Yemen Crisis Shia Sunni Conflict | Strange Military Stories

Yemen is an Islamic nation with 65 per cent Sunni and 35 per cent Shia population. It is a fertile territory which also receives adequate rainfall due to its mountainous terrain. The population of Yemen is relatively noor as the natural resources of Yemen are declining. Historically, Yemen had a Zaydi Mutawakkilite Kingdom from 1918 to 1962 which ended with the reign of Mohammad-al-Badr. The conflict in Yemen is primarily between Houthis and Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The Houthi's belonged to a Shia sect called Zaydis and were organised as the Jund Ansar Allah.

The problem in Yemen began for the first time in 2004 when Hussein Badr-al-Houthi began an uprising against the Ali Abdullah Saleh government in Yemen. The root cause of the uprising was the demand by the Houthis for more autonomy with an aim to protect Houthi Shias from cultural invasion by Sunni Muslims. This conflict lasted from 2004 to 2010. In 2011, as the Arab Spring gripped the entire Arab world, the Houthis participated against the Saleh government, which was being led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi as a de facto head. 

In 2012, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi came to power. In February 2014, the National Dialogue Conference happened in Yemen.In the conference, the Houthis also participated. The conference spoke about dividing Yemen into a federation of six regions. The Houthis opposed the idea, saying that with the forming of such a federation, violence shall begin all over again. The Houthis, being Shias, receive support from Iran and at present, control northern Yemen and the capital Sana. In the southern part of Yemen, since 2007, there has been a secessionist movement called al-Hirak or South Yemen Movement which also poses threat to Yemen's sovereignty. 

In the Southeast part of Yemen, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Ansar-al-Sharia are active as Sunni extremists. As there are Indians in Yemen, the Indian government has stationed naval ships-INS Sumitra, INS Mumbai and INS Tarkash in on standby by any immediate evacuation in for future. The conflict, at the regional level can be pursued through the prism of the Shia Sunni axis, with group supported by both Iran and Saudi Arabia.

History of Tibet : British Expedition | Military Stories

History of Tibet

In 1890, British and Chinese signed a trade treaty to do trade via Sikkim-Tibet border. The treat did not include the Tibetans, The Tibetans became upset and decided to protest. They destroyed the set up by the Britishers. The Tibetans were upset that a trade treaty could not be signed by British and China to do trade via Tibet without the Tibetans involved.

The British and Chinese did not pay any importance to demand of the Tibetans. In 1893, the British and Chinese now signed a convention to do trade via Chumbi Valley, This again upset the Tibetans as Tibetan were again not involved. The then Dalai Lama Thubten Gyatso now began to realise that Tibet will need third party support. Thubten Gyatso's advisor was Agvan Dorzhiev Dorzhiev was a Khori-Buryar mongol of a teacher of Gyatso also. He guided Gyatso to seek help of Russia. 

From 1898 to 1901, Thubten and his men regularly visited Russia and Dorzhiev acted as a mediator. In 1899, Lord Curzon became the next viceroy and replaced Lord Elgin Curzon had hatred for Russians. Lord Curzon sent mission to Lhasa. He wanted to inform through the mission to the Dalai Lama to respect the 1893 convention. The mission was led by Younghusband. The mission of Young husband reached Lhasa in 1904. The moment the mission reached there. Thubten and Dorzhiev fled to Lhasa and Tibet again came under the control of Ambans. As Ambans controlled Tibet again, China again became supreme in Tibet. Younghusband mis directly dealt with the Ambans.

A new treaty was concluded between British and China on Tibet.

As per the treaty:

• Tibet will no longer enter into third party treaties including with China without permission of British.

• British will get access to all trading posts in the region. • A British agent will be station in South Tibet.

The British concluded the treaty with Ambans. As visible in the treaty, the British did not make Tibet a British protectorate nor fully established their presence in Tibet but allowed China to continue a low-level administrative presence in Tibet through Ambans. Thus, the 1904 Lhasa convention ensure that the Tibet becomes a buffer between China and British India. Taking advantage of 1904 Lhasa convention, the Chinese proposed that there be a new convention. In 1906, China proposed the new convention asserting that British accept that neither would they interfere in Tibet nor will they annex Tibet. The British agreed. This was now followed in 1907 Anglo Russian convention where both Britain and Russia agreed not to negotiate with the Tibet without the presence of China. In 1909  Dalai Lama tried to come back to Tibet but at China had already taken over the control of the Tibet, Dalai Lama fled to India in 1909.

