India China LAC & International Border Discussions

[fire starter]

what a crying bitch China is.

 

[Bhadra]

Firstly I have my doubts on the Chinese planning a major attack on us. Agree that the dragon does act irrationally as seen in 1962 when even while being beset with severe economic problems initiated a misadventure. But a BIG difference. India of 2020 is not India of 1962.
We may not be able to go on the offensive and capture Chinese held territory but they will get a very bloody nose and unacceptable losses. India of today has nuclear weapons and also delivery systems which can cover whole of China including their northern most city of Harbin. If the Chinese want to capture Arunachal Pradesh India will not allow it. Do the Chinese want to lose Shanghai for gaining Arunachal?. I would think that 's a big no.
So what do they want?.
Of course China also has nuclear weapons and both countries will suffer greatly in a nuclear war.

Secondly this Corona Virus pandemic has almost paralysed their economy. Their economy has shrunk for the first time in 3 decades. Any costly war with India will damage them even more. They know that the only gainer will be the US economically. I believe the Chinese are more f**c**d up by Covid 19 than India. We will bounce back faster. Most of the foreign exchange China earns is from exports to US and Europe. Both regions are very unhappy with the Chinese.
And presently the truth is any major attack on India by China will draw in the US. The Chinese cannot defeat both of us combined. They are still about a decade behind the US in technology. Of course everybody knows that the US is now our fair weather friend because it needs us.
As I mentioned before if their main intention is to prevent the Pakis becoming naked then this current intimidation has limited objectives and will slowly ebb away.

Regarding my proposal to raise the Indian Army strength versus China. What other options do we have to make our country safer and raise the costs for China. Can we match China in terms of equipment?. More light tanks, more T90 tanks in Ladakh, more artillery pieces, more mortars, ATGM's, aircraft, helicopters, MBRL, tactical ballistic missiles etc. Unfortunately currently their economy is 5 times ours.
One effective way to neutralise numbers is technology. But India right now is not ahead of China in high technology weapons.

So increase in number of soldiers could be the short to medium term response. Presently the PLA has a numerical advantage over the Indian Army in the region. I believe numbers have their own logic. Especially in the mountains. The Communists in USSR and China believed in superior numbers which was why they. had the largest armies in the world. The US though heavily outnumbered met this challenge with nuclear weapons in the European theatre.
India has a large young population today which is an asset. Of course the costs of training and equipping the additional mountain battalions is onerous. Our salaris and pension bills will balloon. Sacrifices will have to be made. But the additional costs will be for probably a decade or two till we equal and then outmatch the Chinese in science and technology.

An numerical superiority will raise the costs for the Chinese. Right now the balance is tilted in China 's favour. We should remember that our Mountain Strike Corps is only a deterrent to China. They will cross the border only if the Chinese launch a major attack on us. We will not be undertaking any expeditionary offensive into Tibet to capture land.
Our present posture is fully defensive in nature unlike the Pakistani border where our three strike corps will enter and dismember Pakistan.

Hope we can have a discussion on options to counter the PLA. Maybe some out of the box idea may crop up. We are dealing with a bully who underestimates India.

The oft-debated but firmly opposed idea of dealing with the problem of numbers can never be achieved by increasing the strength of the Army by another ten divisions. India as a developing economy can ill afford it.

The only solution lies in the militarisation of CAPF who then can act as a vast military-trained manpower reserve of India. This can be done by introducing a minimum of five years mandatory military service of all ranks of CAPF.

That simply means no soldier will ever retire from the Army. the India Army will have only NCOs, JCOs, and Officers on their permanent establishment. Every year a certain percentage of soldier will keep going to CAPF and the same numbers keep coming into the Army but as CAPF recruited constables. Army trains them, retains them, and then send them to CAPF. This includes their Officer cadre.

This workout is opposed by the IPS bureaucracy who feel threatened by military culture in CAPFs and feel they that CAPF empire may slip out of their hands. Otherwise there is no glitches in implementing that.

If India adopts this, besides a standing Army of the size of today. India will have about 700 battalions of military-trained manpower.

There is no reduction in employment as overall numbers are not decreasing but there will be massive savings in Pension bills as all soldiers will retire from CAPF with NPS.

Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah should implement it as the best and fastest method of achieving national integration and imbibing a sense of Nationalism amongst today's politicized and unionist CAPFs.

 

[Tridev123]

The oft-debated but firmly opposed idea of dealing with the problem of numbers can never be achieved by increasing the strength of the Army by another ten divisions. India as a developing economy can ill afford it.

