http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/securing-the-nation-is-of-utmost-priority.html
Our Armed Forces had received a raw deal during the UPA regime, and are left with critical shortages and lack of state-of-the-art weapons and equipment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Indian Navy's new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, and Defence (also Finance) Minister Arun Jaitley's to Jammu & Kashmir, underlined the high priority the new Government attaches to India's defence and security. This is understandable. The country faces serious threats on land and sea. The Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir is unquiet and the withdrawal of American troops, except for perhaps a small contingent of Special Operations Force, from Afghanistan, is bound to be followed by an offensive by the Afghan Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Al Qaeda, against the Kabul regime. Should that succeed, there will be sharp escalation in terrorist operations in Jammu & Kashmir as well as the rest of India. The Al Qaeda, which declared jihad against this country as early as 1998, has once again indicated its intention to turn its attention to the State.
The Government needs to address these threats with a blend of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism measures, and by deploying the Armed Forces if military operations become necessary following a Pakistani offensive. This time, attacks may not be limited to land. The terrorist strike in Mumbai, master-minded by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and carried out by the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba, that started on the night of November 26, 2008, is a clear indication of that. This, and the fact that Pakistan, which has been arming itself to the teeth against India with the help of American aid, is making special efforts to neutralise the Indian Navy's distinct superiority over its own military naval arm, indicates that in the next war the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea would see significant naval conflict.
Besides, the Chinese Navy's growing presence and assertiveness in the Indian Ocean is a factor, the promise of a further improvement in Sino-Indian relations following Mr Modi's becoming Prime Minister notwithstanding. In 1962, we paid the price for our complacence and dismal failure to read the Chinese mind. We cannot afford a repeat. Also, the Navy has to deal with piracy in the high seas which is causing serious global concern.
All this makes Prime Minister Modi's visit to INS Vikramaditya, a very special affair. It was a badly-needed morale booster for the Navy, which has lately passed through a very difficult time with accidents and the Chief of Naval Staff's resignation. Besides, the controversy over the usefulness of an aircraft carrier notwithstanding, there can be no doubt that INS Vikramaditya, along with the older ship of its kind, INS Virat, play an important role in power projection, which is critical part of a country's military naval profile.
Unfortunately, the Army, Air Force and the Navy have all received a very raw deal during the UPA's Government and are left with critical shortages and lack of state-of-the-art weapons and equipment which have not been procured! There are indications that the Government will move rapidly to remedy the situation. Also, the three-tier system of coastal security — with the maritime police controlling the shallow and inland waters, the Coast Guard the country's territorial waters, and the Indian Navy, overall in charge of maritime security, the waters beyond, is hampered by a lack of coordination as the Navy has no power over the other organisations which zealously guard their turf.
Finally, since India's internal and external threats are linked, one needs a security infrastructure that can activate a coordinated response by the military, Central and State intelligence agencies, Central forces like the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Central Industrial Security Force, and State police establishments. It is equally necessary to ensure continuous and effective coordination between the Intelligence Bureau and the Research & Analysis Wing, which has often not been good enough. Mr Modi's Government has its task cut out.
Our Armed Forces had received a raw deal during the UPA regime, and are left with critical shortages and lack of state-of-the-art weapons and equipment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Indian Navy's new aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, and Defence (also Finance) Minister Arun Jaitley's to Jammu & Kashmir, underlined the high priority the new Government attaches to India's defence and security. This is understandable. The country faces serious threats on land and sea. The Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir is unquiet and the withdrawal of American troops, except for perhaps a small contingent of Special Operations Force, from Afghanistan, is bound to be followed by an offensive by the Afghan Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Al Qaeda, against the Kabul regime. Should that succeed, there will be sharp escalation in terrorist operations in Jammu & Kashmir as well as the rest of India. The Al Qaeda, which declared jihad against this country as early as 1998, has once again indicated its intention to turn its attention to the State.
The Government needs to address these threats with a blend of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism measures, and by deploying the Armed Forces if military operations become necessary following a Pakistani offensive. This time, attacks may not be limited to land. The terrorist strike in Mumbai, master-minded by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and carried out by the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba, that started on the night of November 26, 2008, is a clear indication of that. This, and the fact that Pakistan, which has been arming itself to the teeth against India with the help of American aid, is making special efforts to neutralise the Indian Navy's distinct superiority over its own military naval arm, indicates that in the next war the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea would see significant naval conflict.
Besides, the Chinese Navy's growing presence and assertiveness in the Indian Ocean is a factor, the promise of a further improvement in Sino-Indian relations following Mr Modi's becoming Prime Minister notwithstanding. In 1962, we paid the price for our complacence and dismal failure to read the Chinese mind. We cannot afford a repeat. Also, the Navy has to deal with piracy in the high seas which is causing serious global concern.
All this makes Prime Minister Modi's visit to INS Vikramaditya, a very special affair. It was a badly-needed morale booster for the Navy, which has lately passed through a very difficult time with accidents and the Chief of Naval Staff's resignation. Besides, the controversy over the usefulness of an aircraft carrier notwithstanding, there can be no doubt that INS Vikramaditya, along with the older ship of its kind, INS Virat, play an important role in power projection, which is critical part of a country's military naval profile.
Unfortunately, the Army, Air Force and the Navy have all received a very raw deal during the UPA's Government and are left with critical shortages and lack of state-of-the-art weapons and equipment which have not been procured! There are indications that the Government will move rapidly to remedy the situation. Also, the three-tier system of coastal security — with the maritime police controlling the shallow and inland waters, the Coast Guard the country's territorial waters, and the Indian Navy, overall in charge of maritime security, the waters beyond, is hampered by a lack of coordination as the Navy has no power over the other organisations which zealously guard their turf.
Finally, since India's internal and external threats are linked, one needs a security infrastructure that can activate a coordinated response by the military, Central and State intelligence agencies, Central forces like the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Central Industrial Security Force, and State police establishments. It is equally necessary to ensure continuous and effective coordination between the Intelligence Bureau and the Research & Analysis Wing, which has often not been good enough. Mr Modi's Government has its task cut out.
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