Top 5 Indian army Heroes and their Extra Ordinary Tales of Bravery

Far from home and loved ones, these heroes sacrifice their own lives so the entire nation can sleep in peace. The stories of their courage and passion are larger than life. They are legends whose tales will not just make your chests swell with pride, but whose sacrifices will leave your eyes a little moist. They are all heroes, each and every one of them. But there are a few whose stories have become the stuff of legends, stories that deserve to be shared and told over and over again before. 

 Indian army Heroes 

5.RIFLEMAN JASWANT SINGH RAWAT 

A Hero Of the Indo-China war, Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat of the 4th Garhwal Rifles Infantry Regiment is the only soldier in the history of the Indian Army who has risen through the ranks after his death. He was ‘promoted’ to the rank of Major General 40 years after his death, and is still believed to ‘command’ troops guarding India’s eastern frontiers with China. 

During the 1962 war, soldiers were orderedto vacate their posts as soon as possible due to heavy casualties against the Chinese at the Battle of Nuranang. But Jaswant did not leave his position and continued to fight even after the other soldiers had left. Rawat was helped by two Monpa tribal girls named Sela and Nura. 

The trio set up weapons at separate points and maintained a volume of fire to make the Chinese believe they were facing a huge battalion. Rawat successfully managed to fool them for three days. But the Chinese found out about the set up through a man who used to supply rations to Rawat and the two girls. At this point, Rawat chose to shoot himself rather than be captured by the Chinese forces. 

The Chinese were so furious on learning that they had been fighting a single soldier all this time that they cut off Rawat’s head and carried it back to China. The post that Rawat held to repulse the Chinese troops has been renamed Jaswant Garh in recognition of his courage.

4.SUBEDAR YOGENDRA SINGH YADAV 

SUBEDAR YOGENDRA SINGH YADAV

This brave soldier has the high honor of being the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. He received this award at the age of 19 for his actions on July 4,1999, during the Kargil war. Born in 1980 in Aurangabad Ahir village, UttarPradesh. 

SUBEDAR YOGENDRA SINGH YADAV volunteered for the task of capturing three strategic bunkers on Tiger Hill, which were situated at the top of a vertical, snow-covered,16,500 feet high cliff face. He was climbing the high cliff with the help of a rope when the enemy bunker started rocket fire. Yadav was hit by three bullets in his groin and shoulder. Despite being severely injured, Yadav kept climbing and finished the remaining 6 0 feet to reach the top of the cliff. Though in immense pain, Yadav crawled to the first enemy bunker and lobbed a grenade, which killed four Pakistani soldiers and set back the enemy fire. 

This gave the rest of the Indian platoon the opportunity to climb up the cliff face. However, this was not it. Yadav continued to fight and destroyed the second bunker too with the help of two fellow soldiers. 

In fact, he also engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy and killed four more Pakistani soldiers. By the time the rest of the Indian platoon arrived, Yadav had already neutralized the enemy attack. This gave Indian soldiers the upper hand and they managed to accomplish one of the toughest missions of the Kargil war – the capture of Tiger Hill. During the second part of the fight, a few more bullets hit Yadav. Some say he was hit by 16 bullets, some sayless, but he survived it all. Yadav’s heroic actions were portrayed in the film, Lakshya, by actor Hrithik Roshan. 

 3.BRIGADIER MOHAMMAD USMAN 

BRIGADIER MOHAMMAD USMAN

Brigadier Mohammad Usman was Born in Bibipur, Uttar Pradesh, this man of steel joined the Indian army in 1934. During the Indo-Pakistan war of 1947/48, Brigadier Usman repulsed a fierce attack on Naushera and Jhangar, two highly strategic locations in Jammu and Kashmir, and was named by his fellow soldiers ‘The Lion of Naushera.’ At the time of the Partition, he was made the offer of becoming the Chief of the Pakistani Army but he chose to stay in India. 

He left the Baloch regiment of Pakistan and was inducted into the Dogra regiment in India. After the Battle of Naushera, where the Pakistani suffered heavy casualties at his hands, the same country that had courted him to become the chief of the army, now went ahead and placed prize money of Rs. 50,000 on his head. 

