Delivering 9th YB Chavan Lecture at Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, General Bipin Rawat talked about the ongoing “hybrid warfare”, unleashed by Pakistan on India.
The ongoing hybrid war with India
General Rawat, talked about the well-sequenced and coordinated hybrid warfare currently India is facing. Rawat said that its prime target is our population and infrastructure, instead of the military establishment. He added that be it a 1947-48 war, 1965 or 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan, or “Disruptive techniques” like stone-pelting and school closures all are part of the hybrid war, engineered by Government agencies of Pakistan.
General Rawat advised India to opt for an “Offensive-defence” strategy to counter the hybrid war instead of tit-for-tat strategy like unleashing the same war on Pakistan’s population.
The Army Chief also underlined that the radicalisation of youth in Jammu and Kashmir is happening through manufactured narratives peddled by anti-India forces.
“People are back from schools and colleges and there is nothing else to do other than watch television and look at mobile phones. These messages (in phones) convey everything negative and falsehood,” General Rawat said.
Demography Change going on in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
General Rawat, said that India should initiate the strengthening of security infrastructure in the valley, and muster resources to counter the prevailing narrative of falsehoods and indoctrinations.
“The issue on the other side is that Pakistan has very cleverly changed the entire demography of PoK, Gilgit Baltistan. We are not sure as to who is an actual Kashmiri or a Punjabi who has come and occupied the area. The Kashmiri identity has been gradually eroded very cleverly by Pakistan,” Rawat was quoted.
Kartarpur Sahib corridor
After the lecture General responded to several questions. He was asked about the issue of opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, and whether it was a step towards engagement with Pakistan.
General Rawat, responded that India is firm on its stand, that terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand. He made clear that Kartarpur Sahib corridor should be seen in isolation, as already declared by Minister of External Ministry Sushma Swaraj.
General Rawat’s previous takes on National Security
In the month of November, talking about the proxy war waged by China and Pakistan on India, General Rawat had said the changing demographics of states of North-east like Assam is the result of the deliberate influx of Bangladeshis in the region. He had cited the example of the ascent of the party called All India United Democratic Front) AIUDF, active in Assam which made its first electoral presence in 2005 and now has currently had three parliamentarians in Lok Sabha and 13 legislators in the state assembly.
Army Chief had said that Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, had grown alarmingly faster than the BJP in the 1980s.
Army Chief Bipin Rawat recently had stated that external forces are attempting to revive the Khalistani insurgency in Punjab.
