“Force Fungibility”: Indian troops in Afghanistan

Posted on 26 December 2009.

Force fungibility: “Indian troops in Afghanistan will shift battleground away from Kashmir and Indian Mainland”.

There are renewed calls by Delhi to allow it to send troops to Afghanistan. Kabul bombing: Ruse to send Indian troops to Afghansitan? Rupee News has already written about this and discussed it in-depth. Afghanistan: Why was India attacked in Kabul? The troops would be Osama Bin Laden’s dream come true, but an unmitigated disaster for Afghanistan and the region. Pakhtuns to India: Get out of Afghanistan . Bharat troops in Afghanistan would be there for one reason, and one reason alone—send more mercenaries to Pakistan and try to put pressure on it. One doesn’t need a Harvard degree to push this ancient concept. Here is Sarwarkar saying the same thing in 1940.

Mr. Joshi’s current revanchist article is nothing but a regurgitation of the Fascist Hindust irredentism of the worst bigot on the planet–Mr. Hardiyal.

Here is an excerpt from the 1940′s where Mr. Hardayal is calling for “Akhand Bharat”–a country from Kabul, to Nepal to Indonesia (Bali has a few Hindus) and everything in between (Thailand and Cambodia have a few Hindus too).

The Pratap of Lahore. In this statement, which he called his political testament, Lala Hardayal said:

“I declare that the future of the Hindu race, of Hindustan and of the Punjab, rests on these four pillars:

(1) Hindu Sangathan [Ethnic cleansing of all Non-Hindus---as described by divine revelation]

(2) Hindu Raj, [Hindu rule]

(3) Shuddhi of Moslems, [Conversion of Muslims to Hindusim] and

(4) Conquest and Shuddhi of Afghanistan and the Frontiers. [Conversion of Muslims to Hindusim]

So long as the Hindu nation does not accomplish these four things, the safely of our children and great-grandchildren will be ever in danger, and the safety of the Hindu race will be impossible. The Hindu race has but one history, and its institutions are homogeneous. But the Musalmans and Christians are far removed from the confines of Hindustan, for their religions are alien and they love Persian, Arab and European institutions. Thus, just as one removes foreign matter from the eye, Shuddhi must be made of these two religions. Afghanistan and the hilly regions of the frontier were formerly part of India, but are at present under the domination of Islam. . . .

“Just as there is Hindu religion in Nepal, so there must be Hindu institutions in Afghanistan and the frontier territory; otherwise it is useless to win Swaraj. For mountain tribes are always warlike and hungry. If they become our enemies, the age of Nadirshah and Zamanshah will begin anew. At present English officers are protecting the frontiers; but it cannot always be. . . .If Hindus want to protect themselves, they must conquer Afghanistan and the frontiers and convert all the mountain tribes.” Excerpted from Dr. Ambedkar’s book “Pakistan”

Mr. Bharat Verma an (Indian Defense Jounal analyst), is the Chief proponent of this “Force Fungibility”. It is this RSS-BJP fascist theology that is the core of Mr. Joshi’s article–an ideology that is akin to Hitler’s Nazi philosophy of taking over all “German” states. In this case, Mr. Hardayal and Mr. Joshi want’s to recapture all states that used to “Hindu” (whatever that means) at one time or another.

The game doesn’t end in Afghanistan–Delhi wants to control Central Asia and challenge Russia, Europe and China. The temporary love affair with the US is just a fling.

A significant Indian military presence in Afghanistan will alter the geo-strategic landscape in the extended neighborhood by expanding India’s power projection in Central Asia. India has historically had a friendly relationship with both Iran and Russia. With Iran, India can also ride on the goodwill created by Zaranj-Delaram highway, which has provided a road link between Afghanistan and Iran. These nations could well be more amenable to an Indian military presence than they have been to the United States and its NATO allies in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani state will be denied the strategic depth it seeks by installing a favorable dispensation in Afghanistan. The Pakistani establishment will be compelled to divert its energies from their eastern to their northern borders. Loud protests can be anticipated from Pakistan against India’s active military involvement in the region, but the involvement of the United States will restrict Pakistani antipathy to voluble complaints. US officials have, moreover, long been frustrated at what they view as Pakistan’s failure to do enough to combat militants along its border with Afghanistan.

