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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
AMBALA, MARCH 25: Political leaders and bureaucrats having little knowledge or idea of affairs related to Defence decide on the defence policy without taking into confidence military experts. This was pointed out on Wednesday by Major General Rajindra Nath (retd) while delivering the keynote address at an Army heritage seminar, which was organised by the 253 medium artillery company in collaboration with the Environment Society of India at the Kharga Stadium Hall.
The former Major General added the politicians in power signed agreements after various wars with Pakistan without even consulting military officers. He said the defence services won the 1971 war on the battlefield, but lost it on the negotiating table in the agreement reached with Pakistan. ``We could have easily solved the Kashmir problem on our terms which is causing so many problems in the present context, even after the prime ministers of the two countries have started a dialogue to solve mutual problems,'' he added.
He lamented the country was needlessly losing brave officers and the politicians were not concerned with the welfare of the jawans at large and did not think it appropriate to consult experts on military affairs.
The retired Army officer dwelt at length on the history of Indian warfare from time immemorial. He elaborated at length on the gradual evolution of Indian warfare from the time of Mahabharat to the wars being fought in the highest battlefield in the world Siachen. He also stressed the importance of strategic planning in the present context of modern warfareand the importance of greater interaction in the high-level planning. He said in the present context, the importance of organisation capability cannot be ruled out and the politicians needed to give a serious thought to this serious relevant issue.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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