tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post8333753693281437768..comments2024-03-28T05:22:10.255-07:00Comments on Broadsword by Ajai Shukla - Strategy. Economics. Defence.: No concessions in Daulat Beg Oldi, say government sourcesBroadswordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13076780076240598482noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-3147377475256309202013-05-08T16:53:57.950-07:002013-05-08T16:53:57.950-07:00So we certainly gave up further infrastructure bui...So we certainly gave up further infrastructure build-up, however weak the effort, in order to "save face" for China. Meanwhile, less than 20 km southeast of Demchok, google maps "satellite" view clearly shows a well developed landing strip on the Chinese side. Not only that, they have built an all-weather road all the way to Chardund Nalla which is now the de facto LAC and only a few meters away from Indian side of the divided village of Demchok. Last summer, the Chinese insisted that India built no further roads or other infrastructure in Demchok because "it was disputed territory." Even in this DBO affair, the media images of the "tents" pitched by the Chinese show that they were no backyard construction, and even the ground where they were built was level-- meaning there was some foundation work involved. The fact that this 50+ man stronghold was being continually supplied not by helicopter drops but by trucks, tells me that the Chinese have also built sturdy enough roads...ALL THE WAY UP TO DBO air strip. So even if they have left for now (and did they actually go back the entire 20km?), they can march-in at almost any time. And since it looks like the DBO is only lightly manned by the ITBP and not by the IA, it is quite conceivable that the PLA will next year just come and take over the landing strip at DBO and call it a day. There goes India's ability to patrol the Chip Chap River and to Karakoram Pass. <br /><br />That is my, very informal and admittedly uneducated, analysis of the situation. <br /><br />What I would suggest is to get American civil engineering contractors like AECOM and Bechtel, and equipment vendors like Caterpillar and Astec, to bid for turnkey contracts for all-weather road, bridge, and tunnel construction. Ladakh and Kashmir aren't the only places in the world that gets harsh winters and snows--we must accept that we never learned how to build strong roads, and get outside contractors to build them for us. And pronto! Same goes for railroads, especially a line directly from Himachal to Leh. Lastly, enough with the Article 370 crap. India is bursting at the seams-- J&K and Arunachal are either integral parts of India, or they're not. And as parts of India, like any other, Indians must be able to move there, open businesses, build homes, farm lands...integrate these parts to the national mainstream. 60 years of experimentation and leaving them alone has led to the current precarious situation, so enough already. The Chinese have a point. They're setting up small towns all over Tibet with new Han arrivals. India can't simply protect empty grasslands that are loosely populated forever. Demchok could be a bustling border town with strong links to Leh and other cities, but cannot do that just by traditional pastoralists. <br /> Himanshuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05481165634017053752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-50806944227918806782013-05-08T14:03:05.244-07:002013-05-08T14:03:05.244-07:00Actually 1962 has happened again. This time the ey...Actually 1962 has happened again. This time the eye shut attitude, political scenarios and the weakenign of the position of the Chiefs just makes India shut its eyes closer much tighterrustomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-32795142464653092522013-05-08T03:17:58.830-07:002013-05-08T03:17:58.830-07:00Why does GoI ever have to say that there will be n...Why does GoI ever have to say that there will be no concessions. And why does the media have to highlight that hain ji?<br /><br />I would think that this was understood.<br /><br />China has been creeping in and occupying land in Laddakh over the last decades, and inspite of repeated requests by both the Army and the local MLAs and MPs no one in Delhi has been paying any attentionGagannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-86676149694731284792013-05-07T14:05:21.912-07:002013-05-07T14:05:21.912-07:00"Meanwhile, New Delhi must avoid the triumpha..."Meanwhile, New Delhi must avoid the triumphalism that was evident in the unnecessary announcements about refurbished landing strips in DBO and Nyoma."<br /><br />Ajai sir, why would you term this unnecessary? Given the current negative administrative climate, activating these airstrips and trying to augment infrastructure was a good move by this govt. One can at least take heart in that our govt. is aware of border infrastructure. We cannot look over our shoulders every time we do something important - it's time we start dealing with the world with some self-assurance, and signal that our defence is our business and no one else's.Shyam Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-9166694413727572702013-05-07T12:23:02.108-07:002013-05-07T12:23:02.108-07:00How old are you kid^ ??How old are you kid^ ??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-19819990626057982432013-05-07T09:24:43.712-07:002013-05-07T09:24:43.712-07:00No one knows the Chinese. Chinese are like Han Ger...No one knows the Chinese. Chinese are like Han German Nazis and they know the best whether they want to make India as their Italy or France.Mr. RAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-80374348663858297742013-05-07T05:03:03.976-07:002013-05-07T05:03:03.976-07:00Ajai ji,
The Border Roads Organisation need to th...Ajai ji,<br /><br />The Border Roads Organisation need to think of new ways of constructing roads in the difficult terrain of the Himalayas. <br /><br />I looked at some photos of the road link between Leh and Srinagar that is apparently open for only 6 months of the year. So it would be open during summer and fall months and closed down by snow during the winter and early spring months. Even the road that is there and open during Summer looked damaged and the tarmac destroyed and "washed off". <br /><br />Why is this so? This shouldn't be the case when we can think of ways bypassing seasonal constraints.<br /><br />The thing to do, if I may recommend, is to build a road that could run all round the year: the road should have a retractable canopy for its full length, perhaps, effectevely like a tunnel, the road is protected all the way round. The canopy could be opened during summer months and closed during the severe snow fall months. This would protect the road from erosion during winter months and extends the life of the roads effectively.<br /><br />The same should be done for the link to DBO and perhaps in that case, there should be a tunnel all the way to DBO with "branches" coming off it at different locations along the LAC or even deeper. So even if the enemy were to destroy the surface road, the tunnel would leave an access route to our uttermost frontiers.<br /><br />Regards.Chinese_Indian Ajaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-61697488725540159632013-05-07T04:20:25.978-07:002013-05-07T04:20:25.978-07:00Informative :) I would like to believe the headlin...Informative :) I would like to believe the headlines as put by the govt sources but should I???<br />Frankly I dont knowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-91979805356702150412013-05-07T02:44:05.048-07:002013-05-07T02:44:05.048-07:00@Ajai sir
a few things
that China will withdraw...@Ajai sir <br /><br />a few things<br /><br />that China will withdraw was a known fact as the tents were reported pitched in completely snow bound area, which would have become un-maintanable as snow melted in summer.<br /><br />What was to be scene that when China considers the right time to withdraw before snow melts and after extracting what assurance.<br /><br />If the reported Chumar post deal was struck, India should renege on that since its said that China in 1st place was in breach of 2005 protocol during the DBO case.<br /><br />Also one must keep in mind that if India were to accept socalled Chinas demand on Chumar, tommorrow Pakistan may well ask India to vacate Bana Post.<br /><br />Even if India were to accept socalled Chinas demand on Chumar it sholud be reciprocated by withdrawl of China from various grasslands in eastern ladakh, HP, UT, AP they encroched upon in last 10-15 years.<br /><br />hope better sense prevails<br /><br />thanks<br /><br />Joydeep Ghoshjoydeep ghoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00038225081192821456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-41708692518345501382013-05-07T01:20:40.286-07:002013-05-07T01:20:40.286-07:00Just Tibet card...no can win.
Strategy is never j...Just Tibet card...no can win.<br /><br />Strategy is never just between two states....there are many other geo strategic factors that India can/ will have to make use of...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8726844009873922462.post-21137562029213436212013-05-07T00:46:39.365-07:002013-05-07T00:46:39.365-07:00what options do we have incase china refuses to si...what options do we have incase china refuses to sit across to discuss border dispute? Ex- diplomats have been saying that china always turns down the proposal of exchanging maps. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com