China’s Defence White Paper Modernisation of Internal Security Mechanism

Why Siachen Matters India's Ties with Israel

and many more ….

Published By : Vivekananda International Foundation 3, San Martin Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021, [email protected], www.vifindia.org

Contents

EDITOR’S NOTE 3 Why- Does Siachen Matter to India? - Nitin A. Gokhale DIPLOMACY

49 Taking India's Ties with Israel to a New level TERRORISM

- Ajay Kumar 4 The Reasons behind ISIS Picking up Pace

Again 62 US ‘Re-Balance’ in Asia Pacific and India’s ‘Act

East’ Policy - SK Chatterji 9 - Ramanand Garge INSURGENCY 103

DEFENCE Middle Class Boost to Baloch Struggle

China’s Defence White Paper, 2015 and - Ahmar Mustikhan 66 107

Implications for India 20

- Jayadeva Ranade EVENTS

Need to Reform India's Defence Acquisitions: Vimarsha: Northeast as the Backbone of The way forward 28 India’s Act East Policy 71

- KV Kuber Round Table Discussion on India’s Energy INTERNAL SECURITY Security 73

Modernisation of India’s Internal Security Interaction with Mr. Stewart Beck 74 Mechanism 34 Seminar on Make in India & DPP 2013 76 - PM Heblikar Seminar on ‘Design and Make in India in ECONOMY AND GOVERNANCE Electronics’ 78

Digital Revolution to Empower India Seminar on Indian Civilization (2000-500 41 B.C.) - Radhakrishna Rao 80 Round Table Discussion on Counter 82 MILITARY Measures against Naxalism

Policy Options for Trans-Border Operations - Gurmeet Kanwal 45 VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 2

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles published in the e-journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Vivekananda International Foundation Editor’s Note

Dear readers, We are happy to present the latest issue of Vivek, our e-magazine published every two months.

As usual, there is a wide variety of opinions offered by our authors, drawn both from within the Vivekananda International Foundation and those who contribute from outside.

Of particular interest would be the analysis of China's latest White Paper on Defence authored by an old China hand and former Special Secretary in the R&AW, Mr Jayadeva Ranade and an article on the much-needed reforms in India's Defence Acquisition process, written by a specialist in the field, KV Kuber.

We also have a new contributor, Mr Ajay Kumar a former IAS Officer, who has weighed in with his view on why India needs to take its already robust ties with Israel to the next level. Our regular contributor Dr Radhakrishna Rao, has written a timely piece on how digital revolution is all set to empower the people.

Hope you will enjoy the rich fare on offer here.

Feedback is welcome at [email protected]

Nitin A. Gokhale Senior Fellow & Editor

Back to Contents

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 3

DIPLOMACY Taking India's Ties with Israel to a New Level

- Ajay Kumar

or last 20 years India has priority in India’s foreign policy. had the most intimate No longer. F strategic relations with Israel but given the sensitivities it Today no other country is so has remained mostly below the intertwined with India’s national radar. All that is now set to security at so many levels as change with Narendra Modi about Israel. India sources critical to create history by becoming the military technology from Israel. first Indian Prime Minister to visit Technology that it does not share Israel. It has taken a long time. with any other country.Israeli An elated Israel has welcomed the avionics are what make India’s announcement of Narendra Modi's Russian-made fighters and cruise visit to the Jewish nation, the first missiles superior to their Chinese ever by an Indian Prime Minister, variants. Israeli cyber-security saying it would lead to firms are the only foreign "tightening" of the bilateral ties companies to receive security and further expand the relation classifications at par with the best and take them to new heights. Indian ones. Israel too has benefitted with sales of $10 New Delhi recognized the birth of billion to India’s military-security Israel in 1950 but established establishment in the past decade diplomatic relations only as late as which makes India easily the in 1992. This caution in world’s largest buyer of Israeli establishing a close relationship weapons. with Tel Aviv had arisen from a fear of a domestic Muslim Given this well-established backlash as well as the need to relationship, a visit by an Indian balance India’s relationship with Prime Minister to Israel was long the Arab world and its historical overdue despite the sensitivities support to the Palestinian cause. involved in balancing New Delhi’s So Israel always remained a lesser ties with the Gulf states. External *Ajay Kumar, Former IAS officer

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 4 affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj In a way, the Prime Minister is has also put to rest the fears that building on the legacy left behind India is building its ties with by the previous BJP Prime Israel at the expense of its Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee. It equation with Palestine by saying was during the previous NDA that there would be “no change in Government headed by Vajpayee India’s policy towards Palestine”. when the then Prime Minister New Delhi appears ready to Ariel Sharon became the first suggest publicly what many Israeli Prime Minister to visit officials already acknowledge India when he came visiting in privately: “A burgeoning strategic 2003. Mr Vajpayee’s vision has led partnership with Israel matters to the transformation of Indo- more to India than reflexive Israeli ties from minor cooperation solidarity with the Palestinian in defence and security fields to a cause." higher strategic level relationship.

The proposed visit The proposed visit by Mr Modi Commonality of by Mr Modi comes comes in the wake of a meeting interest between in the wake of a he had with his Israeli India and Israel meeting he had counterpart Benjamin with his Israeli Netanayahu in New York on Increasing defence counterpart the sidelines of the UN General cooperation has Assembly in 2014. Benjamin been one of the Netanayahu in central themes of New York on the sidelines of the improved India-Israel UN General Assembly in 2014. relationship. It is but natural “We are very excited by the therefore to see that Israel has prospects of greater ties with emerged as India’s third largest India. We think the sky’s the defence supplier only behind US limit,” Mr Netanyahu said. Mr and Russia. There is increasing Modi proudly told Netanyahu of cooperation in the IT sector and the historic Jewish community in counter-terrorism, especially India, and of the fact that “India is related to cyber terrorism. the only country where anti- The Indian Navy too is equipping Semitism has never been allowed itself with missiles sourced from to come up and where Jews have Israel.. The Navy recently put in a never suffered and have lived as requisition of 300 more Israeli- an integral part of our society.” manufactured Barak missiles to

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 5 equip the Brahmaputra Class system, which passed its first trial ‘guided missile frigates’ namely simulating combat conditions in the Ranvir, Bramhaputra, Betwa November. and Bias. In October, India opted to buy Rafael's Spike anti-tank guided Make in India: Keeping pace with missile in a deal worth $525 the rising cooperation, Moshe million, choosing the Israeli Ya’alon became the first Israeli product over a U.S. offer of its defense minister since the Javelin missiles. establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992 to visit India. “This visit is More than just security: But there incredibly significant for the is more potential in the strengthening ties with a rising relationship than closer world power such as India,” cooperation in defence alone. The Ya’alon said before leaving Indian Prime Minister in fact sees Israel.“India is a true friend to Israel as more than just a security Israel, and advancing joint partner. Half of his discussions interests will greatly benefit both with Israel would probably be in nations and their defense areas of state-of-the-art water establishments, which have water management technology, excellent relations,” he added. Nanotechnology, dairy etc. Israel is also a leader in software, "We are open to more or less pharmaceuticals and has one of (selling) anything. We believe that the world’s most advanced tech we have the better product," he startup ecosystems. said at the Israeli pavilion. “We see India as a partner and a Trade: India has become one of friend. That is why we are ready Israel's largest trading partners. to share technology,” he said, Trade and cooperation between adding that he was looking for the two nations extend beyond ways to upgrade the defense defense to agriculture, water relationship. He also met Defence desalination and space. Many Minister Manohar Parrikar during Israeli companies feel India has an the biennial Aero India show in edge over China in being a stable Bengaluru. democracy with an effective court system to protect patents. A large Under Modi, Israel and India have population of technically qualified pushed ahead with the joint English-speaking people also development of an aerial defense makes India attractive for Israeli

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 6 investments . Trade Surplus for backing from the Arab countries in India stands at $962.33 million the resolution of problems it faces with exports at $3090.18m and in its neighborhood, especially import of 2127.85m. Bilateral Kashmir,” wrote Harsh V. Pant, a trade, excluding defense, in 2014 scholar of international relations was at $4.5 billion and this is set at King’s College London. “There to grow. have been no serious attempts by the Arab world to put pressure on As P.R. Kumaraswamy, a Pakistan to reign in the cross- professor of West Asian studies at border insurgency in Kashmir.” JNU says “It’s an economic Modi and BJP India’s nationalist priority, not a political one. In that party has long seen Israel as a context, India's engagement will natural ally against Islamist be on the economic agenda in the militancy. Middle East, not on political friendships and The 26/11 attack things like that The 26/11 attack in Mumbai in in Mumbai in fact and whichever fact brought India and Israel brought India and country is willing closer. Nariman House, a Israel closer. Jewish establishment was one to be a part of of the targets of the attack by Nariman House, a India's economic Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let) terorists, Jewish development will trained and equipped by establishment was be a priority." pakistan. one of the targets of the attack by Terrorism: Israel and India face Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let) terorists, terror threats from organizations trained and equipped by pakistan. with similar radical ideology such The killing of six jews in the as al-Qaida, ISIS, LeT and Hamas. attack propelled the two countries Pakistan has waged an undeclared to work more closely together on war to “bleed India with thousand counter-terror measures. cuts “ India has been hardly compensated for supporting "Counter-terrorism is something Palestine. India may be home to that I — and Israel — believes all the world's second largest Muslim like-minded countries need to population, but it has been work together on. At the end of the consistently blocked from day, the extremism felt on all membership of the Organisation of parts of Islamism is something Islamic Countries (OIC). “India that affects India, Israel and the has received no worthwhile entire civilized world," Mark Sofer,

