主题：【整理】对印度北方陆军司令：乔希中将 采访实录 -- 海木耳

Nitin: So, what are the other Gogra, Hot-springs. What is the issue there?

Lt Gen Joshi: The issue is that, you know, this is also the area where the sort of initial face-offs happened. The troops there are not in contact but we want to sort of in those areas also go back to our respective permanent posts [Right] and so that will not take much time I don’t think so and that will get resolved in earlier time frame Yeah.

Nitin: So let’s look at some of the lessons of operation snow leopard.

Lt Gen Joshi: So snow leopard is continuing [Yes] it is not finished and we are compiling our lessons but the the one thing which stands out very clearly that we need to renew our focus to our northern borders and when I say that you know in terms of capability development [Right] and capability development two things one is infra and second is the deterrence, you know, and action is in hand, you know, at, in in in both these respects we have to infra. Lots has happened and lots, you know, is now happening to ensure that, you know, we have the requisite infrastructure here so that the forces are able to mobilize in the given time and with regard to capability development, you know, rebalancing has already been ordered by the army headquarters and that will now happen [sure] and plus of course there are some minor tactical lessons and so many others which will continue to compile and obviously push that.

Nitin: But, in terms of tactical lessons or you know of how the speed of response has really surprised not just the Chinese but people in the world over. The face-off that you effected immediately. There are lessons or maybe there are advantages what has changed, you know, over these years? Logistics and otherwise.

Lt Gen Joshi: Yeah. Lots have changed, you know, once the intent of the PLA, you know, we were to discern. Initially we were surprised when sort of they broke all the agreements and came with large strength and all that but the moment the intent was clear you know the entire juggernaut of the Indian armed forces, you know, got moving got mobilized, where the C-17s the strategic lift, you know, totally focused what is in the Ladakh and we had the Chinooks coming in for tactical lift to, you know, bring troops into the areas that were required. We had the BRO working day and night to ensure that both the access are kept open, you know, for a longer period than even during the snowfall that was happening. We had a lot of local support, you know, in Ladakh and we were able to hire a lot local machinery the JCBs and, you know, vehicles lightweight etc. so the entire system, you know, it was the whole nation approach and we airlifted, you know, thousands of tons of, you know, tanks and APCs and troops, you know, [and food and] everything relating, and so, you know, that is how sort of…

Nitin: That’s a great lesson.

Lt Gen Joshi: Absolutely a great lesson, and like I said the renewed focus to our northern borders we need to [gives confidence]. Absolutely.

Nitin: So, final question. What’s the roadmap now I mean in terms of agreements since 1993 they have all been broken if you really see [Yeah] and so I mean as a whole of nation approach of course there will be other discussions that will happen at the higher level. As an army commander, what would you like to happen on this LAC?

Lt Gen Joshi: Yeah. So, I would like clarification of the LAC, you know, that’s that’s the end result what we are looking at but given the present situation once the disengagement happens we have the flag meeting we discuss the other friction areas, resolve those and then we will sit down, you know, at a higher level, at the diplomatic level, and look at new protocols. Now since the Chinese the PLA had sort of broken all the earlier we have multiple agreements, you know, which were signed to ensure that the status quo on the LAC remains which they have broken so we will have to look at new protocols [Correct] and past that, you know, like I said, we have to look at the clarification of the LAC only then sort of we will have some kind of peace on the LAC.

Nitin: Great. Thank you very much, Joshi, for your time and such great insights and congratulations for what you have done.

Lt Gen Joshi: Thank you very much.