Brigadier Usman was not just a fierce soldier but also a compassionate man. He never got married and used to donate a large part of his salary to support poor children and pay for their education. This inspiring and exemplary officer of the Indian Army died on July 3, 1948, defending Jhangar. His last words were, “I am dying but let not the territory we were fighting for fall to the enemy.” He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously for his great courage and leadership. 

2.MAJOR GENERAL IAN CARDOZO

Major General Ian Cardozo, who has many achievements to his name, will always be known for his immense courage in the 1971 war with Pakistan. He was, at the time, a young major with 5 Gorkha Rifles. During the war, he stepped on a landmine and severely injured his leg. 

When even the doctor could not cut his leg,Cardozo asked for a khukri and cut his own leg off, saying, “Now go and bury it!” The incident did not deter Cardozo from going on to serve his country. Through sheer will power and determination, he continued to perform his duties as a soldier and became the first disabled officer in the indian Army to command an infantry battalion and a brigade. 

In spite of not being physically at par with  officers, he defeated many ‘two-legged’ soldiers to come first in many fitness tests during his stint in the army. 

1.CAPTAIN VIKRAM BATRA 

Captain Vikram Batra was Born in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, Captain Vikram Batra of 13 J&K Rifles, is known as the hero of the Kargil war. He led one of the toughest war operations in Kashmir and was also called Sher Shah. 

He was instrumental in recapturing Peak 5140, which is located at an altitude of 17,000 feet. During this mission, Batra was seriously injured but still managed to kill three enemy soldiers in close combat. After capturing Peak 5140, he went on yet another difficult mission to recapture Peak 4875.

On July 7, 1999. Batra made a call to his father before he left and told him about the crucial mission. Hardly did he know that this would be his last call home. It was one of the most difficult missions the Indian army attempted because the Pakistani forces were sitting above the peak at 16,000 feet and the climb gradient was 80 degrees. 

On their way up, one of Batra’s fellow officers was severely injured. Batra set out to save him. When a subedar tried to help him save the officer, Batra pushed him aside, saying, “You have children, step aside.” He saved his fellow soldier but was killed while clearing enemy positions. Batra’s last words were “Jai Mata Di.” 

So, these were our picks for Top 5 Indian army Heroes and Their Extra Ordinary Tales of Bravery. Did we miss any ? Comment down below. 

Cyprus First Division , Turkish Cypriot | Military Stories

Division of Cyprus

The republic of Cyprus is the most well-known. They only control the southern part of Cyprus even though their flag depicts the entire island. They are also internationally recognized and part of the European Union. As for the northern part of Cyprus, it is controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey. Separating the two countries is an UN bufferzone, spanning the entire 180km long border. It should be obvious that the two countries don’t get along, but what is the cause of the divide, and what role does Turkey play? 

North South division of Cyprus

Historical/Ethnic Reasons and 1974 War 

Historically, Cyprus wasn’t that divided, populated mostly by people of Greek descent. However, in 1570, Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, resulting in the development of a Turkish community in Cyprus. When Cyprus gained independence from Britain (a story for another time) in 1960, government power was divided between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. However, both parties weren’t content, especially the Greek, who were pushing for Enosis. (Pause) This led to a coup d’etat by theGreeks in 1974 to take control of the islands. Turkey, who supported the Turkish Cypriots as a result launched an attack the same year. And though condemned by the international community, took control of the northern part of Cyprus, causing the divide. 

Current Status of Cyprus (and opinions oflocals/world) Nowadays, Cyprus remains divided. And Turkey, despite the constant criticism,still stations troops in Northern Cyprus. The locals are also torn between keeping the status quo or working towards reunification.

According to an opinion poll in 2010, 84% of Greek Cypriots and 70% of Turkish Cypriots assumed that: "the other side would neveraccept the actual compromises and concessions that are needed for a fair and viable settlement". Disadvantages of the Split (For the three parties) However, it is obvious that the current situation in Cyprus is far from ideal. For the locals, many were forcefully displaced from their homes back in 1974 and cannot return due to the divide. The constant military threat from both sides also adds to the pressure and unease. 

Embargos and sanctions have also been putin place on Northern Cyprus. For Turkey, the Cyprus dispute is one of the main reasons why the EU won’t accept its membership application. Turkey doesn’t recognize the republic of Cyprus, a member of the EU, so understand ably that won’t work. Efforts to resolve the conflict As such, over the years, the republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus have held numerous talks to try and find a solution. 