An Indian military involvement in Afghanistan will shift the battleground away from Kashmir and the Indian mainland. Targeting the jihadi base will be a huge boost for India’s anti-terrorist operations, especially in Kashmir, both militarily and psychologically.

Until the time Islamic fundamentalist forces are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, India’s battle to contain terrorism in Kashmir will always be a defensive one. This is because ISI and other jihadist forces across the border have the ability to calibrate the level of terrorism in India. India can counter this effectively only if it has the capacity to strategically ratchet up pressure either of Pakistan’s fronts. 6 Aug 2008, Indian presence essential in Afghanistan, A substantial Indian military presence in Afghanistan bodes well for India in many aspects, Sushant K Singh writes for Pragati. By Sushant K. Singh for Pragati

The undeniable defeat of NATO, President Obama’s promise to withdraw from Afghanistan, and an exit strategy from Kabul has made Delhi Analyst’s jittery. What started as a whispering campaign has now reached panic proportions. The Indians forsee an unmitigated disaster for this plans of “Akhand Bharat“. This has started a chorus of Indian writers asking for Indian military intervention in Afghanistan. This would be in addition to the 4000 Indians who are already present in Afghanistan. This map shows the four Indian Consulates spreading violence in Pakistan. Additionally there are 13 “Information Centers”. All this for a few dozen visas!

Shashank Joshi, a self-styled expert on Afghanistan has written a column in the Op/Ed section of the Guardian espousing and begging for a more active role for India in Afghanistan. http://rupeenews.com/2008/07/08/pakhtuns-to-india-get-out-of-afghanistan/

“Shashank Joshi is a doctoral student of international relations at the Department of Government, Harvard University. He writes about international security, military affairs, and Indian foreign policy. He has worked for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Moscow, Citigroup in New York, and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London”.

Which goes to show–how a good education can be wasted. It is the likes of Mr. Joshi that have taken the Americans for a ride, and landed NATO into the mess called Afghanistan. Mr. Joshi recovering from his hallucinations at the local temple proposes the monographs– because Kabulis like Bollywood movies, therefore they will accept Bharati soldiers shooting at them. This convoluted logic should get his doctoral thesis canceled, and his money refunded. Certainly Harvard cannot afford to have its name rented out to irredentist, RsS-BJP-Fascist “Hinduists” like Mr. Joshi. The “Akhand Bharati’s” (those who aspire for a super state from Kabul to Indonesia) revanchism has to be repudiated by sane logic, realities on the ground and irrefutable facts. War drums in the Gulf, Hindu Kush & the Khyber Pass

RAWs trail of terror: Indian Bomb blasts in Pakistan

Pak to US: Stop supporting BLA, Taliban terrorists in Pakistan

The aftermath of the Kabul Embassy bombs-profound changes in Indian policy

Winston Churchill said it best:

“India is as much a country as the equator”

This still holds true–only more so.

Bollywood porn can go only so far. Its song and dance can please the puppets in Kabul for a couple of hours–but the reality of Afghanistan is that 80% of Afghanistan owned by the 38 anti-occupation forces (mislabeled “Taliban”)–not NATO or ISAF. This is an irreversible fact. The 800,000 corrupt and inefficient Bharati troops cannot even control Kashmir, or the Naxals,or Assam–what are they going to do in Afghanistan?

Yet more than 1,000 members of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police are deployed in Afghanistan. President Obama’s affirmation to withdraw US forces by 2011 has generated a prospective vacuum, inducing Pakistan to renew its support for the Taliban. This has produced loudening, though still marginal, Indian voices in favour of more boots on the ground.

