Rediff On The NeT: Transcript of the Army Chat


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Questions Colonel Williams Did Not Answer

This is an unedited version.

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:21 IST)
India can then beat the Taliban / BinLaden drum and ensure that Pakistan is declared a terrorist state.

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:23 IST)
What do you guys think about getting Pakistan into the folds of India? MAy be give Baluchistan to Iran, some other parts to Afghanistan, keep Lahore, Karachi with us, etc etc

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:25 IST)
Effectively disintegrate Pakistan so that no further attempts can be made to get the same Pakistan back.

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:26 IST)
Good Evening Col Williams. Accept my congratulations for thrashing those Pakistanis.

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:26 IST)
Don't you guys think that if we give Pak a safe passage and Pak calls back the intruders, Pakistan will again come into the good books of US & NATO? Instead, before Pak even decides about accepting the safe-passage, the intruders should be killed / forcefully evicted. This will keep Pakistan in the current bad light that it is

Girish (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:30 IST)
Which other sectors need to be captured and after we have driven away the intruders what kind of security will we provide at the borders?

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:30 IST)
Colonel,Don't you feel that if we give Pak a safe passage and Pak calls back the intruders, Pakistan will again come into the good books of US & NATO? Instead, before Pak even decides about accepting the safe-passage, the intruders should be killed / forcefully evicted. This will keep Pakistan in the current bad light that it is. After we kick those bad asses out of our side of LOC, we can lobby to declare Pak a terrorist state.

prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:32 IST)
Cl. Williams Where do you think did the intelligence agencies, the government and other security agencies go wrong ?

Hari (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:33 IST)
Col is there any danger of the war going nuclear? Because we now very well know that the army is firmly in control in Pakistan and Sharief is just a figurehead. Our Prime Minister said we are ready for a nuclear attack, HOW?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:37 IST)
Col Williams: How accurate are the casualty figures being given by the Indian army? As you know, the Pakistani and Indian figures differ by a wide margin. But either way, the death toll seems to already be quite unacceptably high.

Jamshed (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:37 IST)
Why don't we display the bodies of Pakistani soldiers we have killed in battle along with their ID cards to the world media so that Pakistani aggression is brought to the FORE?

Indian (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:38 IST)
Sanjai Kukreti: err .. is bold face necessary?

Jamshed (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:42 IST)
Col at what stage is the battle currently? Would u say its reached a half way stage or we are very close to a finish?

valsa (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:42 IST)
Do you think the Americans will be able to influene the Pakistanis to withdraw from Indian Territory ?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:42 IST)
Col Williams: If/when the positions are re-taken, then will Indian forces be deployed there year-round, or will we be withdrawing from there again periodically during the winter months?

valsa (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:42 IST)
Do you think the Americans will be able to influene the Pakistanis to withdraw from Indian Territory ?

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:43 IST)
Colonel, is it that Kargil is only a stepping stone towards Pakistan's vily designs over Siachen? If they are able to block the highway, would Siachen be vulnerable?

peeyush (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:43 IST)
Col Williams: Is Jat regiment fighting on the frontier?

Darshan (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:44 IST)
Col is it worth fighting for a piece of land which cannot be inhabited by either of us? Where soldiers die because of weather conditions than the bullets? Besides one we win this battle do you think its worth the sacrifice of soldiers manning that piece of land where they can't survive over a couple of weeks?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:45 IST)
Col Williams: Aren't our losses in Kargil larger than in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War? If so, then under whose authority are we classifying this situation as not being a war?

ani (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:45 IST)
Col . i think you brave souls are doing a great job keep it up , u r the pride of the nation but is the army telling us ( the nation ) the truth about the no of BRAVE MEN that we have lost cause there are a lot of conflicting reports ? i know u shall tow the official line but u can be honest !

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:45 IST)
And moreover, is it not really sad that commercial organisations are trying to benefit from the battle, like issuing ads and providing commercial breaks between the evening press conference?

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:47 IST)
Are you aware that Daewoo donated 5 cars and a million rupees to the Indian Army via the PM but at the same time they gave a free highway from I'bad to Lahore which is also fit for Pak Air Force operations along the road?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:47 IST)
Col Williams: If the politicians and bureaucrats at the center insist on leashing the army and preventing it from crossing the Line of Control -- then doesn't this amount to keeping our forces on the strategic defensive, while the Pakistani side stays on the offensive?