The only solution lies in the militarisation of CAPF who then can act as a vast military-trained manpower reserve of India. This can be done by introducing a minimum of five years mandatory military service of all ranks of CAPF.

That simply means no soldier will ever retire from the Army. the India Army will have only NCOs, JCOs, and Officers on their permanent establishment. Every year a certain percentage of soldier will keep going to CAPF and the same numbers keep coming into the Army but as CAPF recruited constables. Army trains them, retains them, and then send them to CAPF. This includes their Officer cadre.

This workout is opposed by the IPS bureaucracy who feel threatened by military culture in CAPFs and feel they that CAPF empire may slip out of their hands. Otherwise there is no glitches in implementing that.

If India adopts this, besides a standing Army of the size of today. India will have about 700 battalions of military-trained manpower.

There is no reduction in employment as overall numbers are not decreasing but there will be massive savings in Pension bills as all soldiers will retire from CAPF with NPS.

Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah should implement it as the best and fastest method of achieving national integration and imbibing a sense of Nationalism amongst today's politicized and unionist CAPFs.

Any thoughts on how to counter the PLA better. Why do the Chinese feel that they can bully India. We don't trespass into their territory. One reason is that most of the LOAC is unmanned by us. Doklam was an example of Chinese arrogance though they got a bloody nose(not militarily as bullets were not fired) and lost face.

 

[cereal killer]

Firstly I have my doubts on the Chinese planning a major attack on us. Agree that the dragon does act irrationally as seen in 1962 when even while being beset with severe economic problems initiated a misadventure. But a BIG difference. India of 2020 is not India of 1962.
We may not be able to go on the offensive and capture Chinese held territory but they will get a very bloody nose and unacceptable losses. India of today has nuclear weapons and also delivery systems which can cover whole of China including their northern most city of Harbin. If the Chinese want to capture Arunachal Pradesh India will not allow it. Do the Chinese want to lose Shanghai for gaining Arunachal?. I would think that 's a big no.
So what do they want?.
Of course China also has nuclear weapons and both countries will suffer greatly in a nuclear war.

Secondly this Corona Virus pandemic has almost paralysed their economy. Their economy has shrunk for the first time in 3 decades. Any costly war with India will damage them even more. They know that the only gainer will be the US economically. I believe the Chinese are more f**c**d up by Covid 19 than India. We will bounce back faster. Most of the foreign exchange China earns is from exports to US and Europe. Both regions are very unhappy with the Chinese.
And presently the truth is any major attack on India by China will draw in the US. The Chinese cannot defeat both of us combined. They are still about a decade behind the US in technology. Of course everybody knows that the US is now our fair weather friend because it needs us.
As I mentioned before if their main intention is to prevent the Pakis becoming naked then this current intimidation has limited objectives and will slowly ebb away.

Regarding my proposal to raise the Indian Army strength versus China. What other options do we have to make our country safer and raise the costs for China. Can we match China in terms of equipment?. More light tanks, more T90 tanks in Ladakh, more artillery pieces, more mortars, ATGM's, aircraft, helicopters, MBRL, tactical ballistic missiles etc. Unfortunately currently their economy is 5 times ours.
One effective way to neutralise numbers is technology. But India right now is not ahead of China in high technology weapons.

So increase in number of soldiers could be the short to medium term response. Presently the PLA has a numerical advantage over the Indian Army in the region. I believe numbers have their own logic. Especially in the mountains. The Communists in USSR and China believed in superior numbers which was why they. had the largest armies in the world. The US though heavily outnumbered met this challenge with nuclear weapons in the European theatre.
India has a large young population today which is an asset. Of course the costs of training and equipping the additional mountain battalions is onerous. Our salaris and pension bills will balloon. Sacrifices will have to be made. But the additional costs will be for probably a decade or two till we equal and then outmatch the Chinese in science and technology.

An numerical superiority will raise the costs for the Chinese. Right now the balance is tilted in China 's favour. We should remember that our Mountain Strike Corps is only a deterrent to China. They will cross the border only if the Chinese launch a major attack on us. We will not be undertaking any expeditionary offensive into Tibet to capture land.
Our present posture is fully defensive in nature unlike the Pakistani border where our three strike corps will enter and dismember Pakistan.

Hope we can have a discussion on options to counter the PLA. Maybe some out of the box idea may crop up. We are dealing with a bully who underestimates India.

