Source: ET
India has twice made exceptions of not appointing the senior-most lieutenant general for the covet post of chief of army staff in 33 years. This time, the Modi government superseded two lieutenant generals – Praveen Bakshi and Mohamed Ali Hariz – to elevate Bipin Rawat as army commander-in-chief. To overcome a political firestorm, the government released a list of his achievement, thus undermining the duo further. For example, the general has commanded troops in the Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir while carrying out operation in India’s restive north-eastern region. So from the very outset, Rawat enters the scene with a controversy. As much as the appointment is political in India’s peculiar context, it explains a bit more about Delhi’s ensuing defence and foreign policy. In an interview on January 4, Rawat raised a new conflagration in strategic community of India and elsewhere by officially blowing up the lid over the “Cold Start” doctrine. Though it didn’t come as a surprise to Pakistan, it was largely believed to be a concept or one of the plans.
Cold Start doctrine has been India’s biggest liability since the day it was first pronounced. Delhi has repeatedly accused Pakistan of terrorism from Mumbai, Pathankot to Uri but was devoid of requisite military readiness as well as political will to deliver what the doctrine assured. Along the way, Pakistan has significantly upgraded its defence preparedness from inter-service coordination to refinement of doctrines and battlefield management.
Being ex army person related to this field I can only caution Indian decision makers not to play with fire. Pakistanis are exceptional people and when need arises miracles happen from them. So think one million times to test this doctrine on Pakistan.