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:48 IST)
After you finish the Paki infiltrators, will the Indian Army consider knocking out the traitor Indian infiltrators, ie, the politicians? Why not just ask the Indian Army to take over for a few years as a benign dictatorship???

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:50 IST)
Col Williams: How would you compare our operations with those of NATO in the Kosovo theatre? They hypocrites in the West of course give themselves full rights to give their own militaries a free hand. But when India talks of crossing the border, they hypocritically harass us with their warnings.

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:50 IST)
Sir,, Has the final assault on Tiger Hills actually started?

Saje (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:51 IST)
Hi there, just wanted to know how we are going to tackle the problem in the future without actually eliminating the supply of infiltrators across the border.

General (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:51 IST)
good evening col. ! accept my congratulations for capturing some new heights. can you tell me why are we not entering POK to cut supply lines?

valsa (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:51 IST)
Raj is it worth fighting for a piece of land where soldiers die because of weather conditions than the bullets? Once we we win this battle will our soldiers have to remain there manning this territory. What other measures will we take to make sure this is not repeated by the Pakistanis.

Saje (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:52 IST)
Hi there, just wanted to know how we are going to tackle the problem in the future without actually eliminating the supply of infiltrators across the border. My name is Anish W. from Bombay

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:52 IST)
Col Sahab Please tell me about the casualties. we are getting figures ranging from 200-800 on our side. PLEASE ... tell us the FACT.

Indian (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:52 IST)
People with access to the Wall Street Journal would do well to read the article "Pakistan maintains Hard Line against India" by Johnathan Karp on page A10 dated Friday 2nd July 1999. First time I have seen ANY American journalist say the following: "Western defense analysts say the incursion was planned and led by the Pakistan military, with support from Islamic geurillas. The analysts say Pakistan's Northern Light Infantry, a paramilitary border force, forms the backbone of the operation".

valsa (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:53 IST)
In case we are forced to cross the LOC what do you think will be the international reaction.

Princess (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:53 IST)
Colonel, tell me, what is this about 'breakthrough' etc one is reading about in Pak newspapers? I mean, can there be one sans a pullout from Kargil? Isn't anything else betraying the armed forces?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:54 IST)
Col Williams: What is the numerical strength of the intruders on our side of the LoC? Are their numbers fixed, or are they being continuously reinforced by more combatants from across the LoC?

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:55 IST)
col sahib pl reply faster??

General (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:55 IST)
HELLO Maria ! How are you

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:55 IST)
Colonel, Suppose things heat up to a nuclear exchange. Delhi will the first to go. DO we have ANY ALTERNATE CENTER to continue from ?

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:55 IST)
we are saying, we are prepared for anything. How real is ther NUKE THREAT. Can we destroy PAK's delivery systems before that with the help of IAF

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:56 IST)
Dear General, may we request you to keep personal calls off this line . . . people will think you have just discovered a new toy!!

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:56 IST)
Sir,, in your opinion which would be beneficial, to cross the LOC and have fewer casualties but lose international favor or the other way around?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:57 IST)
Col Williams: What are the types of weapons being used against our troops by the enemy? What are the heaviest weapons they have? What types of weapons are they using most often by them right now?

General (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:57 IST)
MARIA !!! WHERE ARE YOU?

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:57 IST)
(aside) : Dear Rohit, I live in Delhi, and consaidering the shigella on the streets here, it may not be a bad idea to self-goal nuke Delhi . . . they can easily run the armed forces from Ambala or Pathankot or Chandi mandir or wherever . . . .

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:58 IST)
The US, i think has had such masure right from the start. The other nuclear state also have planned this. Have we ?

General (Fri Jul 2 1999 4:59 IST)
dear mog i take everything personally, kashmir is my personal problem and so is maria.

thokuchand (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:0 IST)
Ranasaab, In 1971, with help of Knat(WW2 scrap) we ooverpowered that time advanced US jet fighter F15. Result is offcourse 100000 POW and creation of Bangladesh. Why not the same performance this time?

anirudh (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:0 IST)
Col. williams how long more before teh troops can return back to the barracks ?

