I spent more than 40 years in the Indian Army, serving the interests of my country and battling for its security. I participated in Operation “Cactus Lily” in 1971 in Jaisalmer Sector and spent many years fighting insurgencies in Punjab and North East India.Any soldier who has been through the traumatic experience of taking armed action against own, misguided, country persons will agree with me that these internal security operations are much more challenging and exacting than conventional operations, where the adversary is clearly identifiable.On several occasions I have written and spoken out on issues which, I felt, were detrimental to the armed forces and our country. It is the bounden duty of military persons to bring out the bare facts so that correct lessons can be drawn and corrective action taken. These were unpalatable to certain sections who felt it was un-patriotic to write pure, unvarnished truth.‘Go to Pakistan’ jibes and my retortFor the last few years I have had my share of jibes of “Go to Pakistan!” I have countered these with my retort, “I have already been to Pakistan (Sindh) and camped there for six months, after the Battle of Longewala ( December 1971) – and that too without a passport or visa!”Some course mates and erstwhile friends who had trained with me at National Defence Academy (NDA), questioned (I suspect, in a shade of green) how I had risen in the ranks whilst they got left behind. They attributed it to some other extraneous considerations which would belittle me if I repeated them.It would have been improper for me to apprise them of the facts as it would have been ‘trumpet blowing’. However, it is now time to clarify that I worked with dedication, was lucky and got what I deserved. The armed forces give all a fair deal, which I always got. I never had to wear loyalty on my sleeve.I should have apprised them that I had commanded my regiment which was judged the best in my formation. My unit is still my family with which I have lasting bonds. My son served in the same regiment. We are a family of soldiers. I was selected for several professional courses of instructions (which they hadn’t), purely on merit.It was my good fortune to represent our country as a Defence Attache in Saudi Arabia. We strived very hard to wean the Arabs to our point of view. This has certainly paid dividends, as is visible with our close ties to the Gulf countries. Towards the penultimate years of my service I was voted by all the units of the Regiment of Artillery as their ‘Colonel Commandant’, a singular honour.Recently, my sibling, Naseeruddin Shah wrote an article “The Country I Miss”. It was published in the Indian Express. I posted it on ‘X’ with the following comments: “A wonderful article by Naseeruddin Shah. I entirely subscribe to his views.”A wonderful article by Naseeruddin Shah. I entirely subscribe to his views. We were, fortunately, insulated from bigotry. I find the same wonderful ethos in my interaction with most Army colleagues. There will always be some who are different because of the anonymity of WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/tILV8iu3pS— Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah (Veteran) (@zoomshah) July 5, 2025Of course, I have always advised him ‘not to shoot from the hip’ and to express himself without offending. We were born in a conservative family but, fortunately, insulated from bigotry. I found the same wonderful ethos in NDA, where I joined as a young lad of 15 years, eight months and later on right throughout my army career. Some army colleagues have forgotten what we imbibed in our younger days. I attribute this to what they imbibed from the WhatsApp Library.I received a large number of affirmative endorsements to my post on X. There were the usual hate posts, received in, orchestrated, tranches. I deigned not to reply to these as I follow the advice of P.G. Wodehouse: “Some minds are like soup in a poor restaurant – better left unstirred.”Persons of narrow vision and hate mongers enjoy impunityHowever the comments that got my goat, and I felt that its authors deserved being blocked was when two branded me a ‘Jehadi General’ on X .I have drawn strength from my faith which has taught me to remain true to my salt. There is no contradiction, or conflict, between my dedication for my faith and love for my country. In fact both these loyalties are intertwined and linked together.Unfortunately, persons of narrow vision and hate mongers enjoy impunity and prime time slots in the media. Others, who quietly carry on with their work, are the ones who live under constant suspicion and fear. I have never been and definitely don’t intend being in the latter category and thus the angst that I feel today.Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah is a retired senior general of the Indian Army. He last served as the Deputy Chief of the Indian Army Staff (Personnel & Systems). He is also the former Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.