The Shastri doctrine is still valid

In 1965, after the massivePakistani-led infiltration into Kashmir, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri enunciated India8217;s strategic doctrine; 8220;an attack on any part of Indian territory including Kashmir is an attack on India and India reserves the right to respond to it at the time and place of its choosing8221;. And he promptly proceeded to order India8217;s armed forces to put it into effect. This has been India8217;s version of the West8217;s mutually assured destruction8217; doctrine and for over 35 years this strategic concept ensured the sanctity of our borders.

After the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Indian strategy was further refined and the old outmoded ditch-cum-band concept which smacked of bunker mentality8217; was discarded. Our borders are no longer defended by large part of our forces sitting on a continuous line of earthwork defenses at the borders but instead based on strike by our armoured and mechanised forces on the aggressor8217;s weak-links and home base. The oft-repeated phrase, defend every inch of territory8217;, does not mean the armies of acountry spread over every inch of its borders which is neither tactically sound nor affordable. It implies that any aggression shall be responded to and the aggressor will be made to pay with unacceptable damage8217;.

If Pakistan had embarked on this venture in pre-May 8217;98 environment, it would today be facing the spectre of Indian armoured and mechanised forces massed on the western borders ready to pierce into Pak heartland and dismember it. While indeed today both the countries are nuclear, it does not mean that the sanctity of our borders and our sovereignty may be held hostage to the nuclear environment8217;. We have already unilaterally proclaimed no first use8217;. Coupled with this must also be the proviso that if Pakistan resorts to the nuclear option, it shall face a decapitating second strike8217;. Pakistan has to be made to realise that such adventures are no longer low cost options8217; available to it and it will have to pay an unaffordable price for it.

There is no doubt that all the Afghan mercenariesand Pakistan army infiltrators will ultimately be eliminated. The glacial regions of the incursions and their pattern indicate that it will probably take longer than the three months some government leaders have talked about as operations in such terrain have certain tactical limitations and are slow moving. The intruders, having seized and fortified themselves at dominating heights, have the advantage of being able to bring very effective and lethal fire on the infantry climbing uphill to dislodge them. The only alternative for the attacking infantry is to seize high ground away from the enemy defences and then approach the defences at equal height along the spur-line instead of attacking uphill. Such manoeuvres are time-consuming and fighting in this terrain is the ultimate test of human endurance and courage.

The endgame ultimately rests in the hands of the infantry soldier who has to engage the enemy in mortal combat at eye ball to eyeball distance. In the final stage of the battle when the infantrysoldier has closed up with the enemy there is no supporting fire or bombing to help him and he has to rely on his own personal weapon and his courage to overcome the enemy ensconced in bunkers and dug-outs. The Indian infantry is rated amongst the best in the world.

The writer is a retired Lt.General