Indian (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:0 IST)
Of course .. this question is quite inconvenient .. because it could expose either bluff! :-)

Saboo (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:1 IST)
Dear Col. Eight weeks carpet bombing and attacks but still no chance of getting Tiger Hill back. Is is a wise decision to fight in Kashmir

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:1 IST)
Frank -- when we say "international community", isn't it really the "West" which has proclaimed itself as the "internnational community"? And aren't they hypocrites by definition, in allowing NATO the free-est possible hand in Yugoslavia, and then condemning India for trying to respond to an unprovoked Pakistani attack? How can they allow Pakistan to belligerently cross the LoC, and then condemn India for responding in kind??? Becoz they're hypocrites and manipulators, that's why. And we shouldn't accept it.

Kalia (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:2 IST)
Dear Col. It is correct that USA and India was jointly working in Laddakh against China. Clinton meeting Dalai Lama was a part of game which Pakistan has failed with capture of stratagic hills in Kargil

anirudh (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:2 IST)
Col . u dint answer my question ? by when do u expect the indian troops to be heading back to their barracks ?

ajay (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:3 IST)
Colonel I want to know the fate of 9 missing soilders are they in pakistan captivity or they are dead...what is army doing regarding this..

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:3 IST)
Dear General, if Kashmir is/was your personal problem, you haven't done too well over the past few decades, have you? And I am sorry about Maria being a personal problem for you, more reason for keepin her, with all respects, off this public chat! Now go polish some rass, please, there, general, be a good blunder-buss, will ya?

thokuchand (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:4 IST)
Ranasaab, In 1971, with help of Knat(WW2 scrap) we ooverpowered that time advanced US jet fighter F15. Result is offcourse 100000 POW and creation of Bangladesh. Why not the same performance this time?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:4 IST)
Col Williams: Are Indian troops being held captive by the enemy? Can you confirm whether they are or aren't?

Princess (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:4 IST)
*rpt* Colonel, on the one hand we have teh armed forces repelling Paki intrusion into our territory. On the other, we have a whole set of people clamouring for playing cricket with Pakistan. What is the view from the barracks on this dichotomy? Are the men in khaki confused by this? *frankly, I am*...

pushpa (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:4 IST)
Dear Col sab! What is the actual casuality figure for the Indian army?

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:5 IST)
Col Saheb When US can bomb Afganistan on pretext of Kenyan bombings why can't we justify our going across LOC to save our OWN LAND. WHY NOT ??

peeyush (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:6 IST)
Col Williams: Thank You and all the people in the armed forces for taking up the challenge with such gusto. We shall remain in your debt.

Prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:6 IST)
Col. Wiiliams, news reports said that post-mortem of our six soldiers whose bodies were mutilated were done in the presence of 2 independent observers. Who were these independent observers, Sir ???

thokuchand (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:6 IST)
Colonal Williams, In 1971, with help of Knat(WW2 scrap) we ooverpowered that time advanced US jet fighter F15. Result is offcourse 100000 POW and creation of Bangladesh. Why not the same performance this time?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:6 IST)
thokuchand -- that's because we were on the offensive that time, and our troops weren't leashed like they are now. Fighting with one arm tied behind their backs, with Fernandes behaving like an Indian McNamara.

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:7 IST)
jaihind --- the magic is "US"? Who want's to be in the their bad book. :-)

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:7 IST)
Sanjay,, thankyou for your nice comments,,, but I think that since China is not in the west,,labeling only the west as hypocrites is not well. I think only those in power think they can manipulate things in their favor. Bur as of now I am glad that we are enjoying a vast amount of global decisions in our favor

anirudh (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:8 IST)
Col atleast reply to that one !

thokuchand (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:8 IST)
Col Williams, Is it not a right time for us to change our strategy ?

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:8 IST)
Anirudh, Stop behaving like a politician

phani (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:8 IST)
Respected Col, Did u Read the News today that in Andhra , why youth is not interested in Army ?? R u taking any steps ??

Princess (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:10 IST)
FLASH: Sahara Cup has been called off...

hanu (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:10 IST)
col. why india not useing prithavi missile

anirudh (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:11 IST)
Puru : piss off ! the Col owes us ( the nation ) an honest reply since he is here speaking on behalf of the Indian Army !

Brave (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:11 IST)
Hi there I think I airforce should play a stronger role on eliminating the bad guys for good.

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:12 IST)
Col Saheb If we know that Paki regulars are fighting then why did we not announce full scale war like we are fearing will happen once we go across LOC. What are we trying to achieve here.

