Defence Analyst Captain (Retd.) Bharat Verma on Wednesday reacted sharply to reports of Chinese troops intruding into Arunachal Pradesh last week and staying for a few days, saying Beijing will, in collusion with Islamabad, repeat '1962' in the near future on an enlarged scale.
Captain (Retd.) Verma said the intrusion by the Chinese 30 kilometers inside Arunachal Pradesh just goes to prove that they will continue to keep all these borders alive and sensitive.
"Before this, they had intruded into Sikkim also. Now, Sikkim is already a settled issue with China. China has accepted that. ....In Arunachal Pradesh, it is being said by the Defence Minister, and I am now told, even by the Army and the General Officer Commanding, that there is a problem of delineation on the map," Captain (Retd.) Verma told Asian News International (ANI) here.
"Now, if there is a perception problem of delineation, it can be for one kilometer, two kilometers or three kilometers this way or that way. It cannot be 30 kilometers inside Arunachal Pradesh. It is not possible," he added.
Captain (Retd.) Verma wants India to act tough and give a befitting reply to China in the wake of the recent incidents.
"And, this is happening because we are not responding to the Chinese, we should assert ourselves and respond physically on ground to send a very clear message. But the message we have sent to China is that you come and sit inside 19 kilometers inside Depsang for three weeks and I will roll out the carpet in Delhi for your Prime Minister," said Captain (Retd.) Verma.
"That's a very weak message we are sending, and these activities will increase, and these activities should not be seen in isolation," he added.
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Captain (Retd.) Verma also pointed out that the Pakistan border has come alive at the same time.
"Look at the Pakistan border. .....The Pakistan border has come alive. There are ceasefire violations everyday to infiltrate people inside India. So, the situation is extremely grave security wise for India where both the borders are now alive, active. And militarily we are not sufficiently prepared, politically we are not prepared at all," he said.
In his article 'The Chinese Game Plan' to be published in the forthcoming issue of Indian Defence Review, Captain (Retd.) Verma says the Chinese game plan in the final phase is to repeat a much larger version of "1962" by imposing a two-front war on India once the Western forces are out of Afghanistan.
"Many in the Indian military, the government and a few analysts erroneously believe that China will opt for a limited attack in Ladakh," he adds.
Captain (Retd.) Verma says, "In what may be termed as a repeat of 1962, the China-Pakistan combine will impose war on India at a time of their choosing which may be sooner than one can imagine".
"China will go for the jugular by landing its airborne divisions and choking the 200-km long Siliguri Corridor that is merely 38 km to 60 km wide. On one side, we have Nepal, which is now almost a colony of China. On the other side, Bhutan is under pressure from Beijing to toe its line. This implies that the entire North-East region may be cut off from the Indian mainland," says Captain (Retd.) Verma.
"Apart from this region adding to flank protection as far as Tibet is concerned, China will gain direct access to Bangladesh and easier access to Myanmar," he adds.
The defence analyst further says, "Simultaneously, Pakistan will attack the Western front to unhook Jammu and Kashmir from India after creating sufficient internal turmoil to soften the target. China has always supported and will readily accept Jammu and Kashmir to be part of Pakistan. In the event of Pakistani success, China can hive off large chunks of territory in Ladakh to suit its strategic interests."
"The key advantage to China will be securing the flanks of alternative supply route from Gwaddar to Xingjian Province. This two-front war will also guarantee China's position as the undisputed leader in Asia substantially reducing the pre-eminence of the USA," he adds.
Captain (Retd.) Verma says that in order to deter the China-Pakistan combine from inflicting war, India will need to rapidly equip its Army and the Air Force with deep offensive capabilities and phenomenal maneuverability even as it builds up a blue-water navy.
"Indian intelligence agencies should gear up to support separatist forces inside Tibet and Pakistan. In addition, Indian foreign policy must decisively leverage the influence of democracies in Asia and the West, particularly the USA," says Captain (Retd.) Verma.
"The coming years will witness the territorial integrity of the nation coming under severe stress due to threats posed by the Great Chinese Game," he adds.
According to reports, the Chinese troops intruded into Arunachal Pradesh last week and stayed for a few days, in a repeat of the standoff at Depsang in Ladakh four months ago.
Chinese troops entered eastern Arunachal Pradesh's Chaglagam area and stayed put for three to four days before going back.
The latest incursion has emerged as India sent a strong message to China on Tuesday with a C-130J Super Hercules transport plane landing at an airstrip in Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the site of the April India-China stand-off.