The Lt Gen K S Brar Chat
Lt Gen Kuldeep Singh Brar's chat was akin to a military operation: minimum fuss and straight to the point. Indians can rest assured that the armed forces are prepared for any challenge.
kammo (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:28 IST)
Hello Sirji, What are your feelings on the ocassion of 50th years of independence.
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:30 IST)
Hi to all of you who are on this chat show. My greetings to you on this great occasion when we celebrate 50 years of our Independence.
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:32 IST)
Kammo: My feelings on this day are of great pride that I belong to perhaps the greatest democracy in the world, and that we have been able to preserve our freedom. I am also proud of the fact that India's armed forces have remained apolitical ever since.
Samuel (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:34 IST)
Is the general in? I want to ask the general if he is satisfied with the manner in which national security issues have been handled in the last 50 years?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:38 IST)
Samuel: Well, very frankly, I don't feel very happy at the manner in which our security problems are being handled in the absence of a dedicated body such as the National Security Council, which is so necessary to render the right type of advise to the government in power.
Clauswitz (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:35 IST)
Sir, Hearty Greetings on Independence Day. Did you in 1984 ever fear that today might never arrive for India, at least not for a united India?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:41 IST)
Clauswitz : No there was no reason for such a fear. As far as the armed forces are concerned, we are everready and prepared to sacrifice our lives for the safety and prosperity of this nation.
kammo (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:35 IST)
Hello sirji, on the 50th year of Independence, what are your comments on the arms race going on in the Indian subcontinent
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:43 IST)
KAMMO: It is unfortunate that India and the countries around it have got themselves embroiled in conflict situations which naturally means procurement of arms and building up of military strength. This could eventually end up in each other's destruction, instead of consolidating ourselves as a strong entity in this part of the world. Perhaps this is the fallout of the power politics played by the superpowers who do not wish to see any competition to their strength.
anurag (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:42 IST)
Sir : In today's war, technology and strategic planning are everything. Where do you rate our armed forces in these arenas?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:46 IST)
Anurag: We are making very good progress as far as technology is concerned and, in fact, many of our good brains are away exporting our expertise in some of the highly developed countries. It has been a godsend for us that we have been forced to stand on our own feet and develop our own technology in the absence of technology transfer from other countries as a result of pressures from the United States.
Pandurang Rao (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:36 IST)
General, in times to come, where will the biggest threat to India come from? From China? Or from within?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:50 IST)
Pandurang Rao : At present, the biggest threat to our country is from within because of our own misdoings and neglect. In the long term -- say after another 7-10 years, the major threat would be from China who would by then have attained a near superpower status and will look upon India as a competitor. This does not mean that the threat within will be over unless we Indians look at this country as nationalists rather than leading a life of scampsters.
Clauswitz (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:41 IST)
In case of a double front against China and Pakistan, will we be able to knock out Pak while holding against China, or will we have to be defensive against both? How are we placed against Pakistan?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:53 IST)
Clauswitz : Our force structuring has taken into account both -- the threat from China as well as Pakistan. Our strategy is to fight a 1 1/2 war. Which means if attacked by China , holding action on the Pakistani side, and, if attacked by Pakistan, holding action on the Chinese side. We would be able to redeploy our forces in time to meet any of the above contingencies. As far as Pakistan is concerned, if it were to start a war with India it would mean the destruction of the former. In the case of China, the sheer size and strength of the Chinese woul preclude such a result as in the case of Pakistan. But we would certianly preserve our territorial integrity unlike 1962.
Edward (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:49 IST)
Namaskar to everybody! Congratulations to everybody on 50 years of Independence! General, do you forsee the world accepting India and Pakistan as declared nuclear countries? Can you visualise the two nations having friendly relations, even leading to SAARC becoming a Union, similar to EU in the next 50 years? Do you belive the world order will chage from that what it is today, with India and Pakistan cooperating to play a major role in the new world order?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:58 IST)
Edward: As far as the world accepting India and Pakistan becoming nuclear powers, I feel there is little that they can do to stop it from happening, just as they could do nothing about China and France carrying out the recent nuclear tests, despite threats from the United States. Certainly it would be an excellent idea if India and Pakistan were to form a confederation, within SAARC and forget its history of the last 50 years, which have been full of mistrust and hatred. Both countries need to make a fresh pledge to cooperate in resolving all previous irritants and misgivings.
