What Should Be The Building Blocks for India's Defense And Foreign Policy?

Why do kings, presidents, prime ministers and politicians wage war? Is it for conquest, self aggrandizement, territorial expansion or economic domination. Do the great generals realize that the greatest war is that of self conquest? Who initiates aggression? Perhaps, it could be those people who have not considered that violence can also be contemplated upon them, who have not suffered psychologically and physically and who have not experienced death. In the bipolar world, perhaps the only country in the world to play referee amongst squabbling nations and troublemakers is the US, given its unquestioned intellectual, military and financial might. But some nations across the world and several sections within the US itself are questioning this role, whether it is worth playing the referee with good intentions if it leads to feelings of resentment and thanklessness from the aggrieved parties especially when American interests or world peace is not affected. 

Violence is the first resort of those who are savage and the last resort of those who have reason. Is Osama bin laden stretching American patience to the limit and forcing a reaction? Persuasion, diplomacy, debate, negotiation, warnings are the preferred tools for sorting out problems. Yet for India, leveraging its relationship with the US has to be done skillfully, considering we stand to gain immensely if we play our cards well, keeping in mind our interests and America’s point of view. While all efforts should be made at self reliance, we should accept knowledge, technology and other assistance from developed nations where essential and necessary and offer assistance to the less fortunate where it serves our interests without feelings of guilt. 

Closer home, is Pakistan-sponsored intrusion in J&K and elsewhere in India with repeated alacrity justified and should India tolerate it? Certainly not. If verbal concerns and warnings don’t suffice then the best thing to do is a brick-for-a-brick or a stone-for-a-brick policy lest it be misinterpreted for weakness and paralysis in which case the other side will only get bolder and bolder. In this context, the policy adopted by the Scandinavian countries is laudable. They are well governed, have an enlightened population, co-exist and cooperate within themselves, don’t unnecessarily antagonize their neighbours and don't meddle in others' affairs and focus in the pursuit of happiness and prosperity.

Yet, we must maintain a strong and deadly army and ensure modernization and accelerate the weapons acquisition programme based on perceived future threat. India must never shy of giving a tough fight if our interests are threatened and where the cause is just. India must always negotiate from a position of strength keeping the legitimate interests of the other party in mind and must never yield to a enemy which wants to talk pointing a gun to its head.

Indian naval fleet planning: How should India do it? That depends on what are goals are. If India wants to limit itself to the customary 200 km of waters from the shoreline, then the existing fleet with minor variations is enough. But if we want to dominate the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, then the equation changes. Then naval fleet planning will depend on the returns. Should we not have one aircraft carrier each for the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and international waters?

Should economic milestones dictate the purchase of these carriers considering the cost of each carrier is in the vicinity of Rs 36,000 crore? With the second aircraft carrier under firm order and the third at the planning stage, should the fourth be purchased when our GDP touches $1.5 trillion from the present $690 billion. What should be the number of destroyers, battleships, frigates, cruisers and submarines? As the fifth largest navy with 180-odd battleships, how should the navy plan and direct the movement of its armada and flotilla to best serve and protect the country’s interests. How many submarines should our naval fleet have? What should be the break-up of attack, patrol, SLBM and nuclear-powered submarines?

Why is the navy’s role so important in the near future. Because with increasing international maritime trade and India’s rising commerce in the next 20-30 years, maintaining India’s optimal naval equilibrium is essential given the expected large growth in the merchant navy strength, sea trade, offshore installations, fishing and ocean mining and protecting the sea lanes.

Will the Chinese dragon breathe fire? With increased competition from China, will China pose a threat to India’s security say 15-20 years from now? Will it pose a land or an air threat? With reports of China heavily basing missiles in Tibet it doesn’t portend good news. In that scenario, should India not develop IRBMs and ICBMs? Should it not raise additional mountain divisions and beef up the ITBP and the BSF? If China is instigating insurgency in the north-east and has a role in Naxal and Maoist movements in India, then why is the Indian govt turning a blind eye to China?

How should we negotiate border disputes with China? If China agrees to Indian claims over the upper parts of north-east and Aksai Chin, then we should stay quiet. If they don’t, then we should raise the question of autonomy for Tibet and its independence. Why are we pursuing policies not in our national interest? What are China’s vulnerable areas apart from Xinziang? If China is perceived as a threat, then we should encircle it. Develop strategic friendships with the US, Japan, key 4-5 countries of Southeast Asia.

DEFENCE: Maintaining the security and territorial integrity of the Indian Union is perhaps the foremost task of an elected government. The strength of security forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Paramilitary, Police and Intelligence) should be determined on the basis of existing and perceived future threat perceptions, the population (maintaining a optimum ratio), the geographical landmass, the international land borders and coastlines and the immediate area of the country's defined strategic interests. This could be 2,000-3,000 km from the international borders or the coastal areas. Weapons and armament acquisition should be on the basis of long-term effectiveness, cost, technology, and effectiveness in the war theatre. Manpower hiring and training should be strategic in quality and content. Development in war theatrics must be followed in different global conflict areas and security apparatus must be so aligned to respond quickly to changing war dynamics and needs.

 

R&D and armament factories must be forced to show results and come up with inventions and designs suited for the Indian defence environment. India’s defense set-up should be such as to deter any external aggression and to launch offensive/attack operations against enemy targets fomenting trouble wherever the need arises or is justified. We should not need the enemy’s permission to attack it if it is continuously jeopardizing our national security. Swift, lethal and surgical strikes against enemy lines must be sanctioned wherever necessary. Intelligence coordination must be ensured between all service divisions. Strategic defense policy forums must be made operational to assess long term strategy, direction and India's game plan. Defense policy must also be aligned with the country’s economic and political agenda.

Security Objectives: To ensure all wings of defence (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Intelligence) have the necessary wherewithal, training, combat experience so as to maintain a heightened state of alertness and preparedness to deal with sudden unforeseen external threats or aggression and to launch counter strike or attack operations. To ensure all wings of internal security (paramilitary, territorial army, police, internal intelligence) are able to deal, check and minimise internal strife and rebellions and maintain law and order so as to make the common person feel safe and secure.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: The country’s war is fought globally by its diplomatic corps who are in fact the silent soldiers. Diplomacy must be dictated and based on the following parameters: interaction with the host country, intelligence gathering, economic and trade, servicing Indian community abroad, media management, public relations and lobbying, cultural and educational exchanges.

Indian missions abroad must be the dynamic face of a changing India, advocating and creating consensus in the host country for the nations needs and interests, building favourable perceptions and countering negative publicity, pushing the country’s agenda and vision among the key stakeholders, networking with key constituencies in the host country, gathering information and feedback on the country, identifying new trends and developments in technology, finance, management and science.

Further, diplomacy must be used as a means to ensure peace and stability, to maintain beneficial relations with geopolitically important countries, to maintain optimum relations with countries which fulfill our specific needs in terms of technology, trade, energy, to bring in best practices from every country, to diffuse conflict and tensions.

Other objectives include to serve and protect the national interest, to shape developments in the regional arena and build an environment which serves the Indian interest, to ensure stability and prosperity around the country and within the country.