However, despite meeting for dozens of times, leaders of both sides have all failed to find a viable path forward. There are two main road blocks to a successful negotiation. The first is the question of Turkish influence. After one of the more recent meetings in February 26th, 2019, the president of the republic of Cyprus remarked that the issue of security for all the Cypriots cannot be ignored and referred again to the Turkish troops on the island, an aspect which Northern Cyprus is still reluctant to address. 

Later that year, Turkey also began drilling for oil in Northern Cyprus waters, sparking another wave of controversy from the EU and the Republic of Cyprus. The second roadblock is the question of whata unified Cyprus would look like. The Turkish Cypriots are especially concerned because they would immediately become a minority after reunification. In addition, the animosity that has built-up on both sides towards the other casts a doubt on whether the peace will last after returning arion. 

Conclusion

Looking Forward as such, unfortunately, even after over 40 years of division, the republic of Cyprus,Northern Cyprus, and Turkey still cannot put their differences aside and come to a compromise. And as time goes by, it’s looking harder and harder for them to come to a consensus. We can only wait and see how it all plays out in the future. 

Vietnam war : Timeline, statistics and facts of war

Chronological History of Vietnam war:

Vietnam ,Laos, Cambodia were colony of French (1860-1941),they were called french Indio china. During world war 2 , japan invaded  Vietnam. Japan withdraw it's forces after  Hiroshima and Nagasaki were attacked by USA.

French Indo China map

First indo china war( December 19 ,1946 - July 20,1954):

First Indio China war was fought between french forces and viet Minh led by hô chí Minh. In first Indochina war was 400,000 – 842,707 and 125,000 – 400,000 civilians were  killed. This war end with Geneva Accord.According to it 17th parallel temporarily line was drawn throughout Vietnam, north Vietnam as communist led by hô chí minh(supported by USSR and China) and south Vietnam as pro western led by Ngo Dinh Diem( supported by USA and UK).

North Vietnam forces begin to build a supply route through Laos and Cambodia to South Vietnam in an effort to support guerrilla attacks against Diem’s government in the south. The route becomes known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail and is greatly expanded and enhanced during the Vietnam War.

17th parallel line

American intervention in Vietnam ( second Indochina war)

In August 1964, US made fake news that US naval ship was attacked by north Vietnamese boat in golf of tonkin .from this incidence US officials says that they are at war and under leadership of Lyndon B. Johnson USA deploy five lakh soilder in Vietnam by 1967 . American pilots were sent to attack the north Vietnam oil facilities and torpedo boat installation. In retaliation north Vietnamese forces guerrilla shelled the American airbase near Saigon killing five American and destroying five B-57 bombers. Jonhson ordered on March 2nd 1965 to bombard in north Vietnam code name Operation rolling thunder. 

Gulf of tonkin

In starting of 1966, 2344 American died in Vietnam. Viet Cong was controlling over ¾ of south Vietnam with their supplies and weapons from laos and Cambodia. 12000 miles of twisted jungle roadways Known as Ho Chi Minh trail . To destroy this trail American 3 million of tons of explosives were drop in Laos which is greatest in history. The killing ratio was 1:10, but American didn't support their government.

Bombs used in Laos

Hundred of thousands American troops were deployed in Vietnam.it was not just American were fighting with Vietnamese, they were fighting with terrain,they have to make their ways through grass ,thorn bushes bamboos 20 meter tall, thick jungle would take an hour to move hundred feet ,black leeches caused wound that quickly became infected and sunlight rearly reach the jungle, Bobby traps , mines laced the terrain.

Bobby traps

Bobby traps

Timeline of Vietnam war:

1. 1940: Japanese troops invade French Indochina and occupy Vietnam.
2. 1941: Ho Chi Minh  communist colleagues  leader establish the League Known as the Viet Minh, the movement aims to resist French and Japanese.
3. 1945: Japanese troops occupying Indochina announce an end to the colonial era, declaring Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia independent.
4. 1946: Ho Chi Minh rejects a French proposal granting Vietnam limited self-government and the Viet Minh begins a guerrilla war against the French.
5. 1950: The United States,  increase military assistance to France for their operations in Vietnam.
6. 1954: French troops are humiliated in defeat by Viet Minh forces at Dien Bien Phu by guerrilla tactics. The Geneva Accords signed , temporary North and South Vietnam formed with the 17th parallel as the dividing line.
7. 1961: President John F. Kennedy sends helicopters and 400 Green Berets to South Vietnam and authorizes secret operations against the Viet Cong.
8. 1962: In Operation Ranch Hand, U.S. aircraft start spraying Agent Orange and other herbicides over rural South Vietnam to kill vegetation that cover and food for guerrilla forces.

