New US Defence Sec Had Advised Joint Classes for India, Pak Army

In 2010, General James Mattis, US’ new Defence Secretary, was in charge of the US Central Command.

President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with retired Marine Corps Gen James Mattis as he leaves Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster. (Photo: AP)

In 2010, General James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis, United States’ new Secretary of Defence, was in-charge of the US Central Command, which handles Afghanistan and Pakistan. India comes under the Pacific Command.

Way back in 2010 though, Mattis had suggested that India and Pakistan attend joint military classes in the United States and study American Civil War together.

Such a move, he had said at the time, would create the much-needed trust between military leaders of the two countries.

As they do, they get to know each other there and even do some of the things we’ve done elsewhere in the world, where we bring different sides during frozen conflicts together... let them study our Civil War together. And after a few days, they start warming up. I think there are ways for us to build trust between officer corps that will help stabilise these issues, but it’s fundamentally a political problem, not a military one of course.

PTI quoted Gen James Mattis

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Regardless of whether this is a sound advice, ‘Mad Dog’ is one to offer his two cents and often shock with controversial statements.

In 2005, CNN quoted him as saying:

It’s fun to shoot some people. I’ll be right up there with you. I like brawling. You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left anyway. So it’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them.

What other advise Mattis has in store for India and Pakistan remains to be seen.

(With inputs from PTI)