Dehradun, Aug. 26 -- The mention by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat of the 'military option', should negotiations and political arrangements fail between India and China on the LAC in Ladakh, is a statement of resolve rather than of intent. Even if it is India's intention to settle the issue through military means, it would not be publicly announced beforehand. As such, it is just a reminder for the negotiators of both the countries regarding the consequences of failure.
It is also a reminder that India is what its Armed Forces can hold. No amount of international agreements can ensure the sanctity of any nation's borders, given the fact that very few governments around the world function on the basis of civilised principles. An...