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 7 former Israeli ambassador to India across India allow many Israelis to and current deputy director- celebrate their holidays and general and head of the Asia observe religious traditions. There Pacific Division at the Israeli is thus immense scope of taking Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told tourism to a much higher level. Defense News. "All like-minded countries need to put their heads And then of course there is a together and find ways of dealing personal bond. Prime Minister with this, we can't tackle this on Modi has developed a strong our own. None of us can." personal relationship with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin According to the conservative Netanyahu. When the latter won political writer Swapan Dasgupta, re-election in March, Modi tweeted “Israel has far more friends in in Hebrew and English: "Mazel India than TV anchors and left- tov, my friend Bibi @Netanyahu. I leaning policy correspondents remember our meeting in New realize.” The same Internet army York last September warmly.” of right-wing Indians that Likewise when Modi got supported Modi’s election has overwhelming mandate mobilized in support of Israel. In Netanyahu was the first to fact, the Twitter hashtag congratulate. Modi does not use “#IndiaWithIsrael” trended across “my friend” to describe almost no the country, galvanizing real-life other world leader. rallies in support of Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Despite the euphoria about the upswing in India-Israel There is a human element to relationship, India will need to Israel-India relationship too. balance its approach to Tel Aviv About 50000 Israeli tourists keeping in mind the importance of throng places like Goa, Old Manali India’s ties with and dependence and Dharamshala and about equal on Iran for its energy needs. India number of Indian tourists visit will have to be cautious in not Israel. In many of these areas, getting caught in the fierce Iran- Hebrew signs on businesses and Israel rivalry that exists in West public transportation are not Asia. uncommon. Dozens of Chabad- operated community centers Back to Contents

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DIPLOMACY US ‘Re-Balance’ in Asia Pacific and India’s ‘Act East’ Policy - Ramanand Garge sia-Pacific is one of the together a new architecture to deal strategic coherent systems with the rising power and A in the contemporary ambitions of China. In the US geopolitics and geo-economics of perception, the rise of China with the world. Over the last few years its growing assertiveness could the world has witnessed a gradual affect its treaty alliances in the shift of global fulcrum of power region. Since the rapidly evolving from the West to the Asia Pacific regional economic integration region. In the midst of the rapidly highlighted the need for a evolving geo-strategic imperatives ‘rebalance’ in its regional of the region, two significant policies/strategy post 9/11, the developments have recast its focus of its priorities had shifted strategic and security contours. from this region to deal with the First, the phenomenal rise of series of events that distracted the China both as an economic and US from its traditional geopolitical military power has given rise to a challenge. strategic assertion in the region. The second development of note is What is Rebalance? the response of the United States In an article in September 2014, under Obama administration to Jeffery Bader, Senior Fellow at the counter the Chinese agenda in the Brookings Institute and who had region. These together, could earlier served as Special Assistant possibly set the stage for a new to the President for National balance of power struggles in the Security Affairs at the National coming decades of the 21st Security Council, described the century. Obama administration policy In 2012 the Obama administration toward the Asia-Pacific region as came to a conclusion that it one of “rebalancing,” by assigning needed to intensify interaction higher priority and political, with the Asia Pacific to cobble economic, and security resources to the Asia-Pacific region ‘because * Ramanand Garge, Senior Research Associate, VIF

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 9 of its dynamism and opportunities significant and serious challenge for the U.S’. According to Bader, for USA. It is the effort of the US the fundamental elements of the to pull together a new strategic policy include: solution that satisfies both the • Strengthening of relationships economic demands of with allies and partners, including interdependence to revitalize its emerging powers such as India economy while safeguarding its and Indonesia: national interests against geopolitical risks associated with • Embedding the U.S. in the rise of China. emerging political, security, and economic architecture, including Rebalance in detail the East Asia Summit, the Trans- The policy of Rebalancing, as Pacific Partnership (TPP), and a indicated earlier, seeks to achieve more extensive and structured its grand objectives of ‘deterrence relationship with and reassurance’ the Association of With the introduction of the through three sets Southeast Asian concept of ‘rebalance’, the US of well-calibrated Nations (ASEAN); would expect to prevent growth strategic, and of regional hegemony and deal diplomatic and with the other complex set of • Maintaining a challenges in managing ‘China economic positive and stable in the game of Nash initiatives. relationship with Equilibrium’1. China, in which Strategic – This is cooperation on global issues being touted as the ‘captivating develops and competition on component’ of Rebalance. The core security and economic issues is of the strategy will be maintain contained and managed.” requisite military capabilities in the region for the purpose of With the introduction of the achieving ‘deterrence’ and concept of ‘rebalance’, the US providing ‘reassurance’ to its allies would expect to prevent growth of in the region along with regional hegemony and deal with preserving the requisite military the other complex set of challenges capabilities over the horizon in managing ‘China in the game of capable of entering the region 1 Nash Equilibrium’ . The when required under the condition intertwined US-China relation of inevitability. Its manifestation makes this equilibrium more can be expressed in different ways; complex and thus emerges as a

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(a). US would be maintaining in this region and it could restrain flexible network of militaraly China and its capabilities from visible presence in the region. This using its power. will enable US to engage all littoral powers of the region with Diplomatic – Diplomatic frequent visits as also build a initiatives under the policy of network that can shape choices of Rebalancing will involve alliance for China. For example, a maneuvers in three major areas; new configuration of four Littoral Combat Ships of US Navy will (a). The US efforts would be operate out of Singapore, Darwin, focused on establishing effective U-Tapao Royal Thai naval air field presence in every multilateral used for logistics by US Military forum in Asia-Pacific to help it and Perth as the ‘host station’ of stay engaged and intricately new US naval deployment. connected, complementing its (b). This will also enable US to existing relations with its allies counter any Chinese anti access and partners’ thereby and area denial moves and for this shaping/strengthening a US wants to operate as close as it reassuring mechanism in the can to the shores of the Asia- region. Pacific without putting its own (b). While doing this, US will have assets at risk. to walk a tightrope while (c). These strategic moves will simultaneously establishing and through force restructuring will improving relations with China give the US Navy and Air Force without disturbing the synergy of greater maneuverability and its strategic allies in the region. flexibility than land component of (c). The defining factor will be the US military, because the Indo- engaging with china as much as it pacific is primarily a maritime can rather than its traditional cold theater and to operate in this war approach of isolation of region comfortably, US is adversary. For the success of this strengthening its expositional entire move it is essential for the capabilities. US to develop closer strategic (d). As part of the strategic move, partnership with key states of the US is keen on improving the Asia-Pacific like Japan, South capabilities of its partners and Korea, Taiwan, India, Singapore allies in the region, which will and Australia as its obvious define the new strategic calculus partners.

