‘India will get Veto power by 2020 and then we will show China its place’

A conversation on the banks of Pangong Lake, 150kms from Leh, with a group of troopers posted on Actual Line of Control in Chushul sector of Ladakh



Can we go and see Chinese posts?

Trooper 1: Yes, we can take you but then if seniors come to know, they will stop you and send you back and reprimand us. What is the need?

When Doklam crisis was going on…?

Trooper 1: As you know sir what happened on 15th of August, it happened on the other end of this Lake. They had come 3km inside. They were around 25-26 people and ours were just 10-12 people. They smashed heads of our few men. They have Veto power. We don’t have Veto power, so we cannot use weapons. Then our people pushed a few of them into water. Then around 30 to 33 vehicles came in from their side and our men also went there. But then things cooled down.

Trooper2: They have also moved away from Doklam as well. Officers from both sides meet after every 15 days to raise concerns against each other. Like they ask why are we constructing this or issues like that.

Where are you from…?

They were from different states of north India (names and other details held as they spoke off the record)…This is a good season to come here. From next month weather will get worse.

What does Chinese military say and how do they communicate?
Trooper 1: If they are at fault they will say language problem, ‘No English, No English.’ They are not army, I have heard they are from some party in China…And they have to serve for five years necessarily. They can only get a job after serving here for five years.

Trooper 2: Every household has to sent people for five years in army and here, only then they can get the job, otherwise they cannot get the job.

Trooper 3: If this policy is implemented in India, our country will progress hugely

What is the difference between the two armies?

Trooper 4: They have the facility of vehicles installed with heaters. They remain connected on phone till the last point from their side. But from our side there is no communication network. They come in vehicles in which they have communication systems. We have to climb mountains to reach to that place.

Trooper 3:They have sort of white roads and you will not come to know it is a concrete road. We don’t know what is that road made of.

What else was going on here in last few months?

Trooper 1: We had made a platform on a mountain to unfurl flag on August 15 this year, they raise the issue with New Delhi questioning the construction they had spotted some 14kms away. They forced us to stop immediately. They didn’t allow us to construct anything.

How do your officers commute?

Trooper 1: Seniors officers like DIG rank visit here in helicopters.

Meanwhile a helicopter hovers around.

Is this Chinese helicopter?

Trooper 1: No, no this is ours?

Do Chinese helicopters come here?

Trooper 1 and 2: Their helicopters just come to border. When the situation was hot, I think in July or August, a Chinese fighter jet hovered over the Pangong Lake on our side. They raise objection even if we go anywhere near their border. Our nation is sleeping.

How can you see or describe Chinese army?

Trooper 1, 2 AND 3: They are not physically strong. They are small in height. But they have facilities. For example, where ever there is any altercation they come in their vehicles, there is a verbal brawl or scuffle for sometime and then they will go back into vehicles to warm themselves up and then they come back to restart the argument again. But we are there in the biting cold all the time.

Trooper 1:Have you come in car or bike?

We came in a car.

Trooper 1: You did the right thing. These mad people come here on bikes. You should go to Manali from here.

Where are you from?

Srinagar

Climate is very nice here?

Trooper1: There was snowfall here few days earlier.

Are you here in winters also?

Trooper 1: Yes, it is our duty

Do Chinese cross over in winters as well?

Trooper 2: Yes they come. We have to meet them at least three times a month.

Trooper 3: And when they intrude, we have to go out from here as well and it is so taxing.

Do you get good food here?

Trooper 1: We get good food: Now vegetables will stop as winters are arriving and we will get pulses mostly. But, we don’t feel hungry here in this climate. We just eat two Rotis and Dal. This time weather is fine, but in winters Oxygen level further decreases. All greenery will die.

Trooper 3: This guy survives on one glass of Dal (pointing at another colleague)

How many days will you have to serve here?

Trooper 1: At least three months here on border and three years in Ladakh. I am here for seven months now.