Mr. Joshi quotes Mr. Amir Taheri, the mouthpiece of the Neoconns that were rejected by the American people in the last elecitons. The American electorate threw the Neocon Right wing “conquer-the-world-for-America” creeps tot he dustbin of history. Mr. Taheri speaks from the dimster, and Mr. Joshi quotes him. I guess the new KKK lets in annybody.

Amir Taheri, writing in The Times, suggests that a military commitment is “surprisingly popular in India”. One former diplomat argues that “influential sections of Indian opinion are stridently calling for an outright Indian intervention in Afghanistan without awaiting the niceties of an American invitation letter”.

Force fungibility is the real intention of Bharati day dreamers like Bharat Verma and others. “India” is an illusion–and has never been a country since time immemorial. The BJP defines its boundaries from Kabul to “Raj Kalahani” a mythical land East of Bali–Indonesia.

The editor of the “realist” journal Pragati writes that “military involvement … will shift the battleground away from Kashmir and the Indian mainland”. An affiliated blog draws on the idea of “force fungibility” to argue that “since it is not feasible for Indian troops to directly attack Pakistan’s military-jihadi complex, India should ensure that US troops do so” by “reliev[ing them] of duties in areas where they are not actually fighting the Taliban – especially in western and northern Afghanistan”. The Guardian. Shashank Joshi, guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 December 2009 10.00 GMT

The Bharati troops in Afghanistan will act as a magnet for militants from across the globe. If Delhi thinks that its bad in Kashmir now–wait till the kettle boils and the insurgents proclaim that the prophesied “Gaza e Hind” has begun. Bharat already has problems within its borders. With 150 million incensed Muslims within its boundaries and millions of angry Pakhtuns and Uzbeks, the situation would reach Armageddon proportions.

Mr. Joshi is simply repeating his temple indoctrination—many other fanatic Afghanphobes throughout history have raised the same specter. A “harvard” veneer does not hide the fascist ideas–and what Hindu leaders think of the Afghans.

Here is a quote by Lala Lajpat Rai in “Muslim Leaders ”. Lala Lajpat Rai wrote to C.R. Das (in 1924):

“……….I am not afraid of seven crores (of Muslims) of Hindusthan but I think the seven crores of Hindusthan plus the Armed hordes of Central Asia, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and Turkey will be irresistible.”

While Mr. Joshi claims that Delhi has good relations with the Afghans, he is proud of the British forces that went to invade, occupy and colonize them—during the British Raj. Fortunately the Afghans defeated Lord Curzon’s plans and he had to withdraw “back to the Oxus”. Amazingly Mr. Joshi speaks from both sides of his mouth. One the one had he claims that Bharat has great influence in Afghanistan, and on the other hand he supports the puppet Mr. Karzai, a slef professed Taliaban who was educated in India, but lived in Quetta supporting the Taliban—he was nominated to become the “Taliabn’s” ambassador to the UN. After 9/11 he changed his plans–and his tune. Mr. Joshi also fails to mention that Delhi has been on the wrong side of history–it sided with the USSR for about half a century, voting against the USA 95% of the time in the UN, and supporting the USSR’s invasion of Hungry and Afghanistan. Delhi was also against the US battles in Vietnam and Korea. Today this love affair with America is not based on any principles–it is based on lust for outsourcing.

Mr. Joshi takes the call center to a new level—Afghans will not allow Bharati soldiers on its sacred soil—if Delhi sends soldiers “for training”–they will return in body bags. Nothing will galvanize the Afghan more than watching the builders of Somnath worshipping the same idols on Afghan soil.

Mahmud of Ghazni once said “I am an idol brekaer–not an idol worshipper”. He was offered a lot of gold and treasures not to destroy the Somnath temple–but he turned all this down to strike at the temple. Ahmed Shah Abdali went down to conquer Delhi and took the Koh e Noor and the peacock throne back with him.