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Economic – Economic engagement Evolution of Indo-Pacific as a would constitute the third major Linked Concept initiative of US under the rebalance. Hereunder, efforts can Evolution of new terminologies is be focused in two areas namely:- not a new phenomenon, as it emerges with the changing (a). Developing and strengthening geopolitical realities. By this global multilateral trading system parameter, the use of the present centered around WTO (one of the terminology of Asia-Pacific is initiatives by US) and such others perceived as restrictive, focusing on the one hand and; primarily on US, China and Japan (b). Seeking to supplement the relations, ignoring the new reality global expansion of the trading of the growing integration of regime with new preferential free SouthEast and East Asia trade agreements with its dynamics. South Asia and South partners and establishing and East Asia today present itself as strengthening the region with huge two existing Evolution of new terminologies economic and preferential trade is not a new phenomenon, as it human resource agreements i.e. emerges with the changing potential that Trans-Pacific geopolitical realities. imparts it Partnership (TPP) considerable with 11 Rim countries and US-EU strategic importance. In this Free Trade agreements. Along direction, the efforts of the US to with these revitalizing its entire expand the concept of Asia Pacific North American trade policy with the inclusion of the rich would be an essential component potentials of Indian Ocean region of the Rebalance. countries is a timely initiative that underscores the fact that, Maneuvering precisely and “Successful rebalance to Asia skillfully in the above framework Pacific cannot occur without will determine the success of the keeping India as a part of the US rebalance to Asia Pacific. It equation”. It recognizes the fact will also decide the level of that this will neither be quick nor financial benefits and easy, but the exclusion of India uninterrupted availability of will leave the equation of the resources to itself and its partners. ‘rebalance’ rather imbalanced. The use of the revised terminology of

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Indo-Pacific in the ‘rebalance’ Secretary 2015) wherein, they mechanism thus is not a mere recognized the “important role game of semantics, but represents that both countries play in a broader vision in tune with the promoting peace, prosperity, new reality and the future stability and security in the Asia- regional order. Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region, and noting that India’s Pivotal role for India ‘Act East Policy’ and the United States’ rebalance to Asia provide The US is well aware of the crucial opportunities for India, the United role of India with its fast growing States, and other Asia-Pacific capabilities and yet not fully countries to work closely to tapped potentials to change the strengthen regional ties, the strategic calculus of the region. It Leaders announced a Joint must also be mentioned here that Strategic Vision to guide their in recent times India too has engagement in the region”. Under clearly announced its intent of this, the US and India as playing a major role in the region “important drivers of regional and through its ‘Act East’ policy global growth from Africa to East initiative. Also sentient about Asia”, will in partnership, support India’s desire for strategic sustainable, inclusive autonomy is not harmful for US. development, and increased Therefore, based on these regional connectivity, support considerations, the US has regional economic integration, endorsed India’s desired role as a accelerate infrastructure “net security provider” to preserve connectivity and economic maritime transportation routes development to link South, and global commons in the Indian Southeast and Central Asia, Ocean (Scott, The “Indo-Pacific" - enhance energy transmission, New Regional Formulations and encourage free trade, safeguard New 2012). maritime security, ensure freedom In this context it may be of navigation and overflight mentioned that India-US throughout the region, especially partnership approach in the in the South China Sea, call upon extended region was clearly spelt all parties to avoid the threat or out in the recent joint statement use of force and pursue resolution issued at the end of President of territorial and maritime Obama’s visit to New Delhi (Press disputes through all peaceful

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 13 means etc. United States possibly set the stage for India’s welcomed India's interest in formal admittance into APEC in joining the Asia Pacific Economic the near future. Cooperation forum, as the Indian The question that naturally arises economy is a dynamic part of the here is whether India has the Asian economy. capacity to play the larger role It can thus be seen that from the envisaged for it? Does it have the days of look east to act east, wherewithal to extend its role and India’s relationship with ASEAN, reach to the extended region? A China, Japan and Australia have quick look at the essential evolved exceptionally well. India ingredients involved in this has been long desirous of playing a extended outreach should help in significant role in the regional arriving at a fair assessment of growth dynamics. It began with the possibilities. India acquiring sectoral dialogue India has been developing its blue partner status of water naval ASEAN in 1992, India has been long desirous of playing a significant role in the capabilities and becoming full regional growth dynamics. It also strengthening dialogue partner in began with India acquiring its naval ties with 1996. As far as sectoral dialogue partner status countries like APEC is concerned, of ASEAN in 1992, becoming Singapore and full dialogue partner in 1996. it had under Oman in the consideration a Indian Ocean long pending request from India region, giving it the critical for inclusion in the grouping. capability of expanded area of Recently, it gained momentum influence from the Persian Gulf to during the meeting of Prime the straits of Malacca. India is also Minister Narendra Modi with the operationally better engaged with Chinese President Xi Jinping with the major regional navies of south the later inviting Mr. Modi to East Asian as well as pacific attend APEC trade forum’s next countries through a series of joint meeting in Beijing (Bagchi 2014). naval exercises such as the The move received immediate ‘Malabar’ series with the US navy endorsement from Russia during and ‘Varuna’ with France etc.. The the 13th trilateral meeting of Malabar-2 exercise of September foreign ministers of Russia, India 2007 also involved Japan, and China held in Beijing recently Singapore and Australia (Press Division 2015). These would

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 14 underlining its ‘Indo-Pacific” underdeveloped countries such as orientation (Scott, The “Indo- Kenya, Madagascar and Pacific" - New Regional Seychelles in Africa. India is also Formulations 2012). On non- putting all efforts to strengthen traditional security front, the organizations like Indian Ocean challenges faced by India and its Region Association for Regional response to them will define the Cooperation (IOR-ARC) which has ‘Indo-Pacific’ policy formulation. established cooperation amongst These circumstances demand 46 littoral and 11 hinterland India to step up its role in states of the region. Its safeguarding the nerves of the commitment for regional free trade routes i.e. sea lanes of trade is underlined by its Bay of communication from the Indian Bengal Initiative for Multi- Ocean region till western pacific sectoral Technical and Economic region. Cooperation (BIMSTEC) with Also in the maritime domain, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India has initiated various Thailand and Nepal (Secretariat initiatives for improving maritime 1997). governance and has sought India also has strategic regional as well as global partnership with Russia and cooperation. These include, China in areas of free trade, Regional Cooperation Agreement technology transfer and sharing of on Combating Piracy and Armed resources. The dynamism and Robbery against Ships in Asia structural fluidity of the Asian (RECAAP Secretariat 2004). market have evolved such Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, a strategic tri-nation partnership. well acclaimed initiative of Indian Thus, it is in India’s interest to navy to cooperate with navies of engage itself more in such the region to tackle natural as well activities to maximize its own as manmade disasters, narcotics, priorities and needs. The recent gun running, is one of the endorsement by China and Russia initiatives. India is also a party to for the Indian membership to the the African Union Mission in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Somalia and it has been an active during 13th trilateral meeting of member of bilateral and trilateral foreign ministers of Russia, India naval coordination and patrolling and China at Beijing is a growing with the maritime giants like testimony of India’s pivotal role in China, Japan along with

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 15 the regional development (Aneja does not get dragged into a 2015). confrontationist and aggressive political or military interplay in The most important issue that the region but instead act as a would determine India’s capacity leading power that provides peace to play the role expected of it in and stability not emerge as power the regional and global context, broker. would be its economic ‘might’. Power does not in today’s world India as a stabilizer of the region flow so much through the ‘barrels of the gun’ as it does through Not so long ago, with China’s money power. In this context, growing economic and military India’s evolving economic progress might, there was a view among and its likely emergence as a strategic analysts that it may major economic power in the next eventually emerge as a well- 15 to 20 years, is well recognized equipped regional power to by the world provide peace and community. In the In the process of eventually stability in the process of reaching that goal, its ‘Act East’ region. This policy through the APEC and assessment seems eventually other regional forum and reaching that goal, to have rather bilateral mechanism, will have quickly vanished its ‘Act East’ policy to be actively pursued. through the APEC primarily on and other regional forum and account of China’s bilateral mechanism, will have to assertive if not aggressive be actively pursued. It would also approach in regional issues be necessary for India to create particularly in the South China conditions internally that would Sea and further east. This seems place its economic development to have shifted the focus on India’s programs in a fast forward track. role in the region as the net India can aspire to become a major security provider. It may be noted strategic player of consequence here that even before the India-US across the wider Indo-Pacific partnership approach for regional region by reaching a critical level peace and stability enunciated of economic strength. However, during the recent Obama-Modi while doing so it would have to meeting in New Delhi, former make well considered and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man measured moves to ensure that it Mohan Singh had referred to the idea on May 23, 2014, while laying

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 16 the foundation stone of the evolving security interests and proposed National Defense concerns along with changing University near Gurgaon, scenario of world affairs reviews Haryana, when he said, “We have and redefines the strategic context also sought to assume our for India. The aid provided to its responsibility for stability in the neighbours during Tsunami of Indian Ocean Region. We are well 2004, the recent floods in Pakistan positioned, therefore, to become a alongside of the state of Jammu net provider of security in our and Kashmir in September 2014 immediate region and beyond”, He (BBC 2014) and the recent added, “These challenges and catastrophic earthquake in Nepal opportunities should prompt a (Pradhan 2015) signals a timely reorientation of our strategic assurance to its immediate thinking (Kumar 2013). neighbours and beyond. All these With its key geographical location developments have not only in the region along with its projected India as a net security evolving military and diplomatic provider, but also induced a sense might, India is being rightly of urgency in India to build up its looked as one of the key states of own capabilities to play a more the region capable of stabilizing determining role in the region. As region by its wide-ranging mentioned earlier the recent ‘US- capabilities. The evolving military India Joint Strategic Vision for the might of India coupled with Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean rapidly growing economy and Region’ endorsed these capabilities above all a mature and consistent when it noted, “Over the next five foreign policy approach, provides years, we will strengthen our ideal strategic opportunities for regional dialogues, invest in India to become a net security making trilateral consultations provider to its immediate with third countries in the region neighborhood and beyond. Prime more robust, deepen regional Minister Modi also mentioned this integration, strengthen regional in his speech while launching of forums, explore additional INS-Vikramaditya in June 2014, multilateral opportunities for “Indian -made arms and engagement, and pursue areas equipments should also serve as where we can build capacity in the protectors for small nations across region that bolster long-term the world (Modi 2014).” This new peace and prosperity for all (Press role of India is driven by its Information Bureau 2015).