Do you get leaves?

Trooper 3: Yes we get leaves. (Another jet flies)

Trooper 4: This is for patrolling in the area

Trooper 1: This is not the actual Three Idiot point. They are fooling and looting people here. It is a few kms ahead, where the last scene of the film was shot. You should go there.

We have heard that Chinese come inside the border many a time every year? Why do you think they dare to do it all the time?

Trooper 1 and 4: Yes, they come inside, because they don’t accept this as a border. Like, India accepts a certain position as border but they don’t. They come and install a rock somewhere and then we go and throw it away. They come again and do it again and we repeat the same.

You are not authorized to use weapons or react more vociferously?

Trooper 2: Sir, you have to understand that only they can open fire as they have Veto power like America, Russia, Japan and other countries. Like, Pakistan is doing so much, why are we not able to react aggressively. May be we will get this Veto power by 2020, then nobody can do anything. Even China cannot do anything

Trooper 1: Then we can even manufacture weapons of our choice. This is why Pakistan also wants India to go for war right now.

But there is always intense exchange of words and even fire between India and Pakistan but approach is very different with China, why do you think so?

Trooper 1: Sir, Yahi to Majboori Hogayi? Pakistan Ko Tou Hum Ek Raat Main Masal Dein Ge. Kya Hai. But if we start war with China and open fire first, India has to pay all the expenses even from their side as well. We have to pay for Chinese losses as well. It will be very costly affair for India. See how much weaponry and human cost India has to bear from both sides as China has Veto power.

Trooper 4: Also, to fight a war here is not easy. Saans Phool Jaye Paidal Chalne Main? Bhagne Ki Tou Baat Hi Nahi? Kahan Se Hogi Ladai? Mar War Jaye Ga… China B***C*** Gaadi Se Ajaye Ga Aur Hum Paidal Chal Rahe Hain…Saare Dher Ho Jayein Ge…

Trooper 1: Bhai this war will not be fought by humans as was the case in earlier days. Today this is the fight between fighters (jets and missles). Weapons will reach here from Delhi in four minutes, but we have to be cautious and not get caught in those four minutes.

Trooper 2: China is fighting with 13 countries right now. Kahan Kahan fight Kare Ga? Sab Peel Denge Oues Ko.

Trooper 3: America wants that there should be war so that it can sell weapons to everybody. America bahut teez hai. Sala America Ne Pakistan Ko Bol Ke Rakha Hai, Isi Liye Who Ungli Karta Rehta Hai. They are just selling its weapons to all.


Trooper 3: What is the rent of vehicle your boarded?

We paid Rs 8000, but during peak tourist season they charge around Rs 12,000.

Trooper 4: You will go back after a few days, but we have to stay back.

Have you ever punched anybody from the other side?

Trooper 1: I was here when that August 15 thing happened. They are scared. They won’t fight physically one on one. One day one of our man slipped from a hill in Thakum area and came down rolling, but some how managed to stand up easily once he landed. Chinese noticed this and got worried thinking that we have posted some new commandos here, which they were unaware of. Then they later were enquiring what force are these commandos from.

In a separate incident, one of their officers probably came in around 100 meters. Intentionally or unintentionally, we don’t know. But, we got hold of him and thrashed him very badly. But we deleted the recording and took away chip from the camera installed on his body and then pushed him back. We deleted the recordings, otherwise it would have been a huge issue. We thrashed him so bad, I remember. This happened before August. All problems happen in Thakum. They also come in boat sometimes, because it is located on the banks of this lake.

Why have to come on this side of Lake?

Trooper 1: We have come here as communication set up is installed here. We talk to family members. Few of us are unmarried, and two guys are getting married in a few months. We take turns to talk to our family members for few days.

Trooper 2: There is another regiment here, but they don’t mix with us. They are mostly tribals and live happily among themselves. They just need rice and eggs in all the meals.

All the Troopers: Please meet us if you come here again.