General V P Malik says the former prime minister never questioned military operations as long as the forces followed the doctrine of using minimum force and did not violate human rights. After the Kargil war, he was quite concerned about the increase in cross border infiltration, firing from both sides along the LoC, and the large number of terrorists’ incidents in J&K, says Malik

General V P Malik, who was the chief of the Indian Army during the Kargil war, says former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee believed that the ultimate solution of Kashmir problem lay in winning the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri people. He tells Ajay Sura that Vajpayee never questioned military operations as long as the forces followed the doctrine of using minimum force and did not violate human rights. 

As a soldier, how was it dealing with a poet prime minister in the time of war?

Vajpayee was a political pundit and a poet. The poet in him was liberal who transcended standard norms and procedures. As a politician, he was completely a public, peoples’ persona. He would thus adopt humanistic and peoples’ approach sans the usual boundaries and procedures. Also, he stayed away from micro-management. Such an approach is useful in political aims and objectives. We must remember that in a conflict situation or war, people are the core concern on both sides. It was easy to follow his political mind and guidance and have the freedom to frame our military strategy and operational norms. 

Do you think Vajpayee’s approach towards Kashmir, especially three principles of Insaaniyat (humanism), Jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (spirit of Kashmir), was appropriate to deal with the crisis?

Vajpayee believed the ultimate solution to Kashmir and its complete integration in India lay in winning the hearts and minds of Kashmiri people. To him, this aspect was more important than any of constitutional or legal boundaries. Insaaniyat, Jamhuriat and Kashmiriyat defined his approach-poetical and pragmatic- on Kashmir imbroglio. 

How do you see the response of Vajpayee to the Kargil crisis?

Pakistan’s Kargil intrusion in May 1999, so soon after Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore, came as a big surprise. But no one was surprised as much as Vajpayee himself. However, when he was convinced of Pakistan’s perfidy, he showed determination in our military reaction. On May 24, 1999, after my briefing of the cabinet committee on security (CCS), he declared that the ‘new situation was not infiltration but a move to occupy Indian territory. All steps will be taken to clear the Kargil area’. Later, he rang up Nawaz Sharif and told him that ‘we will not allow any intrusion to take place and we shall clear our territory with force.’ In pursuing peace as well as war, Vajpayee showed great sincerity and determination.

Was he pro-active to the army’s needs and requirements?

Defence planning and forces’ needs and requirements are a direct responsibility of the Defence Minister and not the Prime Minister. He was humanistic, and compassionate; always concerned about battle casualties, welfare and morale of troops. During Kargil war, he visited soldiers in forward areas as well as those lying wounded in our hospitals. When serious deficiencies in our weapons, ammunition and equipment were brought to his notice, he gave orders for urgent procurements and also lifted the ban on the Swedish company which made Bofors guns and other defence equipment. However, I do feel that as Prime Minister and head of the CCS, he should have monitored our defence plans and its execution more closely.

Do you think the handling of Kashmir crisis by Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was template for India’s defence?

The external and internal security of J & K is an important security objective in our defence and security policies. After the Kargil war, he was quite concerned about the increase in cross-border infiltration, firing from both sides along the LoC, and the large number of terrorists’ incidents in J&K. Gradually, through Track 1 and 2 dialogues, in December 2003 he succeeded in making Pakistan agree to cease fire along the LoC and AGPL.

In January 2004, he made Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf declare that Pakistan territory, including Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, will not be used for any cross-border activities by its militant groups.

On counter terrorism operations within J&K, his message of Insaaniyat, Jamhuriat and Kashmiriyat defined his political approach and guidelines to political, civil and military establishments. Unified Command was organised during that period. Vajpayee never questioned military operations so long as we followed the doctrine of using minimum force and did not violate human rights.