First of all don't bring US into it because both India & China are its future rivals. They will never go to war with China for India's sake. They will sure as hell make billions of dollars in selling arms hence killing two birds with one stone. China does underestimates India that is of no doubt because we have a weaker economy less modernized army. Both China & India will never risk an all out war. However we can't rule out border clashes like the ones in 1967. Anything can happen in a small border war. Indians are experienced in this regard & much improved than 1962 that is true. chinese are in advantageous position along LAC & we dominate NEFA.

 

[Gautam Sarkar]

What's happening here ?

Spokesperson of Indonesian Intel Agency BIN: hacker could not access to confidential information from the website as it was stored in some other place and the agency was following the latest security norms to protect the information


Indonesia summoned Chinese envoy to the country last week after it emerged that Chinese vessels off the coast of South Korea dumped bodies of Indonesians into the sea. 4 Indonesians have died onboard Chinese fishing vessels, out which bodies of 3 were dumped into the sea.


Bodies of Indonesians being thrown from Chinese vessels was first reported by South Korean media which released the pictures, drawing heavy criticism for Bejing from Indonesia.Intl labour org ILO & fishing regulation bodies have been approached to look into the matter


China becomes a worry for Indonesia after dead Indonesian crew thrown into sea, state website hacked http://dnai.in/guHo , reports

 

[Gandaberunda]

What's happening here ?

Spokesperson of Indonesian Intel Agency BIN: hacker could not access to confidential information from the website as it was stored in some other place and the agency was following the latest security norms to protect the information


Indonesia summoned Chinese envoy to the country last week after it emerged that Chinese vessels off the coast of South Korea dumped bodies of Indonesians into the sea. 4 Indonesians have died onboard Chinese fishing vessels, out which bodies of 3 were dumped into the sea.


Bodies of Indonesians being thrown from Chinese vessels was first reported by South Korean media which released the pictures, drawing heavy criticism for Bejing from Indonesia.Intl labour org ILO & fishing regulation bodies have been approached to look into the matter


China becomes a worry for Indonesia after dead Indonesian crew thrown into sea, state website hacked http://dnai.in/guHo , reports

Vinash kale viparith buddhi... Chinese digging their own grave trying to bully every surrounding neighbor

 

[Gautam Sarkar]

Is India preparing a change in course vis-a-via Taiwan?


Even as #Beijing organizes #Military exercises to invade #Taiwan the #Taiwanese Coast Guard plans to hold defensive live fire exercises simultaneously.


Taiwan, India universities jointly develop smart epidemic prevention system

3 ultra-athletes endure sand, heat to run across Sahara Desert | Taiwan News | 2007-02-20 21:42:01

3 ultra-athletes endure sand, heat to run across Sahara Desert | 2007-02-20 21:42:01

www.taiwannews.com.tw

 

[Gautam Sarkar]

More drama :

Minister Wu is on message in his #Coronavirus interview with @the_hindu. Learn about plans to deepen #Taiwan-#India medical communications, as well as ways the democracies can strengthen pharma supply chains via mutually beneficial investments & tie-ups.


Chinese embassy upset yet again with Indian media. Embassy issues statement after @the_hindu interviews Taiwan's FM. Chinese embassy says Taiwan seeking "independence under the pretext of the pandemic".Asks "relevant Indian media take a correct stance" on Chinese sovereignty.


And *drumroll please* here we go: PRC embassy chides @the_hindu for its incorrect stance & says "avoid sending wrong messages to the public."
This statement also particularly goes after the DP


Indian Govt. when asked about Taiwan's participation in WHA :

In context of current pandemic, international and multilateral, all meetings happening online. Final agenda still evolving, Govt will take view after how the final agenda evolves: Sources on US request to add Taiwan in WHO meet

 

[Gautam Sarkar]

Nigeria just approved investigation on All loans by chinese entity for last 20 years.

Meanwhile Burundi orders expulsion of top WHO official, They were accused of interference in Country's internal politics.

Covid Impact.

 

[AMCA]

CAPs over Sikkim? Something very serious is going on at china border. Troops and heavy guns are on the move in AP. Are we preparing for giving official recognition to Taiwan or something more serious?

#IndianAirforce MID AIR FUELER spotted over #Sikkim close to the #India-#China border Thursday, 14 May 2020Now many will say that our in flight refueler crossed Sikkim border and went inside Chinese airspace..

 

[mist_consecutive]

CAPs over Sikkim? Something very serious is going on at china border. Troops and heavy guns are on the move in AP. Are we preparing for giving official recognition to Taiwan or something more serious?