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Needles to mention here that indeed going to be a tightrope these transformative shifts in walk in striking the right balance India’s strategic ambitions back in managing its relations with backed by international other powers like Russia and endorsements, would demand Europe and of course, China. major shift in India’s foreign policy approach from a passive bilateral Bibliography mode to an active multi-national drive, taking into account national sensitivities and core interests of Aneja, Atul. " Russia, China back India’s inclusion in expanded APEC." its regional partners especially, in The Hindu. February 03, 2015. the Asia-Pacific, where China is http://www.thehindu.com/news/inter expected to contest India’s growing national/world/russia-china-back- presence and influence. While indias-inclusion-in-expanded- analyzing India’s role in providing apec/article6849875.ece (accessed security and stability of the region, March 11, 2015). the recalibrated foreign policy will have to tread cautiously between Bagchi, Indrani. "Xi calls Modi to US’s interests in maintaining its Apec meeting, scores over US." The dominant power status in the Times of India, July 16, 2014. Asia-Pacific region and wish to BBC , UK. "Pakistan floods: utilize Indian capabilities as a Thousands flee after dyke breached." balancing power against China. Though, India shares similar bbc.co.uk. September 15, 2014. concerns pertaining to aggressive http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia- india-29137789 (accessed March 1, behavior of China in the region, 2015). the recent US-India joint strategic vision for Asia-Pacific and Indian Kumar, Vinay. "India well positioned Ocean Region’ highlights the fact to become a net provider of security, that India will make its own says Manmohan." The Hindu, May decisions and arrive at policy 24, 2013. decisions in consonance with its Modi, Narendra. "Narendra Modi national interests. India has Offician Website." narendramodi.in. precisely that in its recent high- June 14, 2014. level interaction with its http://www.narendramodi.in/pm- neighbours as also with close dedicates-ins-vikramaditya-to-the- partners of the region like Japan, nation/ (accessed March 08, 2015). Singapore and Australia. Its

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Pradhan, Keshav. "We appreciate RECAAP Secretariet. "About India’s help, Nepal’s deputy PM RECAAP." www.recapp.org. says." The Times of India, May 04, November 11, 2004. 2015. http://www.recaap.org/AboutReCAAP ISC.aspx (accessed March 27, 2015). Press Division. "Press Division, M. o. (2015, February 2). Ministry of Scott, David. "The “Indo-Pacific" - External affairs." Ministry of New Regional Formulations." Asia External affairs Government of Pacific Review, 2012: 98. India. February 02, 2015. http://mea.gov.in: Scott, David. "The “Indo-Pacific" - http://mea.gov.in/bilateral- New Regional Formulations and documents.htm?dtl/24751/Joint_Com New." Asia Pacific Review, 2012: 98. muniqu_of_the_13th_Meeting_of_the Secretariet, BIMSTEC. "overview of _Foreign_Ministers_of_the_Russian_ BIMSTEC." www.bimstec.org. June Federation_the_Republ (accessed 06, 1997. March 21, 2015). http://www.bimstec.org/index.php?pa Press Information Bureau, ge=overview (accessed March 12, Government of India. " US-India 2015). Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia- End Notes Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. New Delhi: Press Information 1. In game theory, the Nash Bureau, Government of India. equilibrium is a solution Retrieved February 14, 2015, from." concept of a non-cooperative Press Information Bureau. January game involving two or more 25, 2015. players, in which each player is http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease assumed to know the .aspx?relid=114956 (accessed March equilibrium strategies of the 27, 2015). other players, and no player has anything to gain by Press Secretary, White House. "Press changing only their own briefings. Retrieved February 27, strategy. 2015." White House.gov. January 25, 2015. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the- press-office/2015/01/25/us-india-joint- Back to Contents strategic-vision-asia-pacific-and- indian-ocean-region (accessed March 27, 2015).

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DEFENCE China’s Defence White Paper, 2015 and Implications for India - Jayadeva Ranade n May 26, 2015, China’s Important is the White Paper’s Ministry of National assessment of China’s domestic O Defense (MND) issued its security situation. Unlike in 2013, ninth White Paper entitled this White Paper makes specific ‘China’s Military Strategy’. This mention of Tibet indicating the 9000-character (in Chinese or upgraded importance of the Tibet 6,393 words in English), 6-chapter issue to the Chinese Communist long White Paper is the first ever Party (CCP) leadership. The to have been issued which solely toughly-worded paragraph in the discusses China’s military White Paper emphasises that strategy. Reflecting Beijing’s self- “China faces a formidable task to confidence, the White Paper spells maintain political security and out China’s expanded ‘national social stability. Separatist forces interests’ and role envisaged for for “East Turkistan independence” its armed forces which, it asserted, and “Tibet independence” have must “effectively secure China’s inflicted serious damage, overseas interests”. Outlining the particularly with escalating PLA’s role, the White Paper says violent terrorist activities by “East “national security is more Turkistan independence” forces. vulnerable to international and Besides, anti-China forces have regional turmoil, terrorism, piracy, never given up their attempt to serious natural disasters and instigate a “color revolution” in epidemics, and the security of this country. Consequently, China overseas interests concerning faces more challenges in terms of energy and resources, strategic sea national security and social lines of communication (SLOCs), stability”. as well as institutions, personnel and assets abroad, has become an The PLA is predictably enjoined to imminent issue”. “firmly follow the goals of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)”,

* Jayadeva Ranade, Former Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India, is President of the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy

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“resolutely safeguard China’s military policies or the People’s sovereignty, security and Liberation Army (PLA), except for development interests”, and those issued in 2011 and 2013, provide a “strong guarantee for which included new details realising the Chinese Dream of of China’s force structure and achieving the great rejuvenation of strength, organization, doctrine the Chinese nation”. Unlike those and the issued earlier, this White Paper national defense mobilization includes none of the purportedly system. conciliatory references to the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’ China’s White Papers of 2011, or ‘harmonious world’. 2013 and the current White Paper of 2015, all reveal that efforts China’s first officially described continue to formalise the identities White Paper was issued nearly 20 of the different services and years ago in November 1998, and distinguish between the PLA’s was simply called ground forces and “China’s China’s first officially described the PLA Air Force National Defense.” White Paper was issued nearly (PLAAF), PLA Thereafter, in a bid 20 years ago in November 1998, Navy (PLAN) and and was simply called “China’s to build its the PLA Second National Defense.” credentials as a Artillery ‘responsible’ major power which is (PLASAF). The White Paper of transparent on defence issues, 2011, in fact, for the first time China has issued defence- referred to the ground forces as related White Papers almost every the PLA Army (PLAA) and this two years. The series practice is continued in the of white papers are official subsequent White Papers. The statements of Chinese government White Paper of 2013, titled policy and usually provide “Diversified Employment Beijing’s official view of the of China’s Armed Forces,” also for contemporary international and the first time ever officially regional situation, relations with provided details of the force Taiwan and a statement of the strengths of the PLAA, PLAAF, major elements of China’s PLAN and PLASAF. defense policy. Most of the White Papers contained only general The latest White Paper reflects information regarding China’s Beijing’s continuing concern about

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 21 its periphery and, while maritime rights and interests, acknowledging that the some of its offshore neighbors take international environment is provocative actions and reinforce generally peaceful, dwells on the their military presence on China’s likelihood of “immediate” and reefs and islands that they have “potential threats of local wars”. It illegally occupied. Some external notes that “small-scale wars, countries are also busy meddling conflicts and crises” continue to in South China Sea affairs; a tiny recur in some regions. It identified few maintain constant close-in air the “international competition for and sea surveillance and the redistribution of power, rights reconnaissance against China. It and interests” as a new threat is thus a long-standing task for confronting China. Others were China to safeguard its maritime listed as including increased rights and interests. Certain terrorist activities and complex disputes over land territory are and volatile “hotspot issues, such still smoldering. The Korean as ethnic, religious, border and Peninsula and Northeast Asia are territorial disputes”. shrouded in instability and uncertainty. Regional terrorism, Pertinent is the assessment in separatism and extremism are Chapter I of the White Paper rampant. All these have a which, while reiterating China’s negative impact on the security maritime territorial claims, and stability along China’s conveys a thinly veiled warning to periphery”. countries in the region. It observes that “as the world Declaring that “without a strong economic and strategic center of military a country can be neither gravity is shifting ever more safe nor strong”, the White Paper rapidly to the Asia-Pacific region, focused on the Preparations for the US carries on its “rebalancing” Military Struggle (PMS) and strategy and enhances its military directed the armed forces to presence and its military alliances accelerate efforts to raise combat in this region. Japan is sparing no capability. Modifying the effort to dodge the post-war guidelines for PMS which had last mechanism, overhauling its been revised in 2004, it said military and security policies….On emphasis would now be placed on the issues concerning China’s “winning informationized local territorial sovereignty and wars, highlighting maritime

