiness.

Relegating the Army to its secondary/tertiary role by prolonged troop deployment on internal security duties, dilutes the Army's authority, corrupts ranks and compromises efficiency through lack of training.

Besides, over time the Army is looked upon merely as another state force with its soldiers losing the respect and mystique they traditionally enjoyed. Familiarity breeds contempt and military men find themselves at the receiving end. This is precisely what is happening in Kashmir. Since the civilian population is directly involved, politics and politicians come in. Power games begin and wittingly or unwittingly the Army becomes a pawn.

In the case of Kashmir, the endeavour of power-mongers has been to create a situation of intense hostility, inextricably miring the military into it forcing it to resort to excessive force. To perform this "task," the Army is vested with draconian powers under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In a July 2016 verdict, the Supreme Court ripped open the cloak of immunity and secrecy provided by AFSPA to security forces for deaths caused during encounters in disturbed areas.

Earlier, Commissions headed by former apex court judges have found serious human rights violations by the security forces and have recommended the scrapping of AFSPA or making drastic changes in it.

Successive governments and the Army top brass have been defending AFPSA with all their might. Over the years, the effort of ruling politicians has been to make the Army an instrument of an increasingly autocratic state. The question arises: What is the mandate of the Indian Army — to defend democracy or oppress the people at the whim of an autocratic state? This poser came up when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in June, 1975 turning a vibrant democracy into enslaved autocracy. Putting the entire blame on Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) and the movement led by him she made specific reference to JP calling upon the Army not to obey any order, which they considered wrong: "You have not sold your conscience and honour for the sake of your bread", JP had said and challenged the Home Minister to try him for treason. Response to the poser came from the international media in a lengthy article titled “Ruler of 600 million arid alone”-Indira Gandhi is unmaking a democracy to save it," in the New York Times of August 10, 1975 — written by Claire Sterling, [http://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/10/archives/ruler-of-600-million-and-alone-indira-gandhi-is-unmaking-a.html?_r=0 ] a columnist for Atlantic Monthly, Washington Post and International Herald Tribune after extensively visiting India. After analysing the situation on the ground and presenting the alternatives before Mrs Gandhi — becoming a real dictator or sending the country into the Soviet orbit — Claire opines that neither development is likely to leave the Indian Army unmoved:

[ ]

“India's standing Army of nearly a million men has been resolutely non-political since Independence. But it is also sensitive to the smallest slight to its honour, dignity and military independence, not to mention the nation's sovereignty; and it is steeped in loyalty to constitutional principles. It was altogether her Army when she enjoyed unquestioned legitimacy of constitutional rule. It may not be should its ranking officers conclude that she has become something else. More than ever now her fate hangs on the Army's loyalty.”

Claire concludes the article with touching poignancy: "One thing worse than governing India by democratic persuasion would be trying to govern it by force. Yet that is how Indira is trying to do it now. Depending on how fast and how far she goes in changing from a traditional Prime Minister to the one-woman ruler of a police state, the Indian Army, the one group with the power to stop the process, could intervene. If it were to do so, it would almost certainly be not to replace her with a military dictator, but to restore the institutions of democracy it has been drilled into defending since birth." The Army lived up to this faith and Emergency ended with Indira Gandhi's defeat in the 1977 elections. The Army did not intervene but remained a bulwark of India's democracy and its institutions. I was a witness. Should our Army be any different now?

The writer is a former IAS officer

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

LODGE A "FIR" AGAINST INDIAN ARMY

SOURCE:

http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=251603

VIEW FROM FROM PAKISTAN

LODGE

A "FIR"

AGAINST INDIAN ARMY

- Gen DigVictory Singh

"STATEMENT OF COMPLAIN IN FIR"

Indian Army Kills 8 Pakistani Soldiers as forces retaliate to ceasefire violation along LoC in Rajouri

Eight Pakistan Army soldier were killed and several injured as Indian Army retaliated to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir today.

Pakistan Army started heavy mortar shelling and firing at two Indian positions in Jhanger and Sher Makedi village near the LoC in Naushera, triggering of a gun duel, a defence official said.

"Pakistan Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars on Indian posts on the LoC in two villages of Naushera sector in Rajouri district at around 8 am. Indian Army posts are retaliating strongly and effectively," said Defence Ministry spokesman, Lt Col Manish Mehta.

According to the defence sources, mortar shell fired by the Indian Army fell into an Army camp across the border and Pakistan suffered maximum causality.

Pakistani helicopters and ambulances were seen from across the border to shift the injured and dead Pakistan Army soldiers to near by hospitals.

These areas normally remain calm but Pakistan is now using soft areas for infiltration of armed terrorists from old routes. The Pakistan Army is giving cover fire to terrorists so that they can infiltrate to kick-up violence in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, defence officials said.

Intelligence agencies have already alerted the Army and the state police that this summer will be hot and more than 100 terrorists are waiting on launching pads near Line of Control to cross over to the Indian side.

MADE IN PAKISTAN

ABP News showing videos showing our army soldiers beating Kashmiri youth actually shot in Pakistan. New high by ISPR.

Friday, April 7, 2017

‘Brown Bag Lunches’ Whet Appetite For Leadership Ideas (R)

SOURCE:
https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/how-brown-bag-lunches-whet-appetite-for-leadership-ideas

How ‘Brown Bag Lunches’ Whet Appetite For Leadership Ideas

BY

Lt gen Syed Ata Hasnain(Retd)

Mar 31, 2017.

SNAPSHOT

Try ideation wherever you are and try Brown Bag Lunches. I have not found a better management practice for effective leadership and creation of a congenial environment for functioning and thinking.

