SOURCE: AFI
In a forthcoming book, retired Army Chief General NC Vij has leveled serious criticisms at India’s intelligence agencies for their failure to anticipate the 1999 Kargil War. The book, titled “Alone in the Ring,” offers a candid account of the conflict and its aftermath.
General Vij, who served as the Director-General of Military Operations during the Kargil War, asserts that intelligence agencies were gravely mistaken in assessing the situation leading up to the conflict. He highlights two critical failures: the inability to detect Pakistan’s large-scale procurement of winter warfare equipment and the erroneous assessment that a war with Pakistan was unlikely.
The former Army chief emphasizes that the surprise element was a significant advantage for Pakistan, catching India off guard. Due to intelligence lapses, the Indian Army was slow to react to the initial intrusions, and it was initially unclear if the infiltrators were militants or regular Pakistani troops.
General Vij also points to the lack of adequate surveillance equipment as a contributing factor. The harsh terrain and extreme weather conditions of the Kargil sector made surveillance operations particularly challenging.
The book is set to be released ahead of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26. It is anticipated to generate significant interest and debate as it delves into the critical lessons learned from the war.