During the First Indo—Pak War of 1947, many important battles were fought in Kashmir, which has become part of Indian military folklore. Amongst these, the Battles of Zojila hold pride of place. Our breakthrough at Zojila ensured the security of Ladakh which was gravely threatened by the hostiles at that time. During this period of armed conflict with Pakistan, some heroic battles were fought. In defensive operations, the garrisons of Skardu and Punch withstood long sieges against very heavy odds and a much larger enemy force. Their performance could do proud of any army. Of the offensive actions launched by the Indian forces, the breakthrough at Zojila would probably rank amongst the three most important battles of the J&K Operations. The author has covered the account of the battles with due authentication and interviews with people who were part of the operations.

If the Indian Air Force had not put our troops airlifted in the early hours of 27th October, 1947 from Delhi on the ground at Srinagar which was menacingly threatened by Pakistan forces, the history and map of India might well have been quite different. In those momentous hours the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, in a heroic joint operation, began to roll back the blatant aggression of Pakistani military and save Jammu & Kashmir from the marauders. Independent India’s first war started with no other means available to assist the beleaguered local forces; and Indian Army troops were moved by air under grave emergency conditions from Delhi to stem the enemy’s advance. From this point started the saga of the an almost forgotten war: the first and the longest war independent India was forced to fight, and where the fledgling air force, emaciated by partition, and preoccupied with relief and rescue operations following massive riots and demographic movements played a crucial role in India’s defence. Indian Air Force continued to play a vital role during that most incredible war; and this book chronicles the history of its role, where all the bits and pieces have been brought together by the painstaking persistence of the author to share the glorious record of the Indian Air Force. The men in blue, knowing the challenges of an aggressive military, the weather and terrain of high altitude, and the difficulties of supplying our troops, working closely with the army knew that it executed one of most brilliant military campaigns in its history under the most daunting circumstances — feats that it has continued to repeat ever since then. But time and again the air force moved troops into critical battles and provided extensive combat support in uncharted areas to turn the tide. Within the IAF; the deeds of pilots, engineers, technicians and other personnel during that war became legend and inspired succeeding generations. But little has been written or known in and outside the service about how our inheritance was shaped by so few. This volume tells the story for the first time, painstakingly put together from extensive research and interviews by the author.

Autobiographical reminiscences of an Indian Army officer.

Ladakh, for centuries, has been a land of mystery for the people of many ethnicities. Notwithstanding a rich historical background, Ladakh today is a vastland with its own unique culture and traditions. Known by many names like the Land of Lamas, Moon land, Land of High Winds, Cold Desert and the like; Ladakh is truly the Nature's workshop, studio and art gallery all rolled in one. This book is dedicated by the author to Rigzin Namgyal Kalon, the man who did wonders for the development of the Ladakh region. Ladakh and many generations to follow would always be grateful to him and all that he did for this region and the people, irrespective of their place, caste, creed or religion. For Ladakh, with all its glory and splendid isolation; the twentieth century has been a period of great trials and tribulations, crisis and opportunities; and in the final analysis a number of downs and many moreups. The region has flourished but is still not clearly out of the woods. The author with his personal experience in the region has brought out these facets of the region in great details.

The 1999 conflict between India and Pakistan near the town of Kargil in contested Kashmir was the first military clash between two nuclear-armed powers since the 1969 Sino-Soviet war. Kargil was a landmark event not because of its duration or casualties, but because it contained a very real risk of nuclear escalation. Until the Kargil conflict, academic and policy debates over nuclear deterrence and proliferation occurred largely on the theoretical level. This deep analysis of the conflict offers scholars and policymakers a rare account of how nuclear-armed states interact during military crisis. Written by analysts from India, Pakistan, and the United States, this unique book draws extensively on primary sources, including unprecedented access to Indian, Pakistani, and U.S. government officials and military officers who were actively involved in the conflict. This is the first rigorous and objective account of the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Kargil conflict.

'A great book on leadership and institution-building' Subroto Bagchi 'A must-read' General V. P. Malik ‘A culture-building toolkit for CEOs and CXOs’ J. Suresh ‘An essential read for leaders and visionaries’ Radhika Ghai Organizations are known to invest huge sums of money and substantial resources to design elaborate business strategies. Why then do these well-laid plans so frequently run aground? How come leaders find themselves struggling to motivate their rank and file despite offering generous monetary compensations? What makes it so difficult to build loyal, unified teams that are willing to put their company’s success above all else? According to Neeraj Bali, an Indian Army veteran turned executive performance coach, the root of these persisting problems is the lack of a robust company culture. Drawing from his vast military experience as well as interviews with members of the Army fraternity, Bali provides an easy-to-use culture-building toolkit for all those at the helm of teams big and small. Through powerful anecdotes from the battlefield – the Kashmir Valley, the Sri Lankan civil war, the insurgency in Assam, among others – he shows us how fine strategies are crafted and applied, the gravest of crises thoughtfully navigated, how team members strive to perform better and eagerly support one another, ultimately gaining overarching victories, all by way of a cohesive underlying culture. Such examples are then distilled into intelligent blueprints to help leaders build their own durable culture – the ultimate fount of high performance, effective collaboration and success. A power-packed compendium of tried and tested guidelines, The Winning Culture is the perfect handbook for leaders looking to revolutionize organizational culture and lead their teams to guaranteed wins.

Starting with a recollection of Indo-Pak relations since 1947 and Indian foreignpolicy towards Pakistan, the book includes a chapter on Kashmir Problem since itsbeginning to present day to clarify the historical background of the Kargil War.This is followed by a Chronological presentation of events in the Operation Vijaysince its beginning on May 6. Further contents of the book include chapters on 1965War, 1971 War, The Voice of Editors, Vox Populi, Views and Interviews (Letters tothe Editors), Life in Kargil, The two most important chapters in this work are TheOperation Vijay (the kargil war) and A Saga of Patriotism (the Martyrs of kargil).

An authoritative, fresh, and vividly written account of the Kashmir conflict—from 1947 to the present The India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir is one of the world’s incendiary conflicts. Since 1990, at least 60,000 people have been killed—insurgents, civilians, and military and police personnel. In 2019, the conflict entered a dangerous new phase. India’s Hindu nationalist government, under Narendra Modi, repealed Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomous status and divided it into two territories subject to New Delhi’s direct rule. The drastic move was accompanied by mass arrests and lengthy suspension of mobile and internet services. In this definitive account, Sumantra Bose examines the conflict in Kashmir from its origins to the present volatile juncture. He explores the global context of the current situation, including China’s growing role, as well as the human tragedy of the people caught in the bitter dispute. Drawing on three decades of field experience in Kashmir, Bose asks whether a compromise settlement is still possible given the ascendancy of Hindu nationalism in India and the complex geopolitical context.