‘Immediate firing is allowed on Pakistan’s border’: says former Indian Army Chief
New Delhi – Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Nirwane has revealed that Indian military commanders on the Pakistan border have more operational freedom than those deployed against China.
He said that troops on Pakistan’s border can respond to immediate firing in certain situations, while the Chinese front follows different rules of engagement.
The retired army chief drew a clear distinction between India’s two most sensitive borders, a distinction he described as the threat posed by terrorism from Pakistan. “Pakistan and China are completely different situations,” Nirwane said, noting that commanders on the ground are empowered to act within their mandates, but that conditions on Pakistan’s border often allow for an immediate armed response.
The remarks added fresh fuel to the already heated debate surrounding Naravane’s unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, parts of which have sparked political controversy in India over its handling of the 2020 Galvan Valley crisis with China.
During the deadly Galwan encounter, military commanders were operating under strict guidelines on the use of force, according to excerpts published by The Caravan. Asked directly about reports that troops were ordered not to fire without approval, Nirwane declined to comment, saying the manuscript was under review by the Defense Ministry.
The former army chief’s comments come as opposition leader Rahul Gandhi continues to question the government’s handling of the China border standoff, arguing that the memo’s revelations raise uncomfortable questions about decision-making during one of the worst military crises in recent Indian history. The government has rejected these allegations.
Naravane, however, strongly defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial claim after the Galwan clash that India had not lost any territory. He said that I repeat that no area was lost. What the Prime Minister said was absolutely correct.
2020 A clash in the Galwan Valley kills 20 Indian soldiers and plunges ties between Asia’s two superpowers to their lowest level in decades. Nirwane attributed the conflict to differing perceptions of the border rather than a loss of territory, while acknowledging that China’s intentions are difficult to discern.
“Understanding China is not easy,” he said, calling for deeper strategic and academic research into Beijing’s goals and long-term ambitions.
Blocked by Pakistan, Air India looks to China’s military command for a lifeline.
The post ‘Immediate firing is allowed on Pakistan’s border’: Former Indian Army Chief says appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
Stay updated with the latest alerts on this story:
View Original Coverage
