'Next Kargil could happen in the Andamans'

[kurup]

Panaji: India's next Kargil could happen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash has said.

"There is a real threat that poachers, smugglers, narcotics traffickers or terrorist groups could occupy some of the uninhabited islands and create a Kargil-like situation," Adm. Arun Prakash said Sunday on the concluding day of a two-day workshop on the security of India's coastline and its islands organised by the Federation of Integrated National Security, an RSS-backed NGO on security affairs.

India was engaged in a bitter border conflict with Pakistan after its troops had occupied the Kargil heights in Jammu and Kashmir in 1999.

Adm. Arun Prakash said that the cluster of 573 Bay of Bengal islands threw up security challenges due to their unique location, being closer to Southeast Asia than peninsular India.

"They could become objects of desire for any country which harbours ambition of dominating the Bay of Bengal," he said at the workshop at Calangute, 15 km from here.

The strategic location of the Andamans made them so coveted that even when the British had decided to grant independence to India in 1947, the Royal Navy wanted to retain the islands so that they could dominate the Malacca Straits, Adm. Arun Prakash said.

"No sooner had this request been declined by the British government that (Mohammad Ali) Jinnah demanded them for Pakistan since they lay on the sea route joining the two wings of the country (Pakistan). Nehru had to make strenuous efforts to dissuade (then viceroy Louis) Mountbatten from taking this decision," he said.

"Another threat arose during the 1965 war (with Pakistan), when (Indonesian president) Soekarno ordered his navy to occupy some of the southern islands as a show of solidarity with Pakistan. Fortunately the war ended before anything could happen," Adm. Arun Prakash said.

`Next Kargil could happen in the Andamans`

 

[jarves]

Our airforce doesnt have the hedache of not crossing LOC unlike the Kargil war.
And Indian navy rules in Indian ocean.

 

[Excelias]

Though we are more than competent to take care of this concerned threat,I would really like to see IN emerge as one of the two larger arms in our military.Indian ocean is the key to dominance in global stage as a large bulk of world trade passes through it.If we become a developed country I would like to see some Indian bases in SEA.

 

[SQ8]

What exactly do the Andamans hold that Pakistan will mount some suicidal mission to go after it. Methinks the Adm has gone senile.

 

[kaykay]

What exactly do the Andamans hold that Pakistan will mount some suicidal mission to go after it. Methinks the Adm has gone senile.

sir jee probably you didn't understood his statement.
"There is a real threat that poachers, smugglers, narcotics traffickers or terrorist groups could occupy some of the
uninhabited islands and create a Kargil-like situation,"

 

[GURU DUTT]

What exactly do the Andamans hold that Pakistan will mount some suicidal mission to go after it. Methinks the Adm has gone senile.

well who said pakistan would go there but since its on the mouth of malakka starits and so holds great strategick value who knows chinese troops disguised and pirates could run over it cause till infdians have command there (air , ground and naval forces) it will be immpossible for china to accert its domination in indian ocean .. no hard feeling towards chinese members though

 

[Aarush]

These Islands have strategic importance for india and safeguard india's interest as well gives approach to indian ocean from east. india's look east policy is very important here. we have many friendly countries in that region so conventional threat is less but yes we need to be gear up for unconventional threats. however the threat from china can not be ruled out but we are working in right direction to counter this. for non conventional threat like arm smuggling, terrorism, natural resource, we need to develop the region, need to build good infrastructure over there. Andaman has vast potential of attract the tourists from all over the world and i am sure Goverment understand the sensitivity of these islands.

 

[danish_vij]

What exactly do the Andamans hold that Pakistan will mount some suicidal mission to go after it. Methinks the Adm has gone senile.

the article never mentioned pakistan will repeat a kargil like situation

 

[acetophenol]

What exactly do the Andamans hold that Pakistan will mount some suicidal mission to go after it. Methinks the Adm has gone senile.

" Kargil like situation" doesn't neccesarily mean Pakistan occupying Andaman Nicobar islands,it could mean any foreign party,most probably pirates/drug traffickers/criminals etc etc.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

" Kargil like situation" doesn't neccesarily mean Pakistan occupying Andaman Nicobar islands,it could mean any foreign party,most probably pirates/drug traffickers/criminals etc etc.

...anybody attacking and occupying and then getting owned by the Indian Armed Forces.

Yeah just like Kargil. Possible.

 

[Robinhood Pandey]

Wow! What a comeback. Did you manage to write it on your own. Or did you ask for an expert's help?

I can smell something burning here. HMMMM! Burnt indian curry.
LOL.

Or may be you are smelling the burning cinema hall brought down by the talibans in the north western pakistan this morning !!
Now stop trolling and stay on the topic

On Topic- by kargil like situation he meant a similar insurgency and occupation by the unwanted people !!

 

[Zarrar Alvi]

Or may be you are smelling the burning cinema hall brought down by the talibans in the north western pakistan this morning !!
Now stop trolling and stay on the topic

or maybe indian army truck bombed by Naxals

 

[Mav3rick]

...anybody attacking and occupying and then getting owned by the Indian Armed Forces.

Yeah just like Kargil. Possible.

Owned so much so that the mighty India had to run to, Pakistan's paternal uncle, the US to beg them to force Pakistan away from Kargil, threatening the world of Nuclear engagements!! Owned so much so that 35000 Indian Soldiers backed by 10 Squadrons of IAF were unable to retake all the peaks held by roughly 5000 Men (Soldiers + Mujahideen) for over 6 months until the Pakistanis were ordered to retreat! Owned so much so that all this happened while PAF & PA never had to bother with supplies or support!! Owned so much so that neither IAF nor the IA dared to cross a single inch of the border!!! Owned so much so that even today Pakistan holds one of the most strategic posts!!!

Yeah, Pakistan really got owned!!

 

[Aarush]

or maybe indian army truck bombed by Naxals

done?? can we move now...

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Owned so much so that the mighty India had to run to, Pakistan's paternal uncle, the US to beg them to force Pakistan away from Kargil, threatening the world of Nuclear engagements!! Owned so much so that 35000 Indian Soldiers backed by 10 Squadrons of IAF were unable to retake all the peaks held by roughly 5000 Men (Soldiers + Mujahideen) for over 6 months until the Pakistanis were ordered to retreat! Owned so much so that all this happened while PAF & PA never had to bother with supplies or support!! Owned so much so that neither IAF nor the IA dared to cross a single inch of the border!!! Owned so much so that even today Pakistan holds one of the most strategic posts!!!

Yeah, Pakistan really got owned!!

I sincerely wish you a hundred more such 'victories'.