'It was political, not a military debacle', Eastern Army head reiterates India's tract over Indo-China War of 1962

New Delhi, August 28: "The Indo-China War of 1962 was not a military debacle but a political debacle. All Army units fought well and did their task", reiterated the Head of the Eastern Army Command Lieutenant General MM Naravane on Wednesday while addressing the pals of Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata.

 

"If we say that China is coming into the grey zone 100 times, then we have gone in the grey zone 200 times. So, let us not think it is one-way. I am sure in their war room they are also complaining that we have done this so many times", he said.

 

 

When asked about China and the 1962 conflict with them, Lieutenant General MM Naravane asserted that the Indian Army is no longer the Army of 1962. "If China says don't repeat history, India will also have to remind them of the same thing. We are no longer the Army of 1962", he firmly stated .

 

Further clarifying on the 1962 war he said that he doesn't consider the loss as a black mark on the Army and armed forces. He added that India has learnt its lessons on what went wrong and have been trying over the years to bridge that capability gap.

 

"I do not see 1962 as a black mark on the Army and armed forces. We have learnt our lessons and what went wrong. Over the years, we have been trying to bridge that capability gap. It is not easy to overcome those gaps in a short time frame as we also have budgetary constraints", Lieutenant Naravane said.

 

Speaking on the current scenario with China, he asserted that India has come a long way and China now realises that. He added that in the Doklam standoff, China was caught unprepared. "We have come a long way and China especially realises that. In fact, China was caught unprepared in the Doklam standoff", he signed off.