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The Army Commander Northern Command has responsibilities along borders facing both China and Pakistan. In the interview, he delves into issues involving the areas that face Pakistan first and then addresses those on the Chinese side.
The situation in J&K reflects transformational changes that are noteworthy. Foremost amongst them, is the public apathy, bordering on hostility, towards terrorists in J&K. The abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent developmental projects is resulting in a swing in public perception that favours the government’s approach.
The various steps taken by the Army in the hinterland has brought down recruitment of local boys to the militant outfits, skilling of youth and thereby enhancing their employability. Even young people who had left for better opportunities to other states, are returning to the state. J&K is now like any other normal state or a Union Territory.
The Army has also been able to bring infiltration across the LoC down to zero. It has also neutralized a large number of foreign terrorists. However, Pakistan has over 300 terrorists in their camps as yet. Drones are being used to drop drugs etc. The army needs to remain vigilant and there can be no laxity.
In the Ladakh front and the Chinese threat, the situation is stable but not normal. Of the seven friction points, five have been settled. The trust has been broken and there is a requirement of rebuilding it. On our side, in 2010 there were only two battalions, today there are two divisions. However, all such deployments, the force multipliers added to them, require infrastructure. Roads are being progressed at a rapid pace and will serve as the real force multipliers.
By next year we should be able to achieve our goals, enhance connectivity and improve logistics when three separate axes are available.
As far as the talks are concerned, these are being held at lower levels. The rules of engagement have been changed. There should be no jostling now. The hotline has more traffic.
With improvement in infrastructure and higher budgetary outlays in these border areas, the locals are better integrated with the rest of the nation. We also have better medical facilities and aero-bridges provided by our transport aircraft.
On the Chinese side they are building more roads, improving their logistics capabilities and creating an entire eco-system.
Author, thought leader and one of South Asia's leading strategic analysts, Nitin A. Gokhale has forty years of rich and varied experience behind him as a conflict reporter, Editor, author and now a media entrepreneur who owns and curates two important digital platforms, BharatShakti.in and StratNewsGlobal.com focusing on national security, strategic affairs and foreign policy matters.
At the beginning of his long and distinguished career, Gokhale has lived and reported from India’s North-east for 23 years, writing and analysing various insurgencies in the region, been on the ground at Kargil in the summer of 1999 during the India-Pakistan war, and also brought live reports from Sri Lanka’s Eelam War IV between 2006-2009.
Author of over a dozen books on wars, insurgencies and conflicts, Gokhale relocated to Delhi in 2006, was Security and Strategic Affairs Editor at NDTV, a leading Indian broadcaster for nine years, before launching in 2015 his own digital properties.
An alumni of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii, Gokhale now writes, lectures and analyses security and strategic matters in Indo-Pacific and travels regularly to US, Europe, South and South-East Asia to speak at various international seminars and conferences.
Gokhale also teaches at India’s Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), the three war colleges, India's National Defence College, College of Defence Management and the intelligence schools of both the R&AW and Intelligence Bureau.
He tweets at @nitingokhale