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 22 military struggle and maritime safeguard the PMS”. China’s armed forces were sovereignty and mandated to conduct live-setting security of China’s training, IT-based simulated territorial land, air training, and face-on-face and sea; confrontation training in line with (ii) resolutely safeguard real-combat criteria. Training in the unification of the complex electro-magnetic motherland; environments, complex and (iii) safeguard China’s unfamiliar terrains, and complex security and weather conditions are to be interests in new intensified. It said the PLAA will domains; improve combat readiness with (iv) safeguard the combined arms and ensure agile security of China’s maneuvers and effective response. overseas interests; The PLAN will continue to (v) maintain strategic perform regular combat readiness deterrence and carry patrols and maintain a military out nuclear presence in relevant sea areas. counterattack; and The PLAAF will maintain vigilant (vi) strengthen efforts in and efficient combat readiness operations against with all-dimensional response and infiltration, full territorial reach while separatism and observing the principles applicable terrorism so as to in peacetime and wartime. It maintain China’s disclosed that the PLASAF will political security and maintain an appropriate level of social stability. vigilance in peacetime and remain action-ready. The White Paper additionally detailed some of the enhanced The White Paper listed the capabilities that China’s armed strategic tasks for China’s armed forces will acquire in the coming forces. These include to: years. This includes aero-space and cyber capabilities. Stating (i) deal with a wide that the new tasks of the PLA range of emergencies ground forces require “mobile and military threats, operations” and “multi- and effectively dimensional offense and defense”,

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 23 it said the PLA Army (PLAA) will capabilities for “strategic early “continue to reorient from theater warning, air strike, air and missile defense to trans-theater mobility”, defense, information build small, multi-functional and countermeasures, airborne modular units and “elevate its operations, strategic projection capabilities for precise, multi- and comprehensive support”. dimensional, trans-theater, multi- functional and sustainable The PLASAF, it said, will continue operations”. The importance of to have nuclear and conventional integrated joint operations (IJO) missiles in its inventory and was underscored. accelerate development of independent innovations in The PLA Navy (PLAN)’s role has weaponry and equipment. It was been considerably expanded from tasked to improve the force one of “offshore waters defense” as structure by combining nuclear at present to the and conventional combination of The PLASAF, it said, will capabilities. The “offshore waters continue to have nuclear and White Paper said defense” with “open conventional missiles in its the PLASAF will seas protection.” inventory and accelerate strengthen its The PLAN has development of independent capabilities for innovations in weaponry and accordingly been equipment. strategic tasked to build a deterrence and “combined, multi-functional” nuclear counterattack, and marine combat force structure. medium- and long-range precision Earmarked for enhancement is the strikes. PLAN’s “strategic deterrence and counterattack” capability. The People’s Armed Police Force (PAPF) came in for mention with The White Paper similarly added a the White Paper highlighting its definitive offensive role for the role in effectively maintaining PLA Air Force (PLAAF). It said social stability and contingency the PLAAF will “endeavor to shift response, counter-terrorism its focus from territorial air operations etc. The indication is defense to both defense and that the PAPF will acquire more offense, and build an air-space and modern equipment and that defense force structure”. The the domestic security apparatus PLAAF will also boost its

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 24 will continue to receive high and a potential successor to budgetary allocations. Admiral Wu Shengli as Commander of the PLAN, to lead While the PLAN already receives a large Chinese delegation to the a proportionately larger share of Shangri La Dialogue held in the defence budget, this latest Singapore just three days later on White Paper highlights the May 29-30, 2015. Though Admiral importance of the maritime Sun Jiangguo delivered a mildly domain and goes well beyond the worded speech from a prepared White Paper of 2013 in text, he declined to respond to any emphasising the importance of questions regarding the South naval power. Appearing to set the China Sea disputes from stage for the next round of representatives of other military reforms, it participating nations and unambiguously declared: “The requested them to separately traditional mentality that land discuss issues bilaterally with the outweighs sea must be abandoned, PLA delegation. and great importance has to be attached to managing the seas and China’s effort to build the PLAN’s oceans and protecting maritime maritime capability has rights and interests”. China, it accelerated after the 18th Party said, must “develop a modern Congress and articulation by maritime military force structure Chinese President Xi Jinping of commensurate with its national the muscular ‘China’s Dream’. security and development Just months earlier in May 2012, interests, safeguard its national Beijing had begun to issue new sovereignty and maritime rights Chinese passports sparking and interests, protect the security protests internationally. The of strategic SLOCs and overseas passports appeared to be a re- interests….so as to provide statement of China’s perceived strategic support for building itself territorial limits and mirror the into a maritime power”. extent of the Chinese nation as envisioned in the maps published The importance accorded to these by Beijing in 1954, and which issues by China’s leadership was continue to be taught in China till immediately visible when Beijing today. The map, which is part of a deputed Admiral Sun Jiangguo, textbook titled “A Brief History of PLA Deputy Chief of General Staff Modern China”, claims to show

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 25 nineteen of “the Chinese important period of strategic territories taken by the opportunity" during which it can Imperialists in the old Democratic realize "the Chinese Dream of Revolutionary Era (1840-1919)”. great national rejuvenation". Its These include Nepal, Bhutan, focus and tone have undoubtedly Burma (Myanmar) and in India aroused concern among China’s the state of Sikkim and territories neighbours and especially the in the north-east comprising the countries which have unresolved former states of Assam, NEFA and territorial, including maritime, Nagaland, as well as the Andaman disputes with China. Islands. China’s insistent push for its The latest White Paper also strategic geo-economic initiative of removes the ambiguity in the ‘One Road, One Belt’ (New Silk previous White Paper regarding Road Economic Belt and Maritime use of nuclear weapons. It Silk Route) strongly suggests it is categorically states “China has intent on becoming always pursued the The latest White Paper also a global maritime policy of no first removes the ambiguity in the power. A US use of nuclear previous White Paper regarding estimate claims weapons” and use of nuclear weapons. that China has “China will plans to increase unconditionally not use or its Navy to 351 ships by 2020. threaten to use nuclear weapons Release of the White Paper, 2015 against non-nuclear-weapon states also coincides with the growing or in nuclear-weapon-free zones, tensions in the South China Sea and will never enter into a nuclear and Beijing’s testy relations with arms race with any other country”. the US. It did, however, say China “will optimize its nuclear force The White Paper is of direct structure….and survivability and relevance to India. It comes in the protection, and deter other backdrop of the appreciably and countries from using or recently visibly upgraded Sino- threatening to use nuclear Pakistan strategic relationship weapons against China”. which has impinged on India’s sovereignty and territorial The White Paper makes clear that integrity and Beijing’s continuing China perceives this as "an intransigence on tackling the issue

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 26 of the disputed border or intrusion security. Relevant are the by PLA troops. observations that among the new threats that China confronts, are It confirms that the PLA continues the “international competition for to rapidly build capability to win the redistribution of power, rights local wars. The focus is on and interests”; that “certain acquiring the capability to rapidly disputes over land territory are move, by land or air, units of well- still smoldering”; the existence of armed and well-equipped troops “hotspot issues, such as ethnic, from locations across China to the religious, border and territorial borders. The White Paper disputes”; and the likelihood of additionally states that the PLAA “immediate” and “potential threats and PLAAF will increase of local wars”. These highlight patrolling along the borders and Beijing’s continuing concern of the the PLAN will enhance force situation on its periphery. The projection activities in the South reference to “international China Seas and increase its competition for the redistribution visibility in the oceans. of power…”, however, hints that Beijing views India as a longer Of particular importance is the term challenge. apparent upgradation of the Tibet issue and references to the Back to Contents “separatist forces” of “Tibet independence”, “serious damage” they have inflicted and “formidable task” of maintaining

