Thread: Was Nehru's Forward Policy responsible for 1962 military rout?

Nehru’s Forward Policy had 3 directives. The most important one was the 3rd directive which mandated that the forward posts be supported by force concentration & logistics. Kindly read it here.

However leadership at Army HQ in its wisdom concealed the 3rd essential directive from field formations, despite knowing that there were no rear bases to support forward posts. Army HQ kept on directing to establish new posts after sending probing patrols. Read HQ communication

Here is the categorical finding in Henderson Brooks-Bhagat Report about Army HQ missing the 3rd important directive of force concentration & logistic support and asking filed formations to implement forward policy was militarily unsound.

Leadership at Indian Army HQ got established 60 posts stretching from DBO to Demchok which were manned by just platoon or section strength of troops without any support arms like MMG, Mortars, artillery or armoured vehicles. Consequences of unsound military plan.

Unsound military directives led to untenable position ensuring defeat in any case. Read the situation report here.

Army HQ was of the belief that PLA would not attack or react for establishing these posts, despite by Western Command HQ cautioning that any probing patrols or establishing forward posts would attract violent reaction by PLA. Events leading to war. Don't you see similarities?

Even as late as August, 1962 Western HQ sought to stop forward policy until force concentration was made. Western HQ sought a Division consisting of 4 brigades to defend Ladakh but all it got was 1 Brigade consisting of a Battalion & 2 militia units spread over 300 km frontier.

Army HQ’s decision to establish numerous forward posts with just a platoon/section strength of troops, dispersed the meager force & HQ Garrisons had become no more than admin bases. 4 Corps in Eastern Command used just 6 weak infantry companies out of 16 battalions.

Nehru's forward policy was not responsible for military debacle but decisions taken by military leadership

Every Indian should read the Henderson Brooks Bhagat Report, which was a closely guarded secret & leaked in 2012. Only Part I is available here. http://www.indiandefencereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/TopSecretdocuments2.pdf