15 years after Kargil, Army still lacks modern artillery
Gen. Singh said the life of a soldier has improved since the Kargil incursions took place in 1999
The two month- long Kargil conflict that ended on July 26, 1999, was won by factors including the valour of Indian soldiers and the might of the Bofors guns that shelled the positions of the Pakistani Army intruders on the icy peaks of Kargil in J& K in the Summer of 1999. But the irony is that even 15 years after the end of the conflict, the Army is yet to acquire a modern artillery gun. The Army has not acquired a modern artillery gun for the past 27 years. The last artillery gun acquired was the Swedish Bofors gun in the late 1980s and what followed was a huge controversy over alleged kickbacks. But it was the same Bofors gun that saved the day in 1999. Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh, meanwhile, visited Drass in J& K on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the end of the Kargil conflict — that will be marked on Saturday — and said the present ( BJP- led NDA) government is totally committed towards ensuring that the Indian Army’s needs are met and that the Army has the ability to protect the country’s borders. Sources said the troops’ vigilance levels in all sectors of J& K are also much higher now to foil any future designs by the Pakistan Army for a repeat of the Kargil strategy of sneaking in undetected.
But has the country learnt the lessons of Kargil? A crucial recommendation by a Group of Ministers ( GoM) in 2001 for creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS)—- to provide singlepoint military advice to the Government — is yet to become a reality. The previous UPA- 2 Government had said it was trying to evolve consensus among political parties but the proposal has remained on paper.
On Friday, in Drass, Army chief Gen. Bikram Singh said, “As Chief of Army Staff, I want to assure you that your Army is stationed at the border and has the ability to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. As you know that I am hanging my boots on July 31 and I thought what better way of saying goodbye to the profession than coming here and laying a wreath.”
Asked if things have changed in terms of deficiencies in the Army since Kargil War, he said, “Yes, things have changed. Let me tell you all the armies have deficiencies. It is not only that the Indian Army has deficiencies.
“But things are being made up. The present government is totally committed towards ensuring that our needs are met. Our deficiencies are met. So let me assure you that your Army is fully geared to take on the challenges. I personally guarantee you that,” he said. Replying to a question, Gen. Singh said the life of a soldier has improved since the Kargil incursions took place in 1999. “It has improved by leaps and bounds in a very distinct manner,” he said. “The aspirations of the force with regards to the security needs are being addressed by the govern- ment. Let me assure you that the present government is definitely committed towards ensuring that the aspirations of our soldiers are met,” he said.
On ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the Army Chief said, “As you very well know that this kind of firing has been on and this thing has been happening almost every month and every year, but let me assure you that your soldiers are taking necessary action whenever required.”
Asked about the absence of retired senior Army officers, who were part of the Kargil war, from the function on Friday, Gen. Singh said he could not comment on it as they might have had prior commitments. “Look I cannot comment on that. It is possible that they are abroad, they are busy. They might have prior commitments. But let me assure you that each one of those officers has a commitment towards this cause,” he said.
The 15th anniversary of the end of Operation Vijay ( victory) — to drive the Pakistani intruders from the mountain peaks in the Dras and Batalik sector of Kargil — falls on July 26. Operation Vijay ended on July 26, 1999, after a twomonth conflict to drive the intruders from the mountain peaks they had occupied. July 26 has since been observed as Kargil Diwas ( day).
The Indian Army lost over 500 soldiers in the conflict, with another 1,300 soldiers being injured. The Pakistani intruders comprised Pakistani Army men from its Northern Light Infantry and militants. The Indian Army fought bloody battles to reclaim the Tiger Hill and Tololing Complex in Drass as well as mountain peaks in the Batalik- Turtok sector. Several Indian soldiers and officers were conferred gallantry awards for their exemplary bravery during the conflict including the Param Vir Chakra, the nation’s highest award for gallantry on the battlefield. The IAF also carried out thousands of sorties during the conflict as part of its Operation Safed Sagar. The Pakistani plan to push intruders into the Kargil area was believed to be that of the then Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf who later staged a coup — just two months after the Kargil conflict ended — and became President of Pakistan only to resign from the post in 2008.
But the wounds are yet to heal. Lt. Col. ( retd.) R. S. Gupta — father of Kargil martyr and Mahavir Chakra awardee Maj. Vivek Gupta — had told this newspaper a few years ago, “I consider Musharraf to be the murderer of my son. He is the biggest liar and scoundrel. My blood boils whenever he comes to Indian soil and makes irresponsible statements against our country.”
Lt. Col. ( retd.) Gupta had then said that India repeated the same mistakes and not learnt its lessons from Kargil.