#IndianAirforce MID AIR FUELER spotted over #Sikkim close to the #India-#China border Thursday, 14 May 2020Now many will say that our in flight refueler crossed Sikkim border and went inside Chinese airspace..

What this makes absolutely no sense! (ignore Flightradar error or crossing into China, aerial refueller tanker going this deep into Sikkim is baffling!)

Anyone wanna jump on the bandwagon that things are slowing escalating with both China and Pakistan?
GOI is strictly keeping things under wrap for now and trying to underplay it. Remember when we heard Su-30MKI was scrambled to shoo away PLA helicopter, but later IAF watered the story down saying it was just a routine flight?

 

[Bhadra]

Any thoughts on how to counter the PLA better. Why do the Chinese feel that they can bully India. We don't trespass into their territory. One reason is that most of the LOAC is unmanned by us. Doklam was an example of Chinese arrogance though they got a bloody nose(not militarily as bullets were not fired) and lost face.

The problem of a dispute between any two countries can only be solved by mutual agreements or treaties. The application of military power is also resorted for obtaining a favorable agreement/treaty at the end of it. A counter to military power, say PLA, is thus either the application of military power or a favourable treaty.

In our position Vis a Vis China (PLA), the Chinese have already attained their desired objectives of the annexation of Tibet and capture of territory that gives them a secure road to Xinjiang (both given to them on Leftist Love Plate by Nehru). They are in possession of areas and are the victors of the war. However, the Chinese having stopped or made to stop at a particular line, still have contrary claims to territories and borders between the two countries. For them it is now - "Ye Dil Mange More".

For Indians, it is a loss of claimed territory but a military gain of territories where even the British Empire had not reached physically. India is almost firmly on McMahon Line in East and a fairly good defense line in Ladakh.

The Options with India are but a few only:

* Capture territory that is considered Indian but India does not have sufficient military power for it. So wait for India to become a powerhouse.

* Negotiate a favorable agreement - Chinese are not ready for it as they wish to use the dispute along with military coercion as an instrument of diplomacy against India.

* China also awaits for that historical period when China is a superpower and captures desired Indian territory in the guise of dispute in the future or negotiate from a position of strength.

* India for the time has no option but to manage the border in a peaceful manner and ensure no more territory is lost, gain comprehensive national strength and negotiate a favorable border agreement or use comprehensive military power to settle borders at an opportune historical time.

At present, the Chinese feel that they can bully India due to their superior national/military power. multiple external threats to India forcing India to divide military strength. force excessive defense expenditure on India to retard economic growth and finally force India to divert resources from Indian Oceans to the Himalayas.

Therefore India has to manage Himalayan borders very cleverly and judicially.

 

[Tridev123]

The problem of a dispute between any two countries can only be solved by mutual agreements or treaties. The application of military power is also resorted for obtaining a favorable agreement/treaty at the end of it. A counter to military power, say PLA, is thus either the application of military power or a favourable treaty.

In our position Vis a Vis China (PLA), the Chinese have already attained their desired objectives of the annexation of Tibet and capture of territory that gives them a secure road to Xinjiang (both given to them on Leftist Love Plate by Nehru). They are in possession of areas and are the victors of the war. However, the Chinese having stopped or made to stop at a particular line, still have contrary claims to territories and borders between the two countries. For them it is now - "Ye Dil Mange More".

For Indians, it is a loss of claimed territory but a military gain of territories where even the British Empire had not reached physically. India is almost firmly on McMahon Line in East and a fairly good defense line in Ladakh.

The Options with India are but a few only:

* Capture territory that is considered Indian but India does not have sufficient military power for it. So wait for India to become a powerhouse.

* Negotiate a favorable agreement - Chinese are not ready for it as they wish to use the dispute along with military coercion as an instrument of diplomacy against India.

* China also awaits for that historical period when China is a superpower and captures desired Indian territory in the guise of dispute in the future or negotiate from a position of strength.

* India for the time has no option but to manage the border in a peaceful manner and ensure no more territory is lost, gain comprehensive national strength and negotiate a favorable border agreement or use comprehensive military power to settle borders at an opportune historical time.

At present, the Chinese feel that they can bully India due to their superior national/military power. multiple external threats to India forcing India to divide military strength. force excessive defense expenditure on India to retard economic growth and finally force India to divert resources from Indian Oceans to the Himalayas.

Therefore India has to manage Himalayan borders very cleverly and judicially.

I am eagerly waiting for the time when we and our military will inspire fear and respect in the minds of the Chinese. The Chinese are not undefeatable and Russia has in the past smacked them hard. Personally I feel the average Chinese soldier is not battle proven and on a one to one basis our jawans are better. We have a rich legacy of battle honours starting from the First World War. The Chinese believed in quantity rather than quality. They used sheer numbers to overwhelm opponents.

 

[Tridev123]

First of all don't bring US into it because both India & China are its future rivals. They will never go to war with China for India's sake. They will sure as hell make billions of dollars in selling arms hence killing two birds with one stone. China does underestimates India that is of no doubt because we have a weaker economy less modernized army. Both China & India will never risk an all out war. However we can't rule out border clashes like the ones in 1967. Anything can happen in a small border war. Indians are experienced in this regard & much improved than 1962 that is true. chinese are in advantageous position along LAC & we dominate NEFA.

At this juncture in our country 's history what are our choices?. The only powers with the military potential and standing who can stand up to China are Russia and the US.But Russia is in a dire economic condition and is heavily dependent on China in various areas.
Leaves only the US. Sometimes one has to sup with the devil to achieve our goals.
The US doesn't trust India fully and so do we as we have a bitter memory of anti India actions by various US administrations. The Bangladesh war and despatch of the USS Enterprise to the Indian Ocean is still fresh. But we need the US to counter China. Investment, technology, modern weapons, the list is quite long. We don't need to become the mistress of the US. A relationship of mutual respect to achieve common objectives is preferable. Sometimes you cannot choose your friends. Geopolitics decides them.

 

[Bhadra]

I am eagerly waiting for the time when we and our military will inspire fear and respect in the minds of the Chinese.

For that the Indian Military has to gain superiority - superiority in technology and superiority in quality and quantity -> for that India has to gain economic and Social/civilizational superiority and be a great power.

The Chinese are not undefeatable and Russia has in the past smacked them hard.

Chinese are people of great history and civilization, a past besieged with the abundant military culture of numerous military victories and fiascos, traditions of struggles under various kinds of tyrannies, upheavals and chaos. culture of strategic thinking, a great sense of nationalist pride, and a sense of purpose.

Personally I feel the average Chinese soldier is not battle proven and on a one to one basis our jawans are better.

Wars are fought on the application of cumulative military power and comparative comprehensive national power. It is not one to one duel of wrestlers. So far China has superiority over India in both the fields.

Only to adds here, Chinese PLA is not the stereotype dwarfs, short, crow eating and ragtag force but a well trained professional army.

We have a rich legacy of battle honors starting from the First World War. The Chinese believed in quantity rather than quality. They used sheer numbers to overwhelm opponents.

Our past Battle Honours belong to Indian troops but the British Empire.

We have but a very few Battle honors belonging to present-day ruling elites of India who have no strategic culture and traditions of taking pride in Battle Honours. I feel, those belong exclusively to Indian soldiers.

Chinese on the opposite side have military culture imbibed in their fundamentals. The modern Chinese nation. their CCP, and most of the basic frame of their socio-economic edifice is the product of PLA - a military instrument. Their military (the PLA) is the foundation of their nation.

However,, India has its own great advantages. A comparatively freer socio-political system, democracy. entrepreneurship, innovation, opportunities, rising incomes and burgeoning middle classes, a very favorable demographic pyramid and strategic location to control the Indian ocean and Chinese main sea lanes of communication. India can also be assured of sizable professional armed forces.

India houses a sizable Tibetan population, has a Tibetan govt in exile with a small but significant Tibetans under arms. That is no less an asset, Besides, India borders three Chinese provinces having some or other form of dissension against the Chinese. India has all potentials to emerge as a serious competitor to the Chinese power play in South Asia and ASEAN Countries as also Asia specific rim.

Chinese efforts are thus directed towards diminishing India's capacities and capabilities to rival the Chinese in all the above fields. Military sphere is but a part of it.

 

[cereal killer]

At this juncture in our country 's history what are our choices?. The only powers with the military potential and standing who can stand up to China are Russia and the US.But Russia is in a dire economic condition and is heavily dependent on China in various areas.
Leaves only the US. Sometimes one has to sup with the devil to achieve our goals.
The US doesn't trust India fully and so do we as we have a bitter memory of anti India actions by various US administrations. The Bangladesh war and despatch of the USS Enterprise to the Indian Ocean is still fresh. But we need the US to counter China. Investment, technology, modern weapons, the list is quite long. We don't need to become the mistress of the US. A relationship of mutual respect to achieve common objectives is preferable. Sometimes you cannot choose your friends. Geopolitics decides them.

You are right of course but I reacted because some people consider US to directly aid India military in case of a War with China which I don't think can happen as situation may quickly get out of hands & can result in global conflict. US for sure will aid India in providing modern arms & ammunition which will help us immensely in a short border war. We have lot of catching up to do. We have a experienced combat ready army for such a conflict which Chinese don't have. But first we need to heavily invest in modernizing our army. Pakistan too will be a major threat even if it doesn't enters into a conflict as it will try to make disturbances along LoC so we may not be able to utilize the full army potential against PLA. Any big conflict looks highly unlikely as China is poised to take over US economically this decade & they don't want to jeopardize that. At the same time we must try to find a permanent solution of Pak problem as we will never be able to assert ourselves as a global power with a country like Pak as our neighbour.

 

[BangaliBabu]

I am eagerly waiting for the time when we and our military will inspire fear and respect in the minds of the Chinese. The Chinese are not undefeatable and Russia has in the past smacked them hard. Personally I feel the average Chinese soldier is not battle proven and on a one to one basis our jawans are better. We have a rich legacy of battle honours starting from the First World War. The Chinese believed in quantity rather than quality. They used sheer numbers to overwhelm opponents.

Personal feelings don't matter if our country is in a state of war. At present juncture, be rest assured, any victory, should it come us in a skirmish or all-out war with China, will be at a very very high price. Soldiers are men, not gods. They breathe like men, die like men. They have a sense of duty as well as a sense of fear and personal loss. Try to take these things into perspective, all other comparisons will look mute.......

 

[Bhadra]

At this juncture in our country 's history what are our choices?. The only powers with the military potential and standing who can stand up to China are Russia and the US.But Russia is in a dire economic condition and is heavily dependent on China in various areas.
Leaves only the US. Sometimes one has to sup with the devil to achieve our goals.
The US doesn't trust India fully and so do we as we have a bitter memory of anti India actions by various US administrations. The Bangladesh war and despatch of the USS Enterprise to the Indian Ocean is still fresh. But we need the US to counter China. Investment, technology, modern weapons, the list is quite long. We don't need to become the mistress of the US. A relationship of mutual respect to achieve common objectives is preferable. Sometimes you cannot choose your friends. Geopolitics decides them.

The answer lies in India's ability to pursue a sovereign and independent foreign policy with China which is well calibrated to achieve Indian national interests. This line of thinking has been dominant in India's approach towards China post 1962 and so far has worked well.

India can ill afford to surrender any strategic space to any power in the region lest we also suffer the consequences of that as Pakistan. All said and done, Pakistan as a nation, a society and a polity have suffered irreparable damages for being a proxy state.

 

[Bhadra]

What this makes absolutely no sense! (ignore Flightradar error or crossing into China, aerial refueller tanker going this deep into Sikkim is baffling!)

Anyone wanna jump on the bandwagon that things are slowing escalating with both China and Pakistan?
GOI is strictly keeping things under wrap for now and trying to underplay it. Remember when we heard Su-30MKI was scrambled to shoo away PLA helicopter, but later IAF watered the story down saying it was just a routine flight?

Are you sure those are air refuellers?
Do not forget many posts there are air maintained which includes drops from transport aircraft...

 

[The Ultranationalist]

The oft-debated but firmly opposed idea of dealing with the problem of numbers can never be achieved by increasing the strength of the Army by another ten divisions. India as a developing economy can ill afford it.

The only solution lies in the militarisation of CAPF who then can act as a vast military-trained manpower reserve of India. This can be done by introducing a minimum of five years mandatory military service of all ranks of CAPF.

That simply means no soldier will ever retire from the Army. the India Army will have only NCOs, JCOs, and Officers on their permanent establishment. Every year a certain percentage of soldier will keep going to CAPF and the same numbers keep coming into the Army but as CAPF recruited constables. Army trains them, retains them, and then send them to CAPF. This includes their Officer cadre.

This workout is opposed by the IPS bureaucracy who feel threatened by military culture in CAPFs and feel they that CAPF empire may slip out of their hands. Otherwise there is no glitches in implementing that.

If India adopts this, besides a standing Army of the size of today. India will have about 700 battalions of military-trained manpower.

There is no reduction in employment as overall numbers are not decreasing but there will be massive savings in Pension bills as all soldiers will retire from CAPF with NPS.

Mr Modi and Mr Amit Shah should implement it as the best and fastest method of achieving national integration and imbibing a sense of Nationalism amongst today's politicized and unionist CAPFs.

I think that CAPFs already have a training at par with army's light infantry.