BOOK REVIEWPresenter: Flt Lt Pallavi Dhanvijay

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Editor: Air Commodore Jasjit Singh

AVSM, VrC, VM, IAF (retd)  (July 8, 1934 – August 4, 2013) Leading strategic thinkers Awarded the Vir Chakra for displaying

gallantry in the India-Pakistan war of 1971. Director of Institute for Defence Studies

and Analyses (IDSA) from 1987-2001 Founder of Centre for Air Power Studies

(CAPS) In 2006, was conferred Padma Bhushan,

for his contributions in strategic thought.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

Contributors Jasjit Singh- the director of Institute for

defence studies and analyses (IDSA) Tara Kartha – research Fellow at IDSA Gurmeet Kanwal- Senior fellow at IDSA D N Ganesh- Jt Dir Air HQ Kapil Kak- Dy Dir at IDSA

ABOUT THE BOOK © The Institute For Defence Studies And

Analyses Place of publication: New Delhi Published by: Knowledge World, New Delhi Date of Publication: Oct 99 No of pages: 331

MAIN THEME This book attempts to place the Kargil war, in

the context of the earlier attempts by Pakistan to take Kashmir by force.

Covers core aspects that combined to culminate in the Kargil war & an account of the why & how of the war.

The book has been divided into 9 chapters with post scripts, chronology with appendices & index

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

Pakistan launched its 4th war for Kashmir in 1999 has fought a total of 5 wars with India:1. 1947-48 War2. 1965 War3. 1971 War4. The Covert War (since1980s & which cont)5. Kargil War in 1999

• war in 1971 was not for taking Kashmir

SUMMARY

• The authors take us systematically to understand the basics of why and how of the Kargil war through the chapters

1. The Kashmir issue

2. The Army in Pakistan

3. BATTLE FOR SIACHEN: BEGINNING OF THE THIRD WAR

4. Mujahideen and the convert war

5. The fourth war

6. Pakistan’s military defeat

7. Indian air force in action

8. International responses

9. Beyond Kargil

EVALUATION & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

EVALUATION & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Detailed analysis of the kargil war, its why and how. Book achieves its goal in a very scientific manner Style of writing is: to the point, factual without any

floral words. The fonts, pages, maps : easy to read, understand. Chronology section: value addition. Unique: written in a very early phase (4 months)

and by experts in the fields.

EVALUATION & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Many facts &information that it makes the reader think

Indian in outlook and judgment. The editor's confident judgment that

"if India can beat a professional military force equipped with modern firepower, on the ground and at a time of Pakistan's choice, with the initiative also in its hands, with strategic and tactical surprise almost complete, then India can beat Pakistan anytime, anywhere” makes us ponder.

MY TAKE ON THE BOOK

• scientifically sound• I would surely recommend this book to all the

defence personnel who want to know about Kargil war

Thank you !!!