Pandurang Rao (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:53 IST)
General, one of the lowest points in our history was the war with China in 1962. Will we ever see such a military debacle in our life time again?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:0 IST)
Pandurang Rao: The 1962 debacle is best forgotten. India was unprepared and caught on the wrong foot. Since then, we have come a long way and our armed forces are at a very high pitch of efficiency and readiness. I can never foresee a repitition of 1962.
Sir Coward (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:50 IST)
Though a nuclear attack may be damaging, how badly can it incapacitate India? Doesn't a retaliatory Indian attack deter Pakistan? Or do you think China could actually step in to aid Pak?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:11 IST)
Sir Coward: I don't think there is any fear as far as India is concerned becasue we have achieved 'MAD' (minimum assured deterrance) and Pakistan would be wise to realise that were it to make the mistake of starting a nuclear war, the retaliatory strike by India would end up in the total destruction of Pakistan. No doubt, in the first strike India must be prepared to lose a few cities and a few million people. But if Pakistan has even the slightest depth of imagination, I'm sure it will not risk its own destruction. As for China coming to Pakistan's help, I do not think any third country would want to step into a nuclear conflict and would instead prevail on countries involved to put an end to their confrontation in order to preserve humanity.
Biddanda Thimmaya (Fri Aug 15 1997 7:59 IST)
Sir: Good evening. I have the highest regard for the Indian armed forces and consider it to be one of the last intact institutions in India. However, I am of the opinion that in the event of hostilities, India’s security will be compromised due to the lack of a strong, decisive political leadership? What do you feel?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:13 IST)
Biddanda Thimmaya: The Indian armed forces are well geared to take care of India's security regardless of good or bad political leadership.
Mark Tully (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:2 IST)
Hello General, my best wishes on the 50th Independence Day. General, what are your views on the India's reluctance towards deployment of indigeneously built misslies.
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:16 IST)
Mark Tully: I don't think there is any reluctance whatsoever. In any case, the question of deployment will only arise when the country visualises a military threat and there is no need to escalate tension along the borders through any such deployment. The quality and potency of indigenous missiles has never been in doubt.
Saavdhan (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:8 IST)
How well is our army equipped with the new technology -- super computers and such? How handicapped are we as compared to other Asian countries?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:18 IST)
Saavdhan: We are at a very high pitch of effciency in modern technology and weaponery in comparision with other South Asian countries.
Sainik (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:16 IST)
Sir, namaskar & Jai Hind. Wish a very happy 50th years of Independence. Do you think agree that today we have not been able to acheive as much as we should have due to lack of discipline and guidance. Do you feel that compulsory military training in schools would instill and embed a sense of discipline, national pride, and honesty in the young. Something drastic needs to be done urgently for sure
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:21 IST)
Sainik: I'm in full agreement with you. We as Indians lack in discipline and dedication, and it would be a very good idea to make this an important facet in all our educational institutions -- introducing compulsory military service for the youth for at least a couple of years before they join their professions.
Clauswitz (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:19 IST)
Sir, there have been many reports of the Indian armed forces facing a shortfall of officers and top level candidates. Is it because there is little prospect of war, and therefore less chance to achieve fame and immortality in uniform? After all, is there any such thing a famous peace-time general?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:24 IST)
Clauswitz: The shortfall of officers is due to the fact that the armed forces are no longer as attractive a career as they were earlier; their continuous involvement in police duties and the unfair distinction between them and their counterparts in the private sector as far as their poor pay and allowances are concerned are the factors.
Kiran (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:16 IST)
How would you assess India's fifty years of independence in the field of defence? Average, above the mark, or excellent???
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:25 IST)
Kiran: Well above the mark
ven (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:21 IST)
General Brar: Why is it that retired army leadrs like you do not enter politics. I think that the country needs proven leaders from all sectors. I know that it is a difficult proposition but not an impossible one. Any comments?
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:27 IST)
ven: To enter politics, there are two major requirements. The first one is that you must have a political base; the second, you must have plenty of money. The pity is the army officer has neither.
Lt Gen K S Brar (Fri Aug 15 1997 8:32 IST)
I'm afraid I'm eating into someone else's time in this chat show and therefore must sign off. Many thanks for your patience. I do hope there is a ray of light ahead for this country, now that we have successfully crossed the fifty year landmark. Goodnight.
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