Whatever criticism one might heap on the Brits for their colonization of the subcontinent, when they pulled out, they left two viable states in their wake with the nucleus of competent armed forces. From a legal perspective, the Indian and Pakistani armed forces may only date to 1947, but the foundational traditions of the regiments which compose both armies go back well before that and are a tribute to British military organization and practice of the colonial period when some regiments (v.g. the Gurkhas) were created, while others (Punjabis, Rajastanis, Sikhs, etc) were crafted from already existant subcontinental military “peoples” and traditions. I recall an Indian LTC from my command and general staff college days whose great pride was the he commanded the 2nd Bat, 5th Gurkha Rifles. His regimental mess match boxes bore portraits of the 2nd/5th Gurkha’s three Victoria Cross winners. This was in marked contrast to the Vietnamese army of the ARVN period, which placed its emphasis upon post-French colonial history, and discouraged recognition that any of its formations had ever fought under French command, despite the glaring fact that its very best formations had come from the ranks of French paratroop, Foreign Legion, and Commando units.