   

   Agent Orange spread over Vietnam jungle

   

    Naphtha spred in jungle to fire 
9. 1964: USS Maddox is allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin (the attack is later disputed), leading President Johnson to call for air strikes on North Vietnamese patrol boat bases.
10. 1965: 200,000 American combat troops arrive in South Vietnam.
11. 1966: US troop numbers in Vietnam rise to 400,000, then to 500,000 the following year.
12. 1969: Ho Chi Minh dies.
13. 1973: Ceasefire agreement in Paris, US troop pull-out completed by March.
14. 1975: North Vietnamese troops invade South Vietnam and take control of the whole country after South Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh surrenders.
15. 1976: Election of National Assembly paves way for reunification of North and South.

US Troop Statistics

Source: Dept. of Defense

8,744,000 -served worldwide during Vietnam war

2,594,000 served in South Vietnam.

US Deaths

Battle: 47,434

Non-Battle: 10,786

Total In-Theatre: 58,220

1.3 million - Total military deaths for all countries involved

1 million - Total civilian deaths.

Vietnam war facts:

1. Vietnam war last for 19 year and all three countries become communist.
2. Upto 1954 USA spend $1 billions in Vietnam war which was about 80% of war.
3. During the war around 1 million catholic migrate towards south Vietnam for temporary peace.
4. USA fabricated the reason of attack on naval ship in gulf of Tonkin.
5. USA droped almost 2 million tons of bomb in Laos which is almost equal to 2.1 million tons bomb which were droped in world war 2.
6. According to population , Laos is the most heavily bomb country.
7. The deployment in the army in north Vietnam in period of 1961-1964 increase from 850,000 to 1,0000,000.
8. To avoid US air power, Viet Cong dug hundred of miles of underground tunnels ,which had nicknamed tunnel rats ,it Includes hospital, training camp, storage,barakes.
9. This tunnels had traps such as hand grenades, anti personal mine, sharp u turns with poision gas .
10. The first US soldier die in Vietnam war was James Davis in 1961.
11. Napalm girl photot of Vietnam war win Pulitzer prize. 

Photos of Vietnam war:

My lai massacre

Us troops in Vietnam jungle

After the naphtha were spred Vietnam jungle

Napalm girl 

Tunnel dig Vietnam jungle

Shimla Convention and McMahon line

After Anglo-Burma war, when Assam became a part of British, the British had a lot of conflicts with the tribes because of tea plantation activities.

Resolve these conflicts, the British decided to resolve this issue by creating inner-line and outer-line permit system. As per the system, the British would carry out trade within the region of inner-line areas while outer-line areas will remain out of bounds for the British and would be for tribals.

In 1911, a British officer Noel Williamson happened to cross the banks of river Dihang and entered into the area occupied by Abor tribe. This led Abor tribe to hit back to Williamson and the Abors massacred the entire team. The British decided to retaliate and with a larger objective in mind, the British crossed over into outer-line areas and decided to forestall the Chinese presence and conclude the boundary with China. 

                 Anglo abor war 1911

The Williamson episode let the British to resolve the boundary issue with China. What also motivated the British to resolve the bounty issue once and for all is the fall of Qing dynasty in 1911-12. The collapse of Qing dynasties also led to a mutiny in Tibet and Tibetans revolted against the Ambans. This led to collapse of the Ambans and Dalai Lama returned back to Lhasa in 1912. The British now got the right opportunity to keep Chinese and Russian route of Tibet and make both a truly autonomous buffer state point the right opportunity came because of 

1. Easy access to outer-line areas due to Williamsom episode,
2.  Fall of Qing dynasty led to a weak Central government in Peking, 
3.  the Ambans got crushed due to a mutiny in Tibet.

The British played their cards. In 1912, the British minister in Peking short of a letter to Peking, He asserted that China is interfering in Tibet and this is a violation of Lhasa convention 1906. He asserted that Chinese suzerainty is recognised by British (over Tibet) but that does not entitle the Chinese to interfere in Tibet. He asserted that China has violated Lhasa convention so should now come for fresh negotiation.