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DEFENCE Need to Reform India's Defence Acquisitions: The way forward - KV Kuber efence Acquisitions Armed Forces need to be equipped globally, have a character. with the state of art systems and D The character visible in equipment to be in a state of defence acquisitions of a nation, readiness to enable combat reflect the character of the country different situations that could and its peoples. It has been well arise. said, “ It is costliest for a nation to have a cheap Armed Forces”. Therefore, Defence Acquisitions are an essential prerequisite for Is there a need for Defence our Armed Forces. Question now Acquisitions, can’t our Armed arises, if the requirement of our Forces do with what the country Armed Forces must be met from has or what we as a nation can at within the resources available in best afford? Do we not have other the country or from any source methods to enforce peace? Is available that can meet the peaceful co-existence not our requirements of the Forces. Well, fundamental policy governing our it is good for the nation to living? Well, these and the many remember that the Armed Forces more questions that some skeptics are but the last instrument to raise, is answered by just one meet any contingency. lesson that history has taught us, the 1962 war. The Nehruvian philosophy of state owned industry to meet the The geo-political situation that we requirements of our Forces has are in, puts us as a nation in a seen the evolution of the Defence compelling situation for us to Public Sector Enterprises and the remain in a state of ultimate Defence research and development readiness, to meet contingencies Organisation. Ordnance factories that arise due to external were a legacy we carried from the aggression and internal threat. British era. It was only in 2001, There is no gain saying that our that the domestic private industry * KV Kuber, Former Army officer is a specialist in defence acquisition and is a member of a MoD- appointed committee to review Defence Procurement Procedures

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 28 was opened up for defence somewhere down the line we have business by removing the defence become what I call, “Prisoners of sector from the Reserved category Procedures”. Letter is overriding and moving it into the Licenced the spirit, and the spirit has category. evaporated. We have forgotten the basic aim with which these Coincidentally, it was around that procedures were evolved, we have time in 2001, that the Defence forgotten Kargil, we do not seem to Ministry thought that they needed remember how we scouted for a procurement procedure of their weapons and equipment at the own. This gave birth to the first last minute. The entire exercise of Defence Procurement Procedure in the Group of Ministers 2002(DPP 2002). Till then, the recommendations post Kargil in ministry, was making their review of the national Security procurements for the Forces as System, and what flowed from any other ministry that, creation of a does for civilian Coincidentally, it was around procedure, was to procurement in that time in 2001, that the Defence Ministry thought that ensure expeditious conformance to the procurement to our General Financial they needed a procurement procedure of their own. This Forces. Battle Rules(GFR). Did gave birth to the first Defence ready forces we require a Kargil Procurement Procedure in equipped with the type of situation to 2002(DPP 2002). state of art systems wake up the nation and equipment was to reality of ensuring expeditious our vision, the entire spirit of the procurement for our Forces and procedure was to make the soldier not starve them in the hour of feel proud of what the nation can need. Does it behold of a nation of also do for him. our size and strength to run around globe trotting with a bowl A glance at the information in in hand, at the hour of need(also public domain is indicative of the known as arms shopping by lethargy in the system to meet this empowered committees). aim. Probity, prudence, propriety, vigilance, fear of taking decisions Defence acquisitions have since have all contributed to this evolved, over the years with bureaucratic lethargy. The modifications and fine tuning of procedures have evolved, system procedures to now have a more or strengthened and staffed more less mature procedure. But then,

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 29 than ever, ever increasing reports followed in the rest of the from the CAG, fear of government departments. Decision audit/vigilance and a few cases making, as a function of efficiency, and scams have all but ruined the is more conspicuous by its system. There is a conflict in the absence. Adherence to procurement executive as to what promulgated timelines is by he is and what he is to be. Army is exception by the government. starved of guns for more than 25 There is a lack of trust, amongst years, pre-world war vintage Air the various departments of the Defence systems, flying coffins, government, between the burning ships and such like government and the industry, examples only reinforce the need between private and public for a need to reform India’s enterprises, and the list goes on. defence acquisitions. We are (in)famous for figuring in What then are the fundamental the Sipri book for being the largest problems in acquisitions? importer of arms, may be successively. Even today, as was Fundamentally, at the basic level, the case more than a couple of it is all about ownership. While it decades ago, the import content in is the Armed Forces that need a our acquisitions was as high as system or equipment, they are at 70% and less than 30% sourced the mercy of bureaucracy to find from domestic sources. While them the equipment. Who then is there were statements by many a responsible for “Capability government official occupying Building” of the Forces? Does this often enviable positions of power responsibility rest with the Forces to reverse the buying trend, from themselves or has this the 70/30 to 30/70; little was done responsibility of capability to improve the situation. Industry building of the Forces, been has emerged, private sector has outsourced to a few babus in the exhibited its willingness to make ministry? So, we must address huge investments, best practices ownership at the fundamental are being absorbed by the level. industry, yet we have a long way Then, it is the nature of defence to go. materiel that is so very unique Where do we go from here? and strategic that it requires a treatment different from what is The Way Forward

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At the outset, the nature of Forces state. Accountability and defence materiel needs to be ownership must be defined and understood by the nation to transferred at each stage of the provide for the desired flexibility procurement process. in undertaking procurements. We are dealing with a strategic sector Duplication of work must be and while doing so, we cannot avoided at all costs. This is subject the defence sector to the extremely costly in terms of time same rules and regulations that and trust. If the Forces have are applicable to the consumer carried out a part of the evaluation goods sector. This has to change of the system, there is no need for and the MoD be enabled to cater to another bureaucratic department such strategic requirements. to accept the same. This if not addressed will lead to wheels Ownership of the procurement within wheels and reinventing of process is the wheel. Once fundamental to the Duplication of work must be again the Forces avoided at all costs. This is many problems extremely costly in terms of will be relegated to that are seeded in time and trust. If the Forces depose and explain the system. There have carried out a part of the why they din or did is an unequivocal evaluation of the system, there not do something. need to provide the is no need for another While the other Armed Forces with bureaucratic department to side reaps the accept the same. the pride of place benefit in terms of in the entire process. Forces must getting educated, our Forces are have a larger say in the system. It subjected to avoidable scrutiny may not be proper for the system from babus. to question the requirements of the services at all levels, beginning It is not always that our Forces from a desk officer level babu. need the best available system in Transparency, probity and other the world. Many a time they may important facets of procurements have to do with the second best do not reside in the exclusive also. There is so much the country domain of the bureaucracy, nor can afford. This is a mantra our they can be made to believe they Forces may like to bear in mind, to are holier than thou and therefore align their wish list to the reality have a fundamental right to of national economics. Many question every line of what the times, domestic industry can match the best globally, and in

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 31 some cases be second best and yet base is large and strong, then the meet the requirement. Therefore, pyramid can be tall and effective. a realistic operational requirement This is a fundamental rule in pure generation from a perceived threat mathematics. An Institutional to consequently arrive at a broad mechanism may be thought of to based qualitative requirement is facilitate MSMEs in capability and the call of the hour. capacity building. They are the temples of innovation. Lean, thin, Financial jurisprudence is not the strong, flexible, they provide for exclusive domain of the geographical and technical department of finance. It is more diversity. They are the largest relevant at the Forces levels, and employers expanding their they are aware of this extant presence in various parts of the responsibility. Interference from country. They need hand-holding the bureaucracy and finance and an aggressive and involved departments must be more of an mechanism to support them may enabling nature rather than be evolved. finding those so many ways why it can be stopped or stalled or There are some changes to rejected. An attitudinal change is procedures that are more of a called for. refining of fine print. A very innocent and innocuous line in Government and industry may between can be very damaging for like to work together in a the process to proceed. These need collaborative mode. Industry may to be addressed in the fine print. be seen as partners, some of them as strategic partners for the major Offsets, as an instrument of weapon systems that comprise of developing the domestic industry beacon projects like aircrafts, has paid certain dividends. This helicopters, tanks, and the like. needs to be enhanced and MoD may like to choose a strategic optimized. The guidelines for partner for each discipline and offsets may be made more flexible then build up a strong relationship to attract OEMs to place high end with a long term perspective. work in India and find our domestic industry as a preferred If India lives in villages, then choice in the supply chain. industry lives in MSMEs. The Addressing taxation issues and small scale sector forms the base providing deemed exports benefits of the industrial pyramid. If the

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 32 will enhance domestic India”, progress towards, “Design competitiveness. and Make in India”. Let us not once again forget the vision, Technology is the key to “Make in “Make in India” for the world to India”. Focus of acquisition must have “Made in India” products and shift from mere manufacturing to systems. design and manufacture. Our nation’s strength in design capabilities, software and IT need to be harnessed and enhanced. We may begin our journey with, Back to Contents “Manufacture in India”, “Repair in

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INTERNAL SECURITY Modernisation of India’s Internal Security Mechanism - PM Heblikar

ndia’s internal security departments and ministries, state mechanism, since owned enterprises, think-tanks I Independence, has and academic institutions, state functioned in a silo system largely governments and the private confined to the home ministry. It sector as stakeholders in the is obvious that this arrangement overall national security has outlived its utility and needs a architecture. massive make-over. Time has also become appropriate to make A road map is contained in the political administration of the report of the Kargil Review internal security mechanism Committee (KRC), which devoted effective and result oriented. One particular attention to India’s way to achieving this objective is internal security challenges and to create a set of principles that responses. The KRC is the only will ultimately constitute a comprehensive study undertaken national security doctrine or on national security at the highest policy. political levels in the country. Chapter-IV entitled “Internal This policy should not be seen in a Security” in the report of Group of narrow military sense but Ministers Report on National expanded to include other organs Security is very relevant in of the government that also deal present day context. The report of with the mechanics of national the Naresh Chandra Task Force security. The connotation of which was constituted in 2011 on national security must change the reform of the intelligence making it incumbent of each apparatus adds new dimensions to citizen to consider it as his the subject. national duty. Contemporary developments underline the need Management of internal security to include central government in today’s environment is

