Despite nuclear weapons, threat of two-front war is real: Army Chief Bipin Rawat

[Stephen Cohen]

Despite nuclear weapons, threat of two-front war is real: Army Chief Bipin Rawat

 

[Stephen Cohen]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...al-army-chief-bipin-rawat/article19630592.ece

He calls for integration of the three services and stresses on the primacy of the Army.
Despite having credible deterrence, India should be prepared for a two-front war on the western and northern borders, Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat said on Septemner 6 even as he underscored the primacy of the Army over other two services.

“Credible deterrence does not take away the threat of war… Nuclear powers don’t go to war and that nuclear weapons are weapons of deterrence, yes they are. But to say that they can deter war, they will not allow nations to go to war, in our context that may also not be true,” Gen. Rawat said at a seminar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies. In this context, Gen. Rawat noted that the country is surrounded by two adversaries, one on the western border and one to the north.

Also read: Army prepared for two and a half front war: Gen Rawat

“As far as our Western adversary is considered, we don’t see any scope of reconciliation, because their military, the polity, and the people in that nation have been made to believe that there is an adversary, India, which is all out to break their nations into pieces...” he observed. He questioned as to how long the country will continue to bear this proxy war. “When will the country decide the threshold levels have been crossed…? Because of the proxy war there is always scope for conflict with our western neighbour,” he added.

Tensions along the Line of Control have been high since the Uri terror attacks in September 2016.

On China, Gen. Rawat said flexing of muscles has started. His comments come in the backdrop of the recent standoff in Doklam. “Salami slicing, taking over territory in a very gradual manner, testing our limits of threshold is something we have to be wary about and remain prepared for situations emerging which could gradually emerge into conflict…,” he stated. In this backdrop, Gen. Rawat called for integration of the three services and stressed on the primacy of the Army in that.

 

[maximuswarrior]

LOL

 

[hassamun]

India cannot rule out possibility of two-front war with China and Pakistan, Army chief General Bipin Rawat says

India cannot rule out the possibility of a two-front war - with China and Pakistan - despite having credible nuclear deterrence capabilities, said Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday.

Stating that differences with Pakistan seemed to be "irreconcilable", with the country continuing to wage a proxy war against India, Gen Rawat said China too will continue with its efforts to nibble away Indian territory through "salami slicing" and other measures.

"As far as the northern adversary (China) is concerned, the flexing of muscles has started... Salami slicing, taking over territory in a very gradual manner, testing our limits of threshold... is something we have to be wary about and remain prepared for situations that could develop into conflicts," said Gen Rawat.

The Army chief's warning that India cannot let down its guard on either of the two fronts came at a seminar here, a week after the over 70-day Doklam standoff between India and China was finally diffused with mutual disengagement and withdrawal of troops+ after intensive diplomatic parleys.

The Indian defence establishment has repeatedly warned of a "collusive threat" from Pakistan and China, who often describe themselves as "all-weather friends". After the Doklam crisis, the assessment is that the People's Liberation Army will not shy away from needling India with "transgressions" -- military parlance for intrusions or shallow probes - all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, especially in places like eastern Ladakh and eastern Arunachal Pradesh, as was earlier reported by TOI.

The Army chief, on his part, said Pakistan could well swing into action to take advantage of such situations when India is busy with problems on the China front. "We have to be prepared for conflict on the northern and western borders," said Gen Rawat.

"As far as our western adversary is considered, we don't see any scope of reconciliation because their military, the polity, and the people in that nation have been made to believe that India wants to break their country into pieces," he added.

Stressing that war was very much in the "realm of reality"+ , he said it was "myth" to assume that democracies or nuclear-armed neighbours do not go to war. "Credible deterrence does not take away the threat of war... Nuclear weapons are weapons of deterrence...Yes, they are! But to say that they can deter war, they will not allow nations to go to war, in our context that may also not be true," said Gen Rawat.

"Whether conflicts will be confined or limited in space and time or whether these can expand into an all-out war along the entire front (remains to be seen)... with the western adversary (Pakistan) taking advantage of the situation developing along the northern border (with China) being very much likely," he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ral-bipin-rawat-says/articleshow/60395986.cms

 

[Taimoor Khan]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1355997/t...d-china-cannot-be-ruled-out-indian-army-chief


He alleged that China was flexing its muscles and would continue to incrementally take away territory from India. India, thus, has to be prepared, he said.


Perhaps the first ever official acknowledgement of losing territory to China by none other then Indian army cheif, the custodian and protectors of Indian territory.

There are no limits to the audacity of Indians when they mock some sneaky American drones strikes in Pakistan when China has been swallowing Indian territory while their Army has been rolling over.

 

[Syed Mukkarram]

the only war that can happen will be against Pakistan. China is not a country which can fight a war and will struck a deal.

 

[Dark Lord Forever]

super power china is dominating india. and indian hijara army is just watching. but doing nothing. coward hijara indian army.

 

[Tshering22]

He's right. Nuclear weapons do not ensure that problems won't persist.

1- Focus should be on increasing logistical capability of the Indian armed forces
2- More streamlining and single command and control system for tactical battlefield matters.
3- Self-reliance in raw materials and ammunition rounds becomes crucial
4- Surface, naval and aerial infrastructure to be developed to cater to different terrain needs.
5- Quadrupling capabilities in precision strike capabilities so as to be as accurate as possible when conducting hit-to-kill operations with minimal collateral damage.
6- Increase R&D budget for defence at least tenfold especially in areas where mass destruction of enemy forces can be targeted without destroying the surrounding environment.

As the world runs out of resources and population keeps increasing, we cannot afford to poison a part of earth's atmosphere with radiation.

We need to develop weapons that can cause severe damage to enemy forces but without affecting the environment.

 

[Arsalan 345]

Lol