Indian security paradigm CENJOWS 20 Nov 2020
Indian security paradigm CENJOWS 20 Nov 2020
The Prime Minister stated while addressing troops at Longewala, ‘”History of the world tells us that only those nations have remained safe and advanced who had the ability to take on invaders.’ He added, ‘No force in the world can prevent our brave soldiers from defending our borders. The world today knows that we will not compromise with our interests even one bit at any cost.’ The message was evident.
Statements by the defence minister and the CDS, at the webinar to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Defence College, also conveyed the current Indian outlook to national security. Rajnath Singh stated, ‘We attach importance to the peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue. However, India is determined to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unilateralism and aggression, no matter what the sacrifice.’ He added peace could only be ensured through ‘the ability to deter war.’ This implied developing capabilities to counter adversaries.
The CDS, speaking on the current Indo-China crisis stated, ‘Our posturing is unambiguous; we will not accept any shift in the LAC.’ He warned of the future stating, ‘As India grows in stature, security challenges will rise proportionately. We must move out of the constant threat of sanctions or dependency on individual nations for our military requirements and invest in building long-term indigenous capability for strategic independence and application of decisive military power to squarely meet present and emerging challenges.’ The message was the same, apart from concentrating on greater levels of indigenization.
Simultaneously, the foreign secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, interacting with the media in London mentioned, ‘We are not going to be pushed over or keel over and fall backwards. We are not a pushover. But at the same time, we are not jingoistic. We are not ready to go to war when you can settle issues through negotiation and diplomacy. We are reasonable but also firm and resolute in ensuring that our sovereignty and territorial integrity is maintained and protected.’ Indian determination was evident.
These collection of messages, aimed at India’s adversaries, convey Indian confidence and ability to defend itself and manage all security challenges which come its way. It was also an intention of displaying Indian intent on strengthening its military power. India has stared down the dragon, despite tall claims of China possessing greater ‘comprehensive national power,’ which would force India to heel. India called the Chinese bluff and decided to hold onto its positions through the coming winters.
As the CDS stated, ‘(China) is facing unanticipated consequences for its misadventure in Ladakh.’ China is compelled to maintain large forces through the winters in Ladakh, an action which it has never undertaken. India, on the contrary, maintains its forces in Siachen, Kargil, Arunachal, Sikkim and Ladakh throughout the year. India exploited its advantages. Ultimately, it was China which proposed mutual withdrawal.
Mike Pompeo had also stated during the 2 + 2 dialogue that the globe is watching how India reacts to Chinese transgressions. India’s actions would determine if China could be contained. More concerned on which way to shift their foreign policy approach were South Asian nations, caught between two giants seeking to influence the region. Had India backed down to Chinese demands, India would have lost its dominance in the region. It would have been surrounded by countries willingly toeing the Chinese lines. India had limited choices. The end result is now visible. The tilt towards China is now receding.
As Rajnath Singh stated, India must possess the ability to deter war, if it desires peace. He was echoing the words of Benjamin Netanyahu, who had stated in the Raisina Dialogue in Jan 2018, ‘the weak don’t survive. The strong survive. You make peace with the strong. You make alliances with the strong. You’re able to maintain peace by being strong.’ India is a global economic and military power and a sought-after nation for alliances and groupings. However, it must develop capabilities to handle its own security challenges. Only then can it push its adversaries for resolving issues through dialogue.
This does not imply possessing matching capabilities, which is anyway unlikely. Indian capabilities should be dependent on force levels and nature of operations which could be adopted by the adversary. Capabilities should be sufficient to compel the adversary to consider negative impacts of any military misadventure. The current force structures in Ladakh, stalling Chinese advance, launching quid pro quo operations south of Pangong Tso has given India the confidence to stare down the dragon and accept talks as a solution.
While India has supported talks, it never banked on them to provide the ultimate solution. It is still perplexed on the Chinese actions. Its outright rejection of Chinese demands of partial withdrawal and insistence on simultaneous discussion on all transgressions is an indicator of its unwillingness to bow to Chinese demands. This is buoyed by the confidence that its forces are organized and prepared to remain in situ through the winters. This confidence has compelled China to offer options.
India is aware that even if the current border issue with China is resolved, the Chinese threat would remain. With Pakistan, there is no likelihood of any resolution in the near to middle timeframe. Any future conflict would need to be fought by India alone, sans allies. Hence, ensuring adequate military power must remain a national priority if India is to remain secure and develop economically.
While economic and military power are both dependent on each other, military power takes priority and forms the basis for enhancing economic and diplomatic power, as was evident with the recent crisis. India had in the past few years adopted the reverse and concentrated on economic development, ignoring military power. The jolt from China forced a rethink on national policies and military power is currently the government’s priorities.
This view was echoed by the CDS when he stated in his address to the annual conclave of Bharat Shakti, ‘we all need strong armed forces if we have to defend ourselves, defend our nation, defend the integrity of our nation and the safety and security of our people.’ He added, ‘The armed forces must develop capabilities to bring about peace in the region. If we do not have strong armed forces, the adversary will take advantage of us.’
India must reconsider its annual allocation for defence and seek to enhance it, push through ‘make in India’ and make procurement easier. The earlier system of ignoring defence will only enhance threats and provide our adversaries an opportunity to exploit our weakness. If India as a nation has to develop, it must on priority, enhance military capabilities to deter its adversaries.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army