Babur the founder of the Mughal Empire in South Asia lies buried in Kabul. Now Mr. Joshi, with his Harvard education seems to be telling the world–that Delhi has had good relations with Afghanistan. The Khyber pass is a one way street–the invaders come down to Delhi–Delhi has never been able to send any forces the other way around.

Of course Mr. Joshi is not the only crackpot out there. There are others, which he actually quotes.

India has the capacity to equip, station and supply several divisions of its troops in Afghanistan. Many Afghan political leaders—from President Hamid Karzai to the Northern Alliance—are highly likely to welcome India’s decision. Neighbouring countries, including Iran and Tajikistan, will support an Indian military presence in Afghanistan provided their interests are taken into account. And not least, the United States will welcome it—for even if Indian troops do not eventually deploy, the very possibility of their deployment will change Washington’s bargaining terms with Kayani & Company.

In fact, ensuring that the United States stays committed to the objectives outlined by President Barack Obama is ultimately in India’s interests—for the US cannot succeed in that mission unless it transforms the Pakistani state. Now, it can be argued that the US will pack up and leave if the situation gets too hairy, but if India doesn’t do anything to keep the US focused, such arguments are gratuitous, sanctimonious and ultimately, self-fulfilling.

The real options are to do nothing, and allow the United States and Pakistan to work out a solution and hope that the outcome of that bargaining will secure India’s interests. Or to eschew both pusillanimity and grandstanding and indirectly crush the Pakistani military-jihadi complex. As for popularity, it’s a question of timing. If the Indian government had announced that “we will go to Afghanistan” on November 28th, 2008, few would have raised their hands in objection. For that reason, it is imperative that India’s military planners develop and have on the ready a comprehensive, well-thought out policy option involving the stationing of Indian troops in Afghanistan. Acron. National Interests. Why India should send troops to Afghanistan

There is a real sense of panic in Delhi. They don’t know what to do. 40% of the land mass of current day Bharat (aka India) is controlled by the Naxal-Maoists. Wracked by insurrection in as many states as are listed in the constitution, there are more than 89 raging insurgencies in the “country”. The Seven Sisters of Assam are in open revolt with authority over them. It takes half the Bharati (aka India) Army to control and keep Kashmir occupied.

Unable to unify the country, the Bharati analysist want to blame someone–Muslims are good target.

Looking at some of the reasons why the jihad in Jammu and Kashmir acquired such intensity in 1990, the author suggests that the answers lie in the transfiguration of the strategic environment in South Asia by the nuclear weapons programme of India and Pakistan. As such, the book argues, the violent conflict which exploded in these two regions after 1990 was not a historical discontinuity: it was, instead, an escalated form of what was by then a five-decade old secret war. Praveen Swami [Cambridge University Press/Foundation Books]

14 Bharati "Consulates" are RAW terror centers spreading sabotage across the border in Pakistan. ‘Increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India.’ (Gen Stanley McChrystal). Central Asia Tajikistan Pakistan: RAW trail of terror from Tajik bases to Indian Consulates in Afghanistan to targets in Pakistan. "They (the Indians) have to justify their interest. They do not share a border with Afghanistan, whereas we do. So the level of engagement has to be commensurate with that," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in an extensive interview with The Los Angeles Times, when asked about India's building up its commercial and political presence in Afghanistan.

Then in September 2009, General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force, suggested in a leaked assessment of the war that “while Indian activities largely benefit the Afghan people, increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani countermeasures in Afghanistan or India”. The scarcely veiled threat of further bloodbaths such as Mumbai prompted renewed anger in the Indian media.

India has responded cautiously. Indian defence minister AK Antony insisted “categorically … there is no question of Indian military involvement in Afghanistan … not now, not in the future”. A former head of India’s foreign intelligence service has said that “sending troops … is not an option”.