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:12 IST)
Col Sahib, why are the Armed Forces not taking up the cause of those killed in IS duties in various parts of the country?

thokuchand (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:12 IST)
phani, That is very simple. Chandra babu is manufacturing computer degree certificates to send all youth in US to earn $ which is offcourse valuable than Indian National pride.

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:13 IST)
Sir,, are there plans to strike at ISI in other parts of the country where they are sowing terrorism?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:13 IST)
Frank -- China and the Islamic states are by definition pro-Pakistan. This has been understood and expected from the start. Yet neither do they enjoy the stature or clout to pressure India away from retaliatory action against Pakistan. China is not part of the G-8, nor are the Islamic states. Likewise, neither to China nor the Islamic states claim moral leadership for the world, and at least are openly seen to pursue their self-interest. I'm tired of the "Westerners" contriving moral arguments to instruct India to have itself bled at the hands of aggressors.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:14 IST)
Greetings, Earthlings

Prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:15 IST)
I wish the USAF really kicked some Paki butt :-)

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:15 IST)
hanu -- prithvi is a IRBM .. designe to do maximum damage in a dense area. the mountains are sparse .. the reason that the IAF not have a very high success there. Carpet bombing would have been abetter idea .. but then they have to cross over the loc ..

Prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:15 IST)
Along with the IAF...

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:16 IST)
Colonel Sahib, I have worn a uniform and sworn myself to sovereign India. Look inside you, and answer us on the Net as Col Williams the truthful and brave: do you think the sovereign nation of India is fair on us uniformed people? Are you aware that if the flag that covers the dead jawan is flown by, say, his widow, our government can put her in jail? What are we fighting for, dhoti ram and langot khan, not to forget, pardon me, but habit robert, too?

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:16 IST)
prasad: We are doing that job RIGHT NOW and we have done that 3 times already

hanu (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:17 IST)
col. their is any chance o war

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:17 IST)
Folks, forget about Paki land, they are little league stuff and you all can take them out any time...turn away from petty squabbling witht he poor cousins....focus on your true destiny....fight China (and, maybe.....just maybe....try to win this time??)

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:18 IST)
Frank -- India is not currently getting much in the way of "global decisions in its favor". This reminds me of the Mountbatten betrayal, when the man urged Nehru to take the Kashmir issue to the UN. That traitor wasn't interested in India's welfare -- he only wanted to avoid British officers on both sider of the line having to fight each other. A true colonial manipulator to the last. We should not fall into the same trap again, in getting suckered into scuppering military action, for the sake of the elusive support of a fickle "West".

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:18 IST)
hegde: please give it a break? This is fairly serious stuff?

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:18 IST)
mog>Hey, what do you mean they can put the Jawan's widow in jail for flying the Indian flag? howzzat?

peeyush (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:19 IST)
hey anirudh: there are civilized ways of conducting oneself. there are so many people asking questions and he is alone so give him a break. as your naive question do you really think he is going to give you a different figure even if that were the case. and please stop barking.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:19 IST)
Col>So how's the war going? hope yer boys are winning, friend.....

Prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:20 IST)
Col. Sir, if Brig. Qureshi can take CNN & BBC to our downed MIG why can't we show them (CNN, BBC, AP, Reuters) explicit proof of Paki involvment. Their news reports still read, ".. what India calls Pak-backed militants.."

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:20 IST)
Can India not bomb the supply routes across the LOC in Pakistan and lat>

Transfer interrupted!

ile's guidance system failed, etc, etc

hegde (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:20 IST)
FLASH: Bhupathi/Paes leading the FINAL SET 5-4, 40-30 (Quarter Finals).

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:20 IST)
Yes Sir, USAF, in my free country of India, as per a rule predating independence, Indians can be put in jail for flying the Indian flag. This is a fact, and if you do not believe me, please ask any Indian lawyer about Navin Jindal versus the State and other such cases. . . .so, Col. William, which flag was my late elder brother fighting for when he died?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:20 IST)
Col Williams: Can you comment on the readiness and preparedness of Indian nuclear forces to present an effective deterrent to the Pakistani side? Are our forces effectively arrayed to deter further Pakistani attack on the international border?

Bohra (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:21 IST)
Dear Col. USSR was always a trusted friend of India. Now it has offered madiation between Pakistan and India. Don't you think Pakistan has claverly internationalise the Kashmir Issue

hegde (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:21 IST)
FLASH: Bhupathi/Paes Won! FINAL SET 6-4 (Quarter Finals).

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:21 IST)
Prasad>Good Q, kid

Sri (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:21 IST)
Col. is it rue that the Pakis have actually re drawn the LOC over the past couple of years

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:22 IST)
Col Sahib, which flag are you and I fighting for if your or my widow will not be allowed to fly it?

hegde (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:22 IST)
FLASH FROM WIMBELDON: Bhupathi/Paes into semis! Bhupathi/Paes Vs Lareav/O'Brien: 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4,6-4. (querter finals)

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:22 IST)
Question repeats, forgive me, Col Sahib, which flag??????

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:23 IST)
USAF: We are fighting China in Kargil, whether we choose to admit it or not. China has armed Pakistan with nuclear weapons. This nuclear shield has emboldened Pakistan to attack us with covert warfare, with the confidence that we cannot strike back out of our fear of their nuclear deterrent. So we are fighting China, and their proxy Pakistan.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:23 IST)
Mog> Sir, I am very troubled that such a law exists..I hope they strike it from the books...in any case, I just cannot understand the logic behind such a law...I learned something today...many thanks

Prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:23 IST)
Col. it's time to call a spade, a spade. Why don't we stop calling it infilitration and intrusion and start calling it a Pakistani invasion ? For God's sake, isn't that what it is !!!

Bohra (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:24 IST)
Dear Col, Is there any way to save the lives of Indian army trapped in Laddakh and Siacheen due to Kargil crises

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:25 IST)
Col Williams: To what extent are the rest of the Pakistani army building up their forces on their side of the LoC? Where are their forces most heavily concentrated -- in PoK, or Punjab and Sindh?

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:25 IST)
Sanjai,, but I must say even though the west has taken advantage of us in the past,, Pakistan is totally isolated by their sympathetic attitude towards us now, or more appropriately put,their unsympathetic attitutde towards Pak. What I am saying now that at this moment the west is the lesser of the 2 evils.

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:25 IST)
col Saheb But they just can not keep flying RPV and get awy with it each time. We went there once and got shot. Why are we leaving them.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:25 IST)
Sanjya>In a macroview globalstrategic sense, you are absolutely correct, but why go for the surrogate? strike at the puppet master, not the puppet or you will be exhausted when the real fight starts.....but I guess there has been a paranoic terror of the ChiComs ever since that Kaul and nehru had their Himalayan Blunder business

suresh (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:26 IST)
Hello Sir, What is the situation in Kargil?

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:27 IST)
Why is this thing echoing posts? sheez....

Olly (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:27 IST)
Colnel our PM said we are reday for a nuclear strike, HOW?

Prasad (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:27 IST)
oops.. typos, typos, typos.. *sigh*.. i surely can't spell for nuts today..

suresh (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:27 IST)
When this situation in Kargil ends?

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:28 IST)
Mog>we got the picture and your position, son....tone it down, please, would ya?

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:28 IST)
The flag, Colonel Sahib, right? Stiff Upper Lip, I was part of it, now I key this in with an artificial limb, while my questions go unanswered . . . right? Nothing changes, right???

Bohra (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:29 IST)
Col Sahib, If the eighty miles highway to Laddakh and Siacheen remain under control of Kashmiri Freedum fighters, how Idian army will get the supplies till Setptmber. Have you thought of asking safe passage from Kasmiri freedum fughters

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:29 IST)
Dear USAF, no Sir, I don't think you get the picture, and I'm not young enough to be anybody's son unless he's about 75-80,so spare me, unless the reference to "son" was based on colour, in whcih case, sorry Honky, you got the wrong nigger . . .

mina (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:29 IST)
bye , thank you for ansewring our queries. Kripa

Puru (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:30 IST)
Colonel, wrt your answer to Prem's question, can you really say from the bottom of your heart that Pakistan has never attempted to violate the LOC even once in the past 27 years?

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:31 IST)
Col>So, are your boys winning? why dont you all cut off his communications and kill him in his staging area? whats this about the LOC and noit crossing it? sounds like the Pakis are not too shy about doing that? what is the strategic reason for not retaliating in an appropriate manner? remember, you all have a very detailed story on what happens when politicians dictate an 'escalated, proportional response'....its called Vietnam.....go for the jugular, dont cut the other guys nails instead

Prem (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:31 IST)
But i think we should look more ahead in time. If we did just that, then the problem creators will b forced to remain in their palce and learn to behave with big brothers with respect. The pakis think that they have a nuclear bomb which iam very sure does not exist. It is more of hype than actual existence.

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:31 IST)
Bohra -- the way u put it, i think in about 10 years u will be asking if we can ask pakistan to allow us to have country called INDIA ?. why should the !@#$ we ask anything from anyone .. that's our land ..

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:32 IST)
Mog>You are a very angry young man and I shall ignore you..sorry about having to do that

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:32 IST)
Frank: the fact that we have to choose the West as "the lesser of 2 evils" -- and they're only less by a slim margin, since they armed the mujahedin in the first place -- is a testament to our paying for our policy sins of the past. Our capitulative Neville Chamberlaim negligence and appeasement. You can't practice 5 decades worth of spinelessness and then all of a sudden expect to come out roaring like a lion when disaster strikes. Good defense cannot be mustered up at the last minute -- BY DEFINITION.

Bohra (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:33 IST)
Col Sahib, How you compare Pakistan army in 1971 with Pakistan's present army which has the bomb and the credit of trapping the USSR in Afghanistan ( Super powere vanishe). Don't you think now it is the turn of Indias army now

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:34 IST)
Sanjay>Your Soviet friends made necessary the arming of the Mujahadeen, in case you forgot

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:34 IST)
Colonel Sahib, thanks your response, and I know how your hands are tied when you reply on an open forum like this. But please appreciate, the sentiments of most people whose relatives have been killed in this and other IS duties will be served better if they are shown how the Nation salutes them. How about open corteges through different parts of Delhi, to start with, or is that only something we do for politicians?

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:35 IST)
Dear USAF: I am not "angry young", maybe "cynical truth seeing".... ignore away if that makes life easy for you, so?

Sri (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:35 IST)
USAFKickButt > ya so did the Yankees they sold arms to Saddam ...this is of no consequnece to us .

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:36 IST)
Bhora -- where did u get that ? paki bashing ruski ?? those were afgani supportted by US and paki to provide the bases and other stuff!.

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:36 IST)
Dear Colonel,, Sir,,Where Were you involved in the 1971 war? I was in Calcutta at that time,, and we had blackouts, sirens and all the trainings.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:37 IST)
Sri>Since it is of no consequence, why bring it up? then we have to look into that and see if you all really know what went on there ....keep to your borders, unless you are ready for the grand struggle

Bohra (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:37 IST)
Col Sahib, Indian Army played its game in Dacca when India was united with the rule of congress and Nehro family. Now india is most unstable democracy. Don't you think Indian politicians are using army for thier political motives

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:37 IST)
Col Sahib, this time, like before, the people are with you. The only cohesive force left in the country is you. If you do not respond to the people and clean up the mess, both within and without, they, the people, will be betrayed. How about that as a sovereign duty, which you swore to outside the Sudan Block, first, and then subsequently everywhere??

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:38 IST)
USAF: we can't take on the Chinese master when they have their Pakistani pit bull biting into our leg right now.It's pathetic and disgusting that India has always pursued an isolationist "independent" foreign policy, and never cultivated wider intimate alliances with other countries. The only reason we have coveted the "independent" foreign policy over our national security interests, was simply due to cheap political expediency. A country as politically schizophrenic and fickle as India has been loathe to pursue geo-political defense commitments with other nations, except when forced to as a last resort.

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:38 IST)
Col Sahib, this time, like before, the people are with you. The only cohesive force left in the country is you. If you do not respond to the people and clean up the mess, both within and without, they, the people, will be betrayed. How about that as a sovereign duty, which you swore to outside the Sudan Block, first, and then subsequently everywhere??

Sri (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:39 IST)
good night Col and kill the buggers on your way back !

