"It Was A Game Of Bluff And The PLA Blinked First": Former Army Chief General M M Naravane In His Memoir 'Four Stars Of Destiny'

On the night of 31 August 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a decisive call to the then Army Chief General M M Naravane, offering a succinct directive, "Jo ucchit samjho woh karo" (do whatever you deem appropriate).

The backdrop was the escalating tension arising from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) moving tanks and troops at the Rechin La mountain pass on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

In the gripping narrative unveiled by General M M Naravane in his memoir "Four Stars of Destiny," a pivotal moment during the Ladakh standoff in 2020 has come to light.

Naravane recounts Singh’s direction as well as a flurry of phone calls between the defence minister, external affairs minister, the national security advisor and the chief of defence staff that night on the sensitive situation.

Singh's words were a carte blanche, empowering General Naravane to make critical decisions in a volatile situation.

Naravane, in his memoir, reflects on the weight of this responsibility and the myriad thoughts that raced through his mind.

He considered the global context, with the country grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and economic challenges.

Rather than opting for a preemptive strike, Naravane strategically positioned Indian tanks at the forward slopes of the Rechin La pass.

This move initiated a high-stakes game of bluff with the Chinese forces, who, upon realising the potential consequences, halted their advance.

"Their light tanks would have been no match for our medium tanks. It was a game of bluff, and the PLA blinked first," writes Naravane.

He further details how the PLA shifted troops from Moldo to the area of Chuti Changla towards the South Bank of the Pangong Tso on the intervening night of 29-30 August.

The memoir provides a riveting account of the intricate decision-making process, emphasising the delicate balance between military strategy and geopolitical considerations.

It sheds light on the complexities involved in managing border tensions and the significance of measured responses.