All this was just a game played by the British. Their ultimate aim was to take advantage of a weak Chinese Central government and convince China to go for a fresh round of negotiations. The Chinese agreed to it and decided to go for talks. It is in this context that on 23 May 1913, the British invited China, Dalai Lama for 3-party talks and decided to hold a conference on 13 October 1913 in Shimla point the British Foreign Secretary Sir Arthur Henry McMahon as the chairman of the conference.

Simla Convention

In 1913, the Simla Conference began. The British were represented by McMahan, China by their representative Ivan Chen and Tibetan representative was Lonchen Shatra. The moment the conference vegan, China protest unveiled the British plan. the Tibet been given an equal status but to no avail.

                  Boundries of Tibet in 1914

The McMahon plan was:

1. India will get Tawang region.
2. Tibet will be divided into outer Tibet (Red line) and inner Tibet (Blue line).
3. Outer Tibet to have a boundary with India and our have a with India and outer Tibet to have Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan delegation led by Lanchen Shatra urged the British to keep Tibetan states in red-line area as they were and also if Tso Karpo and Tsari Sarpa (two sacred agreed to i Tibet became autonomous. Ivan Chen refused to accept the division of Tibet. China did not Sien this Shimla Convention. The British concluded the Shimla convention 1914 bilaterally with Lanchen Shatra.The British did not publish the Shimla Convention of 1914 till 1937. This was done to ensure Russia does not become angry with the British for not engaging with Russia over the birth. The British published the similar convention in 1937 and now use the McMahon Line to show the border.

The Shimla Convention and maintained Tawang cannot be a part of India as it is a part of South but the British however continued to assert that McMahon Line would be the boundary in the East according to Chinese. Thus, neither the boundary in the Western Sector could be fixed and nor the boundary in East could be fixed that was mutually acceptable to both British and China. The fixing and re-fixing of the boundaries that happened during British times was done to suit their interests. Aksai Chin was shown as a part of China in Johnson Line, but it is rejected the same point the McCartney McDonald Line which in 1899 showed Aksai Chin within China but most of the pre-partition maps of British marked Aksai Chin as undefined territory. The British maintained that the Eastern boundary is the MacMohan Line and left the Western and Middle sectors undefined.

        Disputed area over indo china border

Afganistan Pakistan :Domination over Durand line

The Afghanistan and Pakistan relation have been strained since 1947. The reason is the perception over the Durand Line. The British established it in 1893, which Afghanistan has refused to accept as the border. In September 1947 due to its rejection of the Durand Line Afghanistan even opposed the entry of Pakistan to the United Nations. Afghanistan rejected the line as it believed that the British imposed the line.

 In 1947, not only Afghanistan wanted to undo the line but they also wanted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pashtunistan or KP region) and Balochistan as part Afghanistan, both of which were forcibly incorporated by Pakistan. Though Pakistan accepts the Durand Line as the border, Afghanistan has rejected it, making Pakistan insecure as it feels that Afghanistan can resort design to seek the territory back one day. For long, Pakistan has aimed to make Durand Line as the border and make Afghanistan accept the same, but Pakistan has met constant failure to do so, even with no success when Taliban (which was created by Pakistan) remained in power from 1996 to 2001. 

Since 2001, Pakistan has followed a two-point strategy. Firstly, it favours a weak and not a strong government in Afghanistan. The Pakistani assumption is that such a weak government Afghanistan can never resort to a revanchist design against Pakistan and seek Khyber Pakhtun or Baluchistan bark for Afghanistan. Secondly, Pakistan does not favour a strong India-Afghanistan relation as it fears that a strong Afghanistan and India relationship will encourage Afghanistan to resort to a revanchist design again. This is why Pakistan maintains a strategic depth against India in Afghanistan. 

While trying to achieve the two stated objectives, Pakistan has committed many blunders. During the Cold War, they perceived Afghans as Soviet stooges and insufficient Muslims for their deflection towards Soviets. Today,Pakistan perceives them as Indian stooges. As the state of Pakistan has never looked at Afghanistan as land of ethnic Afghan people, it has generated tremendous hatred among the local Afghans against Pakistan. Pakistan still hopes to achieve a pro-Pakistan government in Afghanistan as such a government is a guarantee against the revanchist designs, keeps India away from Afghanistan and also provides a fertile ground for Pakistan to channelise their madrassa products to train them for Jihad.