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:39 IST)
what is the address or email of the armed forces website please???

jaihind (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:39 IST)
Col saheb Please tell if we were logistically ready to go in for this war-like situation before we started fighting I feel deja-vu of 1962 with china when logistics played a great role in our loss

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:40 IST)
Sanjay>You can blame Nehru and Gandhi and a whole bunch of bungling babus for that....and I had to live through that frustration in real time, hopefully you are young enough to have been spared the frustrations of seeing a bunch of british trained stooges (Nehru et al) bleed away your country's future with their posturing

Rohit (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:40 IST)
Colonel .. we fought three wars ? except the 71 nowhere is the term surrender used. Did we win ? then why is it always published as "ind-pak fought three wars" but "ind had a disatorous border exchange with china" ?

Bohra (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:40 IST)
COL SAHIB ! I am waiting for replies. Don't retreat

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:40 IST)
Sir,, I have a very sensitive question. What percentage of the Muslim population in India do you think is really sympathetic to our cause?

hanu (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:41 IST)
hello col is there any chance of the use of neuclear wepone by pak in this conflict

mog (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:41 IST)
USAF:If you are on my side why are you fighting me???

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:41 IST)
USAF: No, India's Soviet "friends" did not want to venture beyond Afghanistan (as per recently revealed records), and India in no way welcomed the encroachment of the USSR and cold war confrontation into SouthAsia. India did not support the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, because it understood that where one superpower enters, the other will soon follow. India however suffered the brunt of the collateral damage from the Afghan War, in the form of guerrilla terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir, as well as the NorthEast.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:43 IST)
Sanjay>It is the venturing 'INTO' Afghanistan, by your Soviet friends, that we are talking about, not venturing 'beyond'

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:46 IST)
USAF: Since we both agree that Nehru, the Congress, and the rest of their left-wing rabble are responsible for hamstringing India with their nutty policies, then we should also be able to agree that only non-left-wing influences can reform India and bring it out of this mess. I'm non-religious, so I don't like the BJP a whole lot, but as a non-left-wing party, they're infinitely better than the others, that's for sure.

hanu (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:46 IST)
we claim that our letest missials are very accurat in aims then why we are not useing them on intruders

Frank (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:46 IST)
bye all

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:47 IST)
In any case, talk wont solve the problem...if India is to be a true world player (and not one where the population merely shrilly shrieks about their rightful place at the big boys' table) then China stands squarely n your paths...amke the right strategic alliances.....NOW...dont fall into the same abyss that Nehru took you into in the fifties, when he threw your lot in with the commies instead of with Eisenhower.....your destiny cannot be realised without partnership with us...the choice is yours

srihari (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:47 IST)
the army web site is www.armedforcec.nic.in

srihari (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:48 IST)
the army web site is www.armedforcec.nic.in

srihari (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:49 IST)
www.armedforces.nic.in/army/

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:50 IST)
USAF: Even the USA has now acknowledged that post-Cold War investigations have shown that Brezhnev went into Afghanistan for petty reasons of avenging the death of his longtime friend who ruled Afghanistan. The rest of the Soviet establishment had no wider ambitions with that place. And as you know their politburo vehemently opposed Brezhnev's decision, even tho he proceeded over their objections (in typical egomaniacal leftist style). But where has the US helped the Afghans? The US used them, and never gave a damn about their "freedom" or welfare. Dropped the Afghans like a hot potato when the USSR collapsed, and left them to rot in the mess. Admit it.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:54 IST)
And why shoudnt we drop people when it is suitable to do so? we dont owe it to anyone.....why do so many shrill US bashers the world over think we are their brother or father or whatever...we are the worlds most powerful country and do as we please.....a mature response for you all would be to understand our goals (ask us if they are not clear to you and we shall explain, we are not too shy about that, but not in the press, if you please) and use our interests where they coincide with yours...thats maturity that has been lacking in your country, whihc is understandable - after all, it is a very very young one. Stop having a chip on your shoulders and being so angry, good things will happen

Niku (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:54 IST)
Col. I am from Kalyan,Mumbai.. Can u convey our regds to our brothers who r fighting for us !

hanu (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:56 IST)
we claim that our letest missials are very accurat in aims then why we are not useing them on intruders

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:56 IST)
Niku>You missed the Col by just a few minutes

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 5:57 IST)
USAF: The "Western" action in Kosovo shows that they're interested in taking care of those who most ethnically resemble them. You can't claim that they're out to protect the world, when the Americans in the business of breaking up multi-ethnic states to appease their own domestic ethnic interest lobbies (ie. Orthodox-hating Catholics) Their hypocrisy is blatantly obvious. The only reason that India ever said "Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai" in the first place, was due to an angry but naive Nehru resenting the USA's provocative military alliance with Pakistan. That miserable hawk Eisenhower really provoked us when he did that. Nehru was stupid to trust China, naive lefist that he was. And that's why the longterm effective cure for India, is to shun leftism, and the blind expediency it promotes. Only then will we make correct strategic decisions, instead of sacrificing our jawans on the battlefield for empty praise.

