FAUJI INDIA - June 2018

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As summer temperatures touch new highs across north India, temperatures within the military fraternity have risen against the Defence Ministry's diktat of opening up our cantonments to the general public. This will not only lead to another set of security challenges, but ruin the well-preserved environment in many cities where our cantonments offered some hope amidst the rapid urbanization of modern India. The immediate question is, “Did the Raksha Mantri take consent of the services who are the key stakeholders, or was it a unilateral decision?” What has upset many in the fraternity, is why the Service Chiefs haven't spoken up on this matter? A sensible way out would be to do a time bound, case by case study on which cantonments areas could the public be allowed to freely trespass, and where they shouldn't. Even though the jury is out on the merits of the ceasefire initiative in the Valley, there has been considerable firing along the LoC, leading Pakistan to suggest that both sides should sit across the table and talk peace. As yet India's stand has been unrelenting: that talks and terror attacks cannot go on together. And in all this - between India's efforts to isolate Pakistan internationally, and robust military response across the LoC – there are reports that the Pakistan Army chief has suggested a recalibration of Pakistan Army's traditional “Hurt India-Centric” approach. Only time will tell whether this is because of the exposé by a former PM (about 26/11) and ex-DG ISI (in a book), or is good sense finally dawning on GHQ Rawalpindi.