I first came across the term ‘Brown Bag Lunch’ while attending the executive programme of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii in August 2000. It was a three-month programme designed to introduce middle level government officers (not necessarily uniformed) of countries within the US’ strategic circle to various vistas of comprehensive security of the Asia Pacific Region.

This was the pre-9/11 period and I was serving in Kashmir. The Americans did not have much of an idea of Jammu and Kashmir, nor of irregular warfare, had never heard of

Improvised Explosive Devices and felt that

Islamic fundamentalism (the term radicalism

was introduced much later) was but a passing

phase.

There were four Pakistanis who were attending the programme with me; one each from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Army, an academic and a joint secretary from Pakistan's Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The PAF and Army officers always received preferential treatment from the American servicemen. Whenever I warned the various participants (there were 80 people from 35 countries) about the impending dangers of Islamic fundamentalism, I was never taken seriously by the US establishment; even during one large international seminar on transnational terror. The only man who thought I was talking sense was the president (virtually the Commandant) of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Lieutenant General (retired) Hank Stackpole, an outstanding Marine Corps General.

One good day, as good as any in sunny Hawaii, I was called up by the president’s staff officer to convey the General's invitation for Brown Bag Lunch during the lunch hour the next day to discuss Jammu and Kashmir and Islamic fundamentalism. It was to be a one-on-one discussion, but in the excitement of having been invited for the lunch, I forgot to ask the staff officer what was meant by Brown Bag Lunch.

I arrived at the appointed hour carrying my little plastic bag containing the usual paraphernalia of stationery so the staff officer did not ask me any questions. He ushered me into the president's office, where the lean and very intellectual General was already sitting on the sofa, awaiting my arrival. Lunch was open before him; a sandwich and an apple. I wondered what I would be eating. After some small talk the General asked me whether I would like to open my lunch packet before we got down to discussing the subjects he was interested in. I was not sure I heard correctly, but gathering my wits, I said I had carried no lunch with me because I thought he had invited me for lunch.

The General was more than amused. "Didn't they tell you, it was to be Brown Bag Lunch”, he said.

"They did, but I am not sure I understood what that means, neither do I understand what it means even now", I replied.

The General burst out laughing. "Oh, that is American for having a shared lunch; you bring yours and I bring mine", he blurted between his laughs.

"I am sorry, in my country an invitation for a meal means only the host brings the meal,” was my forthright reply.

That afternoon both General Stackpole and I went hungry having eaten half a sandwich and half an apple each but the tone and content of the discussion made up for all the loss. I told him that I was writing my dissertation on Islamic fundamentalism and my research told me that the Americans were getting it all wrong by kowtowing to the Pakistan Army, and not ensuring that the fundamentalist groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan were isolated and weeded out.

He was a little surprised hearing this from me, a Muslim, and said so in so many words. I had to explain that I was a soldier and attached nothing to my personal faith; it was only my professional orientation I was bringing to my analysis, but exploiting also my knowledge of the faith. He thanked me and asked me to submit a separate copy of my dissertation to his office, for him to read.

The programme was to end on 15 September 2000 and I was traveling to San Francisco and then the Mid-West on mainland US to be with family. I ensured that a copy of my badly typed dissertation was formatted by a local computer instructor (I was yet a novice at handling computers), refined for presentation and then submitted to General Stackpole's office. The date of submission which can never leave my memory, was a date now etched in the world's memory.

It was 9/11,

only the year was different. It was 11 September 2000, exactly 365 days before the world changed after the Twin Tower attack.

But that is not the end. It started with Brown Bag Lunches and must end with that. As the Military Secretary (MS) of the Indian Army in 2012-13, I was on the lookout for new practices for taking my branch to a much higher level of efficiency and functioning. I was one of the world’s largest human resource managers, managing a cadre of 40,000 officers.

Many new ideas were being tried, mostly based on thoughts of middle level officers. To keep the adrenaline flowing and allowing open ended intake of ideas, I introduced the Brown Bag Lunch system. One Colonel, Lt Col or Major of the branch would join me for lunch from 1pm to 1.30pm at my office. He brought his lunch, I brought mine; I benefited from the culinary skills of the MS branch wives, who ensured their husbands always carried some novelties; mine was a simpler lunch.

Meals apart, I have never had richer and more fruitful discussion on professional matters than during these sessions. We discussed affairs of the MS branch and of the Indian Army in general. The last five minutes were spent on generic issues. A notebook and pen was within easy reach for me to take down the wealth of thoughts I received.

These were my able subordinates, who I would perhaps meet only collectively and never one on one; Brown Bag Lunch had created the opportunity. Five ideas from the discussion were noted and later compiled for our conferences where all could analyse them. Some ideas were taken to conclusion and some others taken up for deeper study.

This is the world of ideation; if you do not practise it in one form or the other you really may be a deficient leader because one brain can never think of the range of ideas which are required for problem solving. The entire Army could do with many more ideas. I have seen ideation dinners being conducted in institutions in London and held a few in my command of formations too.

Try ideation wherever you are and try Brown Bag Lunches. I have not found a better management practice for effective leadership and creation of a congenial environment for functioning and thinking.

I have to thank General Hank Stackpole and that wonderful American institution, APCSS, for having taught me this. But in hindsight I wish the very fine General had passed on my dissertation to the American President.

Syed Ata Hasnain

The writer is a former GOC of India’s Srinagar based 15 Corps, now associated with Vivekanand International Foundation and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Vasundhra

Monday, May 8, 2017