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 6:3 IST)
USAF: Don't hand me that, buster. If you're gonna admit to the USA needing to pursue its vital national interests, then you can't lecture India, if it needs to produce nuclear weapons to protect itself. If you guys can have nukes, then so can India -- get me? You guys like to claim this exclusivity by hiding behind some kind of moral mission. I don't claim that the US has to protect India, but stop holding us down to let others kick us in the stomach. If you don't want to protect Indian borders, then you've no business telling India not to respond militarily to protect them itself. Because what you're telling me, is that you don't want to protect Indian borders, but you don't want India to protect them either. Well sorry, you can't have it both ways. Indians have a sovereign right to develop whatever defenses they need for their own protection. You shouldn't gripe about it, because you're half-way around the world, and I don't see how it's the USA's business to tell other people to bare their necks to get slashed.

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 6:4 IST)
Sanjai>Eisenhower was not a hawk, you have to understand your facts better. He was a tired old man who had seen too much killing and just wanted to play golf ont he white house lawn and prevent the military industrial complex, as he put it, from forcing wars down the throats of the US public. You are getting very shrill, I suggest you relax and sit back in your chair and it will improve the tone of this conversation. Now, (and I might be mistaken in this) I thought the US made very strong overtures to India to hook up with us but Nehru was too much of a Brit stooge and looked down his nose at us when we suggested an alliance with him, in the fifties and after his rebuff, since we needed bases for U-2 overflights of Russia, we made a deal with the pakis.....

USAFKicksButt (Fri Jul 2 1999 6:4 IST)
Sanjai>I am going to the toher room, this chat format is unwieldy

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 6:15 IST)
USAF: Why shouldn't you "drop people when it is suitable to do so?" Uhh, becoz maybe that exposes you as the same kind of hypocrites that the Soviets were -- only worse. Means that you won the Cold War not out of any moral superiority, but simply because you were more cunning and ruthless. What the hell makes you better than the Soviets, if you "freedom lovers" drop your "cherished freedom-fighters" like yesterday's trash? Why the hell would anyone align with you? Just because you're able to pull the wool over their eyes for the near-term? You people are spinners and weavers of morality -- you contrive morals to suit your political needs. Just like your Kosovo operation. You needed a genocide buzz-word to morally justify your NATO expansionism, and so you created one from scratch. In Kosovo, you guys are hollering that your military has to be given the free-est possible hand, despite the threat of confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia. But when India needs to defend itself, you're shamelessly preaching "self-restraint". Hypocritical swine. Resurgent colonials. They armed these mujahedin the first place, injuring us. And to add insult to injury, they blame us for getting attacked by their pet monsters run amok. There'll be repayment for this dastardliness, I can assure you.

Pankaj (Fri Jul 2 1999 6:16 IST)
col. are you there?

Sanjai Kukreti (Fri Jul 2 1999 6:24 IST)
USAF: Don't give me the "shrill" bit, or the pat on the head, okay? Care to take a look in the mirror, Mister "God Bless America"? I can hear the Lee Greenwood songs playing in the background, for goodness' sakes, Tom. How can you call Nehru an anti-American Brit stooge, when the Brits were in the same camp as the US? Uhh, are you ignorant of the USA's most intimate bilateral relationship? Geez. Sure Eisenhower was a hawk. Look at the guy -- he was no "tired old man", he was Captain Bombshelter. That's like calling Stormin' Norman a "tired old man." What spontaneous deflection on your part. Nehru was dope alright, but that's because he was a leftist. And don't call him pro-Soviet, because they were calling him the "running capitalist dog of the West" at the time. India had much better relations with Kennedy, who was diametrically opposite to Eisenhower's camp. Sorry, but Eisenhower provoked India by militarily aligning with Pakistan. Being a friend of Pakistan is not a good way to endear yourself to Indians, especially when they attacked and invaded our land.

Continued