Pakistan has followed a policy of arming and supporting dissidents in Afghanistan who are opposed to the West-sponsored democratic government in Afghanistan since 2001. As Pakistan has understood, over a period of time, that they cannot forcibly bring Taliban (Pakistan trump card) into Afghanistan, they have adopted the tactic of bringing Taliban as a political player in the future of Afghanistan.

     Zalmay khalilzad after Taliban deal in doha

The recent troop withdrawal by the US in Afghanistan announced by Trump and negotiations with Taliban led by Zalmay Khalilzad is an attempt by Pakistan to politically accommodate Taliban in Afghanistan after the US leaves Afghanistan.  ( US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar sign a peace agreement in doha) But Pakistan fails to understand that even if Taliban comes to power again in Afghanistan, it will be a threat to Pakistan itself, as it will try to impose its own version of Islam , which will threaten Pakistan, as Pakistan does not have a strong Islamic identity. Also, Taliban is to reassert the demand for Pashtunistan, which will be the nemesis for Pakistan. If Taliban come it will only lead to Talibanisation of Pakistan, which will not only be detrimental for its own future, dental its own future, but will also reverse the strategic depth policy Pakistan practices. 

At one place Pakistan itself is a revanchist state that wants territorial boundaries in Kashmir. On the other hand, it is itself a victim of a larger revanchist design by Afghanistan where it may lose a substantial territory. This is a conundrum that Pakistan will continue to face in its future. Pakistan is unable to learn from history that no one can subjugate the afghans. The British (after The Great Game), the USSR (during the Cold War) and the US (in its Global War on Terror- realised that Afghanistan was their twenty-first century Vietnam) have learnt, minus Pakistan, which still hopes that a pro-Pakistan government in Afghanistan will toe line to Pakistan. This s nothing but a unreality.

Also read the talk and fight stretegy of Taliban

Kautilya's Arthashastra in 1948 and 1962 war

We know how Kautilya's Arthashastra was used by Chandragupta Maurya to defeat Nanda and also to stop the advancement of Alexander, leading to the formation of a united India. Kautilya has explained state priorities and economic conditions and has propounded that the power of the state rests on seven Prakriti, and if any one of the seven Prakriti is weak the state is fragile. We need to understand the contemporary security environment by applying his theories. 

According to the political theories of Max Weber, a state could be said to succeed in it maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within its borders. When this is broken (for instance, through the dominant presence of warlords, paramilitary groups, or terrorism), the very existence of the state becomes dubious, and the state becomes a failed state. 

Political scholar Queenie Hanlon says that states are of three categories-weak, failing, and failed. Hanlon says that half of this world is in the fragile category today and it is that which leads to instability conflict and war which provide conditions for terrorism, militias, and crime in the twenty-first century. Fund for Peace Fragile States Index underlines the democratic character of state institutions in order to determine its level of failure.

Kautilya's Arthashastra in 1948 War

An application of Kautilya's ideas in the 1948 Indo-Pak war explains the relevance of terrain, weather conditions, and strategy as important dimensions. In August 1947, British rule in India came to an end. The state of Jammu and Kashmir was not clear. In October 1947, Pakistan, through tribal Pathans, began to invade Kashmir. Sensing a security threat, Hari Singh, Maharaja of Kashmir, acceded to India by signing an Instrument of Accession. The conflict between India and Pakistan on Kashmir ended on 1 January 1949 with an agreed ceasefire. The ceasefire created a Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) region. 

The Indian Army could have marched ahead in the POK zone to drive out Pakistan, but the hostile climate and Pakistani guerrilla tactics prevented India from taking these measures. Kautilya clarifies that a state should not go and fight in an area that has a territory that is ungovernable. The inhospitable terrain of POK and its hostile climate made India land up in a situation where it could not, finally, capture POK. The logistics kept India back while poor military infrastructure compounded upon it to complicate issues. 

The two concepts of Kautilya, Bhumisandhi (not entering in the territory which is ungovernable) and Vyasana (a state needs to take precautions and ensure logistics before the war), were both missing.

