why do the Indian armed forces slavishly use the same uniforms and titles (brigadier or major general, admiral etc) and row of medals on the chest as the Europeans? Can’t they be a bit original and opt for something uniquely Indian?

TO be frank, I have no idea why, when we can adopt the British system of education, parliament, railways ..why not army titles? Morover, the Indian touch to it comes in the form of Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Keerti Chakra and others. Along with Brigadier, Colonel and major – there are havildar, naik, lance naik, subedar and Sepoy.

ANd finally SIkh regiment, Jat regiment, Bihar regiment, Gorkha Rifles, Rajputana rifles, Rajput regiment and so on…..
What’s so slavish about it?

Pity you dismiss the Pentagon’s assessment of Kargil. The Pentagon is the world’s ultimate fighting machine and surely their opinion matters – not that of the two squabbling Asian neighbours fighting each other with European weapons.

Really, your arguments seem very educated till one reads through them a second time.

Until 1990, the United States provided military aid to Pakistan to modernize its conventional defensive capability. The United States allocated about 40% of its assistance package to non-reimbursable credits for military purchases, the third-largest program behind Israel and Egypt. The remainder of the aid program was devoted to economic assistance. Sanctions put in place in 1990 denied Pakistan further military assistance due to the discovery of its program to develop nuclear weapons.

And that extract was from here.

It is a truth universally known that India and Pakistan were fighting the Cold War by proxy. While Pakistan got the Yankee money, India hobnobbed with the Bolsheviks. While Pakistani kids got Coca Cola, Indian kids got Misha and Soviet Union.

While this is not intended to start a Indo Pak gun battle on UD space, I just wanted to clear your misplaced view of world history.

Besides, your quip about Pentagon being the world’s ultimate fighting machine has had me shaking in mirth.

Calling them terrorist is hardly fair – terrorist to whom? Have they got an objective?

I really have no dog in this argument but did you seriously, with a straight face, say that it’s “unfair” to call the LTTE a terrorist group?

And oh, thank you for your comments.

Pity you dismiss the Pentagon’s assessment of Kargil. The Pentagon is the world’s ultimate fighting machine and surely their opinion matters – not that of the two squabbling Asian neighbours fighting each other with European weapons.

Isn’t it fair to say that the Indians are using craft (like the MIGs and Harriers) that are beyond their capabilities? They are simply not at ease with alien machines, not having ever used them in active service. Why blame politicians for selecting MIGs? It is only those who have used these craft that can advise on their purchase like the Chinese, not the semi-literate, corrupt babus in the Lok Saba.

As for fighting the US, Russia & China – I meant that they have huge experience in real war conditions and India will be totally lost should it have the misfortune to confriont them.

A last point: why do the Indian armed forces slavishly use the same uniforms and titles (brigadier or major general, admiral etc) and row of medals on the chest as the Europeans? Can’t they be a bit original and opt for something uniquely Indian?

Back-stabbing? Oh, the horror!

DO check the link, I mentioned. I don’t quite understand the horror part of it yet.

Medieval concepts? Then why doesn’t every country just have a couple hundred suicide bombers instead of a full fledged army.

because it could not act without repercussions from the international community

what community? The LTTE is a classified terrorist organization in Europe, North America and India. Who will respond? Tamil supporters? They will be promptly jailed.

For whatever reason Prabhakaran may be scared or concerned about, he definitely wants to be in India’s good looks – even though Norway is the official mediator, Prabhakaran desperately wanted a venue in India.

as they’ve taken a very much hands-off approach

That’s exaclty whay I’m saying, the reason why LTTE exists.

you’ve still to address the data on the size and duration of the IPKF’s ‘peace-keeping’ effort.

Oh, I have to? It sure wasn’t a successful mission. I thought we agreed on that. IPKF left on the request of the Sri Lankan government.
More reasons here

IPKF failed because contrary to their expectation of maintaining “peace” in the region, they had to indulge in actual military operations. IPKF’s never aimed to wipe out LTTE, for that matter Rajiv Gandhi would have probably survived if Indian Army indulged in backstabbing like LTTE and squished Prabhakaran back in 1987. (link)

Back-stabbing? Oh, the horror!

How do you strike someone in a military combat who doesn’t want to fight you? So if my claims are high handed and pompous – your words undermine the facts.

my words undermine the facts? If the Indian army is depending on outmoded, medieval concepts of what is ‘fair’ in combat, then they are surely without hope.

your point about India being able to squash the LTTE is without merit because it could not act without repercussions from the international community. The reason Prabhakaran isn’t keen to bring back memories of the assassination is because he, like the JHU/JVP, is mostly concerned and afraid of what western powers can do to his logistical support. He is pretty much not concerned with what the Indian gov’t or military has to do as they’ve taken a very much hands-off approach.

that is why most LTTE satelite-tv propaganda is broadcast not to TN but Europe and Canada.

you’ve still to address the data on the size and duration of the IPKF’s ‘peace-keeping’ effort.

IPKF failed because contrary to their expectation of maintaining “peace” in the region, they had to indulge in actual military operations. IPKF’s never aimed to wipe out LTTE, for that matter Rajiv Gandhi would have probably survived if Indian Army indulged in backstabbing like LTTE and squished Prabhakaran back in 1987. (link)
And adding to the misfortune, IPKF violated human rights and committed atrocities, creating more enemies in the process.

As for judging the efficacy of Indian military is concerned – what do you think Prabhakaran is scared of? Indian politicians or the Indian army? Prabhakaran never had the nerve to accept the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. In his first international media conference after 12 years, he mentions:

“I do not want to comment on an incident which happened 10 years ago. I want to forget the past. Don’t dig into the past.” Link

And in another interview,
” Asked if the LTTE could promise that it would not commit such acts (Like Rajiv’s assassination)again, Balasingham went on: “We have made pledges to the government of India that under no circumstances we will act against the interest of the government of India.”

How do you strike someone in a military combat who doesn’t want to fight you? So if my claims are high handed and pompous – your words undermine the facts.

and if it matters, I didn’t mean to say because of supporters in South India, IPKF failed. The reason why LTTE is not considered a threat like say – Pakistan’s ISI is because LTTE was partly trained by Indians under the orders of Indira Gandhi and there’s a regional or linguistic bond between LTTE cadre and South India.

The Indian army fared badly even against the LTTE

LTTE has never been a primary enemy to India, unfortunately there are some elected Indian leaders who are known sympathizers, for all its fame LTTE is just another terrorist organization, the day India perceives it as a direct threat, LTTE might as well pack its bags. Voluntarily.

The day VAIKO can be used as a legitimate reason for the IPKF’s failure in Lanka…oh wait..you just tried to do exactly that!

I’m guessing that the 2-year commitment of up to 100K soldiers meant that the Indian government thought that the LTTE was a bunch of lolly-licking school-children, walking to grammar lessons, right?

Also, Rajiv Gandhi was pretty much chopped liver, for his assasination pretty much ushered in an era of ignoring the LTTE’s support network in south india?

don’t overextend your analysis of the Indian military’s efficacy–their efforts in SL certainly didn’t achieve much but creating a movement to pull them back.