There are sound and perhaps compelling reasons for this reticence. There remain bitter memories of the 1,200 deaths suffered by an Indian peacekeeping force in Sri Lanka, and although Indian security forces have six decades of counterinsurgency experience, they face multiple intensifying guerilla wars at home from Maoists and separatists. Moreover, India’s coalition politics, featuring local parties with parochial interests, is hardly suited to sustaining ambitious foreign policies. The Guardian. Shashank Joshi, guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 December 2009 10.00 GMT

This map shows the much heralded link between Zaranj to Delaram. The short Indian built road will link up to the “ring road” which goes around Pakistan.

: Zarang Delaram Road links the Afghan “ring road” to Kabul

The plan is simple, relive the US forces and make them available to kill the insurgents–while India would take care of the menial jobs. Send a few troops ostensibly to help NATO and to protect the 4000 Indians who are there, then keep sending troops to protect the troops. British “Charge of the Light Brigade” in Afghanistan AGAIN: Unfortunately the lessons of the unmitigated disaster of “Auckland’s Folly”, (First Anglo-Afghan War 1838–42) have not been taught to the Oxbridge students.

There is a precedent for this–Sri Lanka. The Indian troops were attacked by the Sri Lankans. The suicide bombing against Rajiv Gandhi killed the Indian Prime Minister and New Delhi lost its stomach for adventurism on the island paradise. Right now there is much bravado in the Indian circles about staying the course and protecting the investment in Kabul. However much of the investment is in terms establishing an Indian presence in West Asia and expanding it to Central Asia. The lessons of history are lost on the Indian hawks. Britain’s unnecessary wars in 1879-1939-2001

The next few mongths will be seminal in deciding the course of Indian foreign policy. Will India be following Cruzon’s “On to the Oxus policy” or will it learn its lessons and follow Curzon’s nuanced back to New Delhi policy.

This map shows the Afghan road network hooked up to the Iranian port of Chahbahar. The port is being built by India and competes with the Pakistani port of Gwader.

More than 75% of the population lives under Two Dollar a day–at the starvation line. Half the population of Delhi, Mumbia, Benaras, Kolkota, Lucknow, Hyderabad are procreate on, are born on, survive on, sleep on, and die on the sidewalks—the cities have institutionalized this disgrace by charging rents from the “renters”. Bollywood is too ashamed to film in the “country” and stages all its outdoor scenery in Dubai and other foreign countries.

The caste infested penury stricken poverty can be first smelled and then clearly seen, as soon as you step outside the plane in Mumbai–where adults are defecating on the outside in plain view–at the airport itself–it only gets worse as you go to Gharibabad–the largest slum on the planet–which is just garbage heaps. “Slumdog” showed only the best parts.

This sorry excuse of a country ruled by 30 families which are responsible for one third of the growth has the gall to go out and waste $1.2 Billion in Afghanistan. the much heralded 150 km Zarjang-Dialram “Mad Max road” is not pliable–it is controlled by the “Taliban”. All major bridges have been broken up. Iran will not allow Bharat through Chahbahar after Delhi stabbed Tehran at the IAEA and launched Iran specific satellites for Israel. This wastage of money is beyond comprehension–and understood by only those who pay $3 billion for rust buckets from Russia.

India has sponsored terror in Lanka, China, Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, and in Pakistan. Its Tamil sponsored LTTE was recently defeated in Lanka. The Indian sponsored TTP is on the run. The RAW is active in Xinjiang and Tibet. The Nepalese Maoists accuse of trying to take over Nepal. Even though Nepal is Hindu they don’t want Delhi’s interference. The Maldives also face Indian terror.

The current episode over Talangana defines how fragile the situation in–”Bharat (aka India) is. The only question that needs to be discussed is–whether it will explode like Yugoslavia or implode like the USSR.

The Bharati diplomats (actually RAW agents) should be packinng their bags–as the Americans leave, they will not longer welcome in Kabul. After the fall of the last Soviet puppet in Kabul–the Bharatis left within 24 hours–thrown out for a decade. The same fate awaits them in 2011.