Article

2006-05-25 India-Pakistan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2006-05-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The Indian Government should take real fine ground Norite (Activated Charcoal) and spread it as a fine dust over the Siachen Glacier.
Wait a couple of years and its just a nice lake.

Posted by 3dc 2006-05-25 00:09|| 2006-05-25 00:09|| Front Page Top

#2 The Indian government won't destroy the glacial river sources in its own territory.

It holds the high ground and cannot be dislogded by military means. The Indian army has divisions of troops trained and acclimatized to high altitude warfare.

The Indian Prime Minister is another matter. Born in what is now Pakistan, he seems to have a longing for the long lost brothers (an affliction common to Punjabis of that generation).
He may very well decide to "trust" Pakistan and order the Indian army to leave the glacier.

Posted by john 2006-05-25 12:47|| 2006-05-25 12:47|| Front Page Top

#3 *cough*coup*cough*

Posted by Frank G 2006-05-25 13:44|| 2006-05-25 13:44|| Front Page Top

#4 Last Indian General to have that sort of power was Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw (called Sam Bahadur or "Sam the Bold" by his men).

Indira Gandhi feared his popularity among the Indian people.

In 1970, then prime minister Indira Gandhi's worst fear was that Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw would stage a coup and take over the reins of the country from her.

In 1970, Mrs Gandhi's stock politically, was very low, Manekshaw explained, and he couldn't go anywhere without being asked whether he would actually take over. Even a US Diplomat had asked him at a party ``when are you taking over'', he remembered. Then one day, a worried Mrs Gandhi asked him to come to Parliament House and ``looked me straight into my eyes and said you are my problem,'' he said.

Shaken up, Manekshaw, the hero of the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, said ``I put my nose next to hers and said what do you think ?''

``She said you can't.

"Do you think I am so incompetent" (Manekshaw replied).

I didn't mean that Sam. You wouldn't,''

he recalled Mrs Gandhi as having argued.

The former army chiefs aid he related a ``little jingle'' to the prime minister, ``you mind your own business and I'll mind mine. You kiss your own sweetheart and I'll kiss mine. I don't interfere politically as long as nobody interferes with me in the army''

"Don't you think I would not be a worthy replacement for you Madam prime minister? You have a long nose, so have I. I don't poke my nose in other people's affairs," he joked.

.

Posted by john 2006-05-25 14:34|| 2006-05-25 14:34|| Front Page Top

#5 The Indian state has done a good job at enforcing civilian control over the army (which predates the state itself).
Something like a coup would be unthinkable in India now. The population and most of the army itslef would never allow it.

Posted by john 2006-05-25 14:36|| 2006-05-25 14:36|| Front Page Top

#6 Quite ironic that the Pakistan Army, which was formed from a parition of the Indian Army, has evolved in such a different direction...

Posted by john 2006-05-25 14:38|| 2006-05-25 14:38|| Front Page Top

#7 Hummm.... The Indian Army keeping out of the political arena even during bad times has been ~~one of~~ the cornerstone of Indians success.

Posted by 6 2006-05-25 16:40|| 2006-05-25 16:40|| Front Page Top

#8 Any Indian hankering for army rule has only to look across the border to see the mess that the military has made of Pakistan.

Posted by john 2006-05-25 17:46|| 2006-05-25 17:46|| Front Page Top

00:01 anymouse
23:59 Barbara Skolaut
23:59 DMFD
23:56 Barbara Skolaut
23:56 DMFD
23:50 Lone Ranger
23:46 Old Patriot
23:29 Old Patriot
23:29 Seafarious
23:29 ed
23:23 Manolo
23:22 ed
23:20 JosephMendiola
23:13 mcsegeek1
23:13 Zenster
23:11 tu3031
23:10 DarthVader
23:06 JosephMendiola
23:06 JosephMendiola
22:58 JosephMendiola
22:52 Redneck Jim
22:52 JosephMendiola
22:40 JosephMendiola
22:29 JosephMendiola