* PM Heblikar is Managing Trustee, Institute of Contemporary Studies Bangalore (ICSB) and former Special Secretary, in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 34 primarily recognised as being a leadership to tackle reasons of police function. The police are instability. This factor also is usually the first responder to civil responsible for absence of a road developments. The central map or a strategy. It would appear government maintains a large that while dealing with internal body of central armed police forces threats, ruling parties have often and several police organizations times relegated national interests for this purpose to provide the in favour of their narrow political safety net and provide assistance agenda. at all times. In addition the central government incurs The police modernization program massive expenditure on several funded by the union government police modernisation schemes and since the late 1960s till date has also provides special assistance to rendered yeoman service to the cause of national security and state governments. safety. Central assistance to the Despite this, The central government state governments threats to national maintains a large body of has also kept pace security have central armed police forces and despite existing remained several police organizations for limitations. These undiminished and this purpose to provide the limitations are new ones are safety net and provide perhaps arising out assistance at all times. emerging at of Constitutional regular intervals. provisions There is no doubt that the security governing various aspects of forces and agencies have centre-state relations on law and developed appreciable degree of order related issues. The other proficiency and success in dealing factor is also attributed to the with internal security threats over “coalition dharma” that prevailed the past several decades. However, at the centre for well over 30 years no systematic efforts have been till May 2014, when the made to exploit these success government of Prime Minister stories to remove the root cause of Modi took office. Failure to the problems or issues that cast establish the National Counter shadow on internal security. One Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is a of the fundamental reasons for prime example of this dilemma. this situation is attributed to the There are other instances, as well. absence of strong political Evidently, there is now a pressing

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 35 need to energise bi-partisan Adoption of best technology approach to such issues. platforms by central armed police forces in prosecution of their The time is opportune for the duties is important. There is a incumbent government to come up very large reservoir of trained with new initiatives to make the technical manpower available in modernization program more the country. Among these are purposeful. It will be seen that the qualified young men and women BJP led central government is yet pilots who are awaiting flying to publicly announce contours of a opportunities. The slump in national policy on pressing aviation sector has created security related issues despite avenues for them to become being in office for over fifteen eligible to join the air wing of the months. It must address staffing Border Security Force (BSF) both arrangements so as to make the for flying and other ground duties. home ministry more broad-based The sister forces of the BSF who and proactive in meeting its may be considering their own air several responsibilities. Training wing could benefit from open of civil servants in national market recruitment. security is an important aspect. The need to induct laterally into Modernization must become a its ranks best brains from other precursor to making our forces ministries, departments and lean and mean and to bring in “open” market such as Information technology to act as a force Technology, Information and multiplier. The recent advice of Communication Technology, Cyber Shri Ajit Doval, National Security experts to deal with state and non- Advisor to the BSF on harnessing state actors must be emphasized. technology in its operational work Dependence on traditional staffing is timely and worthy of quick patterns must be done away as implementation. A stage has soon as possible. Several police arrived for our security forces to officers and especially those from consider the use of Unmanned the central armed police forces Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) for opine that the officer-cadres must surveillance roles. There are be strengthened with “even” more several applications for this senior posts made available to platform especially for BSF, ITPB, them in both command and staff SSB, CRPF, CISF and NDRF positions. units. Ideally, each unit should be

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 36 equipped with UAVs to act as with adequate financial “eyes and ears” in border guard commitments under various duties, counter-insurgency modernizations schemes. operations, rescue and relief operations, crowd control and Strengthening of the “special surveillance duties. This units” of the central armed police technology is available locally and forces must receive more attention can meet the requirements of our of the home ministry. This central forces leading to creation involves a cross-synergy between of force-multipliers and also give the home ministry and the defence fillip to the fledgling local UAV ministry. It has been discussed in industry. The experience of central public domain for considerable forces in use of UAV technology period of time with very little can be shared with state results. The need to augment governments. Technical personnel capacity to deal with asymmetrical are available in the open market warfare cannot be over- and if need be the emphasised and in Lateral induction of short services of short this direction service officers, with special- sharing of expertise service forces background, into CRPF and experience commissioned units deployed in counter- officers of army, insurgency grid must be becomes inevitable. navy and air-force considered. Lateral induction could be utilised to of short service set-up the infrastructure including officers, with special-forces training, specialisation, analysis, background, into CRPF units repair and maintenance. deployed in counter-insurgency Attractive pay and promotion grid must be considered. The packages for those joining the advantages are many and will add UAV stream or general pilot more teeth to those units involved duties must be ensured. The in anti-insurgency operations. induction of UAVs into central Police modernization programme armed police forces must become must focus on upgrading training an urgent item in modernisation both at central and state level. programme of the central Shri NN Vohra, Governor, Jammu government and in doing so and Kashmir, in his address on receive benefits from its “Make in “Management of National India” policy. A definite timeline Security” at the United Services for this induction should be made Institution, Delhi in August 2014

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 37 shared his concerns on the subject. acquisition activities must “go The key point he made was that back to roots”. While the Research the arrangements in the states left and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and much to be desired and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are considerable efforts were needed foremost practitioners of Humint, to close the gap in quality and they have developed high degree of response. Several former IPS skills in this format. Techint too officers have dwelt exclusively on forms part of their activities. The this subject. Shri. V. NTRO has its role cut out in this Balachandran, former Special direction. Secretary, Government of India has written several articles related It would be ideal to create a to the Mumbai incident of National Academy of Intelligence November 2011. A colleague of his, as a platform to train state and Mr Prakash Singh has taken the central agencies in intelligence legal route to bring in police statecraft and also to look at impending threats and challenges reforms. to national security. Both the Two major subjects namely R&AW and the IB may provide Intelligence and Training form the the platform for civil and military crux of modernization agencies to partake of their rich programmes. Experience indicates experience. that technical intelligence has become the favoured tool in Under the modernization counter-insurgency operations. programs, states may be The failure to give Human encouraged to establish their own Intelligence or HUMINT its format of Centre for Counter- primacy in the intelligence Terrorism (CTC) to combat gathering process must be terrorism which includes 24x7 urgently addressed. There are automated surveillance several agencies in India mechanism, quick response and depending on Technical post incident analysis etc. These Intelligence or TECHINT to fulfil centres should possess the ability their tasks. Techint has severe to detect, deter and destroy actions limitations and must be used with of “non-state” entities or care and caution. There is no “asymmetrical warfare”. The CTC substitute for Humint and would need to be separate from practitioners of intelligence the state intelligence department, criminal investigation department

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 38 or the special branch. The coastal attractive packages in several security arrangements must interest areas such as counter- engage the attention of the home insurgency and counter-terrorism, ministry. A former senior navy security of vulnerable areas and officer remarked that much more vulnerable points, communications requires to be done to empower and safe communications state governments in this technology and personnel security. direction. He recommends that With massive requirements to each state government creates a meet Homeland security demands, separate organization within the the relevant authorities must police department to handle all increase the area of private aspects of coastal security (b) participation in related activities. create a cadre of dedicated The corporate sector too requires personnel drawn from former navy the assistance of private agencies servicemen and directly recruited to protect their assets. The home police constables (c) create an ministry must strive to create inventory of boats conditions for such and other A former senior navy officer participation. hardware including remarked that much more requires to be done to empower repair and Police state governments in this modernization maintenance direction. facility and (d) must address the induct advanced technology like quality and UAV and specific coastal effectiveness of the Civil Defence surveillance program. According to and Home Guards Organisation. another Navy veteran, the east Both are important elements in coast of India, especially West the national security scenario. The Bengal and Orissa, needs to Home Guards Organization plays tighten its vigil since several a variety of roles, both in war and vulnerabilities are yet to be peace. The terms and condition and remunerations must be made addressed. financially attractive for people to There is reluctance in the join and render service. The government to allow private sector possibility of the corporate sector participation in not only in joining hands to give the Home security related issues but also Guards Organization must be training matters. The private considered especially for watch sector enterprises have developed and ward duties. There is a

