India's Military Conflicts and Diplomacy: An Inside View of Decision-Making

by V.P. Malik

India s armed forces have a record of maintaining national security and territorial integrity better than those of most other developing, democratic nations. The credit for these successes, however, goes less to its defence management apparatus and more to those responsible for operational planning and execution. Many a time, India has failed to convert hard-won operational achievements into long-term strategic successes. Why does that happen? What needs to be done to improve our defence planning and management? In this path-breaking book, General V.P. Malik (retd), who was army chief during the Kargil war, looks back on his distinguished career and presents some examples of India s military conflicts. Among these are eye-opening accounts of Operation Pawan, in which a peacekeeping force was sent to Sri Lanka in 1987 with tragic results, and Operation Cactus in the Maldives, a quick commando action where India s armed forces foiled an attempted coup d état in less than twenty-four hours. Alongside are examples of military diplomacy in a range of circumstances. These authentic, objective accounts take us within the decision-making process and also provide a futuristic perspective on India s higher defence management. Updated with a new Preface for the paperback edition, India s Military Conflicts and Diplomacy will fascinate anyone with a stake in India s national security.

Genres: Military Fiction, India

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Vishal Kale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by General V P Malik - and it is as good as the first; and in some ways, far more reader friendly. While the first - Kargil - was a deep and involved analysis of the Kargil War, this is one comprises a set of real-life incidences from his Army Experience; incidences which are known in almost every educated household in India. This takes up half of the book; the second half is a short, and to-the-point analysis of Military Diplomacy. Again, in this part as well, the author has delved into his personal experience, which gives the reader the entire story from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

THE FIRST PART
This part will be the interesting part for those readers who are not too interested in Military Diplomacy or Foreign Policy. This part alone makes it worth the money spent on it. For, in this part you get to read about some of India's most famous military operations - from a person who was an integral part of the entire matter. This lends considerable weight to the book, as well as makes it doubly interesting; you are not reading a third person telling a story. You are reading history as it happened, through the eyes of one of the major players in these historically vital events; you get a blow-by-blow account of things as they happened and when they happened.

THE SECOND PART
This part is much shorter {happily so for those readers who are not inclined towards deep analysis}, but is equally - if not more - full of surprises and unknown or lesser known facts of the Indian Armed Forces. This part starts with the role of the Military in Diplomacy, which will be both a surprise to us, as well as a very highly informative and interesting look into a side of the Armed Forces that is not too well known. It contains a short but to-the-point and effective analysis of our relations in Military as well as diplomatic terms with China, Maldives, Nepal, Israel, Tajikistan, Myanmar and the USA. Again, you get a ringside seat on the authors visits to these places, as well as interesting background on how relations were repaired {Israel, for example - or Myanmar} and the role of the Military in these matters.

[Sharath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a good book to understand India's diplomatic and military posturing from the view point one of the best generals of the Indian Army.

[Anchit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of facts and opinions written in a simple language which is good. Unfortunately, when you start reading it you realize that the flow of logic is not maintained throughout. You come to know one thing and suddenly something else. You don't know why is he concluding the second thing after the first thing. And this gets repeated all throughout the book. For me it raised more questions (very basic level of question like why this, what does he mean, why not that, why are they saying that, what is going on etc).

Here are a few examples.

1) In the Introduction he mentions that the public should be informed about defence internal decisions so that they can give their inputs. I disagreed with this point because it will only lead to needless speculation and chaos. Anyway, moving on, next thing he says is - "Before a conflict, the public remains unclear about the need to provide continuous support to enable the forces to become an effective instrument of the state".

The very first question I'll ask is "what kind of support are we expecting? Moral support? Singing songs in praise of the military? Or writing poems? Or sending money? And even if it is any of these how will it enable the forces to become an effective instrument?" And this is not answered. Maybe he means telling the public about any stupid decision making that happens will cause public unrest and will prevent further stupid decisions. That might make sense I think, just like how we have news-shows where people are interviewed and questioned in depth. It will make those people less likely to repeat stupid decisions in the future.

2) India signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord... whithin hours after its signing the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF)..infantry division.. sent to Sri Lanka... After two years of fighting and suffering...there was little support from the political leadership of Sri Lanka.

The immediate question is "Why was there a lack of support? Wasn't it Sri Lanka that first requested the assistance? If they are the ones who asked for it then why didn't they support? And in what way did they not support? Did they interfere in military activities? Or not share information at the right time?"

3) The shocking result was that the very (Tamil) people in whose cause the Indian soldiers had been sent to Sri Lanka intentionally absented themselves at the official disembarkation of the IPKF at Chennai Port.

Again I've got a bunch of questions for this one sentence which strips off any explanation. "The Indian soldiers had gone to help the Tamils?? No they hadn't. They had gone on an official mission based on the Accord to help Sri Lanka. The Accord was between Sri Lanka and India, not Tamils and India. And even if they went to help the Tamils why would the Tamils be absent at the port? And what does it mean when we say Tamils were absent at the port? Who are these Tamils we are talking about? The citizens? Or is it a particular religious faction? And why should they have been present? Is it customary for citizens or religious factions to be present when the military is sent on a mission?"

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a timely book, throwing light on some of India's military actions in the last two decades but unfortunately a little too brief at some points. Also would have benefited from some conceptual concordance - insofar there was a list of the prominent people figuring in it so that repeated citations of full names and posts could have been dispensed with. Also there are some errors probably due to lack of oversight - such as a erroneously-named US vice president... Otherwise quite a readable account

[Janit Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best book written on diplomacy. It talks about the communcation gap between ministers and Army personnels. It also shows that ministers do not trust our army very much. Ministers don't even let army take decisions properly but despite all the difficulties army always serves our nation.

[Saurabh Patki · Rating 4 out of 5]

a brilliant account of stories which shows the raw courage shown by our armed forces in times of need...essential read to understand our military and our conflict policies