Kautilya's Arthashastra in 1962 War

In the case of the 1962 conflict with China, which ultimately concluded in a ceasefire in Arunachal, the Chinese had indeed reached the foothills but retreated because the people of Arunachal did not support China and from the Bhumisandhi point of view, China refrained from getting into the business of capturing land (Arunachal) which was deemed ungovernable.

Watch Kautilya Biography(studyiq)

Khalistan Referendum 2020

The campaign of the Khalistan Referendum 2020 is a brainchild of ISI of Pakistan. The man behind this ist Col Shahid Mehmood Malhi. In the ISI, he is known as Chaudhary Sahib. He is a part of the Lahore detachment of ISI based in Lahore for Punjab-specific activities. He was born in Wapda, Lahore, Pakistan.

Shahid Mehmood Malhi has service number PA 35043 in the Pakistani army. On 13 October 1995, he was commissioned into the Pakistani army in the 25th regiment of the Baloch Regiment in the Pakistan army.

On 10 August 2012, he joined the ISI, and the same day he was promoted to the rank of Lt Col in the army and appointed as the station officer of the Lahore detachment. The Khalistan plan is called by the ISI as Operation Express.

Major Danish of the ISI of Pakistan, on a covert mission, posted as an undercover diplomat in Pakistani mission to London, was involved in orchestrating the Khalistan protest in London in 2018. He is constantly tailed by the R&AW in London.

The attempt of R&AW is to retaliate against Pakistan for Khalistan. The strategy of R&AW is called engineered subversion and hybrid war. There are three areas R&AW counters Pakistan at the hybrid-war level by engineering deep subversive strategy. The R&AW reminds Pakistan that any aggressive act of Pakistan against the Indian side can lead to the vivisection of three areas-Pashtun regions, the Sindh region, and Balochistan, as prospective steps to an Akhand Bharat.

Cuban Missile Crisis

America and Spain fought a war in 1898. Since the war, Cuba had been under American control. At the onset of the Cold War, America had a proxy in Cuba called Fulgencio Batista, who was gradually growing unpopular. There were a lot of American businesses in Cuba that flourished. Taking advantage of the weakened rule of Batista, Fidel Castro, on 26 July 1953, led an attack on the Moncada army barracks. He was imprisoned for this assault.

                          Moncada barracks

 By the time he was released, Batista's rule dwindled as it faced financial bankruptcy. Thus, there was a vacuum to be filled. Castro undertook this successfully. One thing to be kept in mind was that Cuba, at the time of the power transition, did not witness a civil war. As Castro strengthened his rule, he initiated the program of nationalisation of property owned by the US business houses. Castro gave the logic of sovereignty and nationalism to justify his move. The US retaliated by closing down its markets for import of sugarcane from Cuba. A lot of Cubans were affected due to this. Some even left Cuba for the US to settle in Florida. As the economy of Cuba got badly hit, Castro domestically fuelled nationalism and internationally requested help from Russia. Perceiving this, the then US President Kennedy gave the task of solving Cuban menace to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The CIA drew up a plan of using Cuban exiles in Florida to be airdropped on Cuban beaches (Bay of Pigs). The idea was that exiles would be dropped on the beaches and as per the plan they would intermingle with the Cuban population to create unrest for Castro.

The basic assumption was that CIA thought that Castro did not enjoy popular support of the Cuban neople, The plan was executed. The exiled Cubans were dropped in Bay of Pigs. Within a span of three lars the local Cubans overpowered them. The exiled Cubans requested help from CIA. The US did not help them as they were not prepared for something like this. Observing the matter thus up Nikita Khrushchev decided to defend the small range missiles in Cuba, since this would not only defend Cuba but also ensure his presence in Cuba, which would be at a proximate destination to launch attacks on the US on the East Coast. The CIA got photographic evidence of sites of Russians creating missile-launching sites in Cuba after which the US ordered quarantine and a blockade for incoming Russian ships and began to scan for nukes. Russia, in the meanwhile, backed out. 

              Missile launching sites in Cuba

Diplomatically, a huge nuclear crisis was averted. The Russian aim seems to have been to teach the US how it feels to have missiles near them (recollect the US had stationed Jupiter and Thor in Turkey,Uk and Italy). The issue concluded by the acceptance of the US not to militarily invade Cuba and the subsequent removal of its missiles from Turkey. Both the USSR and US realised how quickly a small issue like Cuba could have escalated conflicts. They took a step towards disarmament namely, the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty.