In an exclusive interview Nishant Chaturvedi, News Express Channel Head in Ye Hui Na Baat talks to Bharat Verma, Editor Indian Defence Review on issues of significance and concerning national security on the occasion of 67th Independence Day of India.
Bharat Verma raises serious questions on the validity of India’s foreign and defence policies. He believes that there is a strong requirement of coordination between these two wings of the government. Two brutal cowardly attacks by Pakistan on Indian soldiers recently on the Line of Control would not have occurred if the policies of New Delhi were far sighted and a strong signal on ground through instant retaliation by the military was allowed. The Prime Minister of the country as per Bharat Verma does not come across as a capable leader.
Bharat Verma further stated that what is happening in Jammu & Kashmir is a pre-planned ethnic cleansing in Kishtwar of Hindus similar to exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley earlier. He also states that inside Pakistan ethnic cleansing of minorities took place in last many decades and now due to the dwindling population of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, the ethnic cleansing of Shias is taking place.
In the interview he clearly states that to face the security threats from China–Pakistan combine, India needs to put in place a counter game plan, which is assertive and proactive. He further points out that China and Pakistan have a clear game plan, after softening the Indian borders with incursions and attacks to simultaneously launch a war in the coming years to cut-off the northeast and unhook Kashmir.
The Editor is convinced that government of Nawaz Shariff is in cahoots with Pakistan Punjab’s groups like JUD and Hafiz Saeed. There is no difference of opinion between Nawaz Shariff government, Pakistan Army, and its irregular forces – the Jihad factory.
His emphasis remains in modernization of the Indian military on war footing and decisively integrating India with the other democracies to leverage technology and influence to secure India’s interest in the 21st century.
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A very well articulated conversation. It highlights the grave and a serious gap between defense and foreign ministries. I think this gap coupled with the mistrust of the politicians and d babus against d military, has resulted in relegation of any civil military synergy on India’s strategic concerns.
Till such time this synergy is achieved and the mistrust dispelled and the strong nexus between Politicians, Bureaucrats, DRDO, DPSUs and foreign arms suppliers broken, India is likely to get bullied in the similar fashion as seen in recent months.
Bharat Verma does not mince words. He is saying what most intelligent people in India agree. The question is how to change the direction so that India can rise to meet the challenges of the coming decades. The best defense is based on the best offence. This is where the nation has failed. The current India leadership lacks the will and determination to protect India from immediate and evolving threats of foreign intrusions, border violence and extremist terrorism within and without. Pakistan and China has India on the run because of the failure of governance. We need fresh minds and hearts to think of India first and then social nonsense.
Good and frank interview but kya kare