When the war was over, both sides were claiming victory in their countries. I believe that both India and Pakistan can learn a lot from the Kargil episode.
1.The military lesson that India needs to learn and has probably learnt is that in the last 30 years they have over estimated their military strenth. Sonia Gandhi stated in her address that the Indian casualties in the war were over 1500. 1500 casualties against 600 poorly armed starving intruders is pathetic performence within itself not to mention the loss of 2 fighter planes one attack helicopter and destruction of an ammunition dump. India also had airpower at its disposal something that infilterators did not. Had it not been for Clintons intervention which lead to Nawaz Sharif's withdrawl, Indian casualties in the next few weeks would have been over 2500 without any significant land gains.
My politics professor is a military analyst. He said in our class that if 600 muslims can take on the 4th greatest military power in the world, and give them such a thrashing in such a short period of time without air power at their disposal, then if there was an all out war between India and Pakistan, India would be down on its knees in 2 weeks. My politics Professor is not even a muslim or pakistani, he is American.
2. While Kargil was a military victory for Pakistan, not much was gained politically from it. Pakistan was accused for "intruding" and causing unnecessary blood shed and that gave Indians the chance to portray themselves as "victims" on global level. The good thing for Pakistan is that they did not use that chance very well.
While Kargil Episode showed India and the rest of the world how incompetent Indian military is, it also showed Pakistan that there are severe problems with Pakistans political organization. Nothing can be achieved through military unless traitors withing the nation are dealt with. Pakistan has removed Nawaz Sharif which shows that it has realized the problem. What Indians will do to deal with their military incompetence is yet to be seen.
1.The military lesson that India needs to learn and has probably learnt is that in the last 30 years they have over estimated their military strenth. Sonia Gandhi stated in her address that the Indian casualties in the war were over 1500. 1500 casualties against 600 poorly armed starving intruders is pathetic performence within itself not to mention the loss of 2 fighter planes one attack helicopter and destruction of an ammunition dump. India also had airpower at its disposal something that infilterators did not. Had it not been for Clintons intervention which lead to Nawaz Sharif's withdrawl, Indian casualties in the next few weeks would have been over 2500 without any significant land gains.
My politics professor is a military analyst. He said in our class that if 600 muslims can take on the 4th greatest military power in the world, and give them such a thrashing in such a short period of time without air power at their disposal, then if there was an all out war between India and Pakistan, India would be down on its knees in 2 weeks. My politics Professor is not even a muslim or pakistani, he is American.
2. While Kargil was a military victory for Pakistan, not much was gained politically from it. Pakistan was accused for "intruding" and causing unnecessary blood shed and that gave Indians the chance to portray themselves as "victims" on global level. The good thing for Pakistan is that they did not use that chance very well.
While Kargil Episode showed India and the rest of the world how incompetent Indian military is, it also showed Pakistan that there are severe problems with Pakistans political organization. Nothing can be achieved through military unless traitors withing the nation are dealt with. Pakistan has removed Nawaz Sharif which shows that it has realized the problem. What Indians will do to deal with their military incompetence is yet to be seen.
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