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 39 proliferation of private security attention to others in the field agencies and private detective especially private sector agencies nation-wide, there is participation in its activities. The however very little supervision most important aspect here is to and audit of their activities. A bring the state governments at the bulk of these fall short of set or highest political level to the expected standards. This is an national security debate and issue for urgent redressal. management of internal security. Without this understanding Police modernization must become between state and central an integral part of national government, the national security security policy and therefore a infrastructure will remain weak strategic tool in its and ineffective. India certainly implementation. The political cannot afford this stalemate. dimension of police modernization must be to ensure that while the police force gets the best possible attention, there must be equal Back to Contents

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ECONOMY AND GOVERNANCE Digital Revolution to Empower India

- Radhakrishna Rao ndia’s recognition as a global empowerment has all the potential software powerhouse and to be the major driver of I Information Technology(IT) community advancement and giant notwithstanding, a large social progress in all its part of the country continues to be manifestations. It was in August enveloped in “digital darkness”. 2014 that the Narendra Modi The digital divide in the country, Government announced Digital like the gulf between the poor and India mission with the view to the rich, is quite staggering and reduce the digital divide between strikingly visible. For instance, a the urban and rural areas of the number of rural settlements in the country by using the fibre optics vicinity of Bengaluru, the pioneer cable broadband. of IT revolution in the country, continue to have virtually no Prime Minister Narendra Modi, access to “digital resources”. Of who has been vigorously batting a course, there is now an all-round for digitally empowered India, realization about the growing while speaking at the importance of digital Nasscom(National Association of empowerment for giving quick Software and Services Companies) impetus to this sector. It is being leadership seminar held in done by opening up new avenues March this year suggested that and opportunities for employment ‘innovation should happen in this and revenue earning by expanding country and the government. The the horizons of literacy, health will adopt those innovations,” he care as well as financial and went on to add. While a culture of banking services. innovation needs to be cultivated to give a big push to the digital Clearly, digital empowerment goes transformation in the country, the beyond providing just biggest challenge is how to “communications and transform the government connectivity”. Indeed, digital mindset and work culture that has

*Radhakrishna Rao, Visiting Fellow, VIF

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 41 been shaped by conventional and Moreover, ensuring the conservative values. participation of the private sector in the project in a big way could There is also no doubt that at the help meet the objectives of Digital heart of digital empowerment lies India speedily and efficiently. May literacy and digital ability, easier be for the Digital India mission to and affordable access to digital succeed, a Public Private infrastructure for all the citizens. Partnership (PPP)mode needs to It is hoped that the synergy be adopted. unleashed by Digital India initiative will attract investment There are other concerns too in electronics manufacturing and insofar as boosting the prospects of support trade in a big way. Only Digital India is concerned. Data an active participation by all security for one. In the context of stakeholders--government the growing menace of cyber agencies, IT and software intrusion, the fear of data companies, service There is also no doubt that at pilferage is very providers, industry the heart of digital much real. and trade as well empowerment lies literacy and According to a as the common digital ability, easier and recent study, as citizens-- will alone affordable access to digital high as 63 per cent ensure successful infrastructure for all the of IT decision citizens. implementation of makers admitted to Digital India delaying a project mission. due to fear of security. Therefore, the issue of cyber security should However,as things stand today receive top priority while India appears to be a long way off implementing Digital India. Of from realizing the goals of Digital course, to ensure data security India mission. By all reckoning, India is now building its own infrastructure appears to be a certification labs to test electronic major challenge for the successful equipment used in data rolling out of this Rs One lakh communications. crore project. But then putting in place a robust and responsive Another major concern is the infrastructure for this ambitious issue of creating a trained project would need an investment workforce which will be capable of that is much higher than the dealing with the pros and cons of originally envisaged outlay. digitalized workplace. At the end

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 42 of the day, the aim of this 2,50,000 village clusters to the ambitious project is digital internet platform. empowerment of every citizen by 2019 through mobile phones The Digital India project also which can be an instrument of subsumes many existing schemes change through access to services including the national e- such as banking, trade, health Governance plan. Basically, care and education. Today a Digital India is an umbrella phone is more than a project comprising a range of communications device; it is a schemes, some of which have been facilitator of a number of services. tweaked to give a push to the Currently, only 74 per cent of the project. To cover all 2.5 lakh gram Indian population owns mobile panchayats the three state owned phones. Moreover, mobile phone enterprises—Bharat Sanchar density in rural areas is still low. Nigam Limited(BSNL), Railtel operated by the Indian Railways So, getting more Indians online and Power Grid Corporation of holds the key to Digital India India Limited(PGCIL)—need to mission which seeks to transform lay 30,000- kms of optic fibre cable the nation from a service to per month. But despite the best of knowledge economy. The three efforts at present they are in a phases of the Digital India are position to lay just 500 km per designed to ensure that gram month. This implies that the panchayats in the country would project implementation needs to be connected, all government be speeded up and perhaps more services would be brought on one players need to be roped in to single digital platform and every complete the communication Indian would be digitally network well within the set empowered. In the backdrop of deadline. slow progress in creating broadband infrastructure for the That said, the Digital India project, the Indian Government is project will do well to take into planning to involve private players account the existing ground to help complete the creation of realities in rural India. For many broadband network well on time. of the Indian villagers the This is considered the best way to immediate priority is to build speed up the plan to link up toilets to end the ugly legacy of defecating in open. More importantly, despite the hype of

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 43 rural electrification, power supply “Once Digital India becomes a in many of the villages in India is reality, we can give jobs to five erratic and unreliable As such the crore plus people.”As pointed out top priority should be accorded to by Prasad, ”We have got 4000 put in place a system to ensure a startups in India. Many of them regular and reliable power supply are back from Silicon Valley before Digital India project can be making their own products...I see implemented. they have the potential to become Google or Facebook of India.” On the positive side, with electronic manufacturers and Digital India is expected to make operating systems incorporating available public and government voice capabilities and linguistic services on demand by integrating search capabilities, education can services across departments and receive a comprehensive boost. jurisdictions and making them Imparting education with available in real time for both technology built in On the positive side, with online and mobile with multi lingual electronic manufacturers and platforms. Digital capabilities would operating systems India which weaves help meet the skills incorporating voice capabilities together a large challenge and and linguistic search number of ideas generate an capabilities, education can and thoughts could receive a comprehensive boost. industry ready be harnessed in talent pool. In the multiferous ways to quest to transform India into a ensure a bright future for India. In global knowledge hub through the the ultimate analysis, an successful implementation of awakened and empowered India Digital India project, industries, could be the beacon for the rest of businesses and technology giants, the world. all must play an important role. Back to Contents According to Telecom and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad,

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MILITARY Policy Options for Trans-Border Operations - Gurmeet Kanwal n the short span of four days There is no reason for the after the convoy of an infantry conjecture that the operations I battalion was ambushed in conducted by India’s Special Manipur close to the border with Forces may have violated Myanmar, the Indian army Myanmar’s sovereignty. The two launched two trans-border countries have an agreement on surgical strikes to neutralise the security cooperation and the Naga and Manipuri extremists Indian and the Myanmarese responsible for the attack. The armies have been cooperating for bases of insurgents belonging to over two decades in conducting SS Khaplang’s NSCN (K) and the joint counter-insurgency Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup operations. (KYKL), a Meitei outfit, were targeted in the Sagaing division of Several Indian insurgent groups Myanmar. (NSCN, ULFA and Manipur rebels among others) have been The retaliatory counter-attacks operating out of bases in the were based on hard intelligence weakly-controlled areas across the obtained from multiple humint borders of the Indian states of and electronic surveillance sources Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. and were mounted by India’s elite The members of some Special Forces. Two of the Myanmarese rebel groups have operating bases of the extremists often taken shelter on the Indian were successfully destroyed. The side. It is in the interest of both extremists suffered “significant” the countries to cooperate with casualties and have been dealt a each other to fight these insurgent crushing blow. However, there are groups in a coordinated manner. a number of other militant camps across the border in Myanmar and In April-May 1995, Operation reprisal attacks may be expected. Golden Bird was undertaken as a joint trans-border operation to

*Gurmeet Kanwal, Visiting Fellow, VIF and Former Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 45 destroy insurgent bases on the ‘Hot pursuit’ operations across Myanmar side of the border. While international borders were the Myanmar army blocked the commonplace during the Cold escape routes, Indian troops acted War. The South African Defence as the hammer. Approximately 40 Force (SADF) had made trans- insurgents were killed by the border raids part of its operational Indian army and a huge cache of doctrine. The SADF repeatedly arms was recovered. conducted hot pursuit operations into Angola against members of Since then the two armies have the People’s Army of Namibia been cooperating regularly with (PLAN, armed wing of SWAPO) each other though the intensity of and the MPLA. The MPLA the cooperation may have varied supported SWAPO and provided in keeping with the state of the bases to PLAN, while the SADF overall relationship. In November supported UNITA, an Angolan 2001, the Myanmar army had rebel group. raided several Manipuri rebel In November 2001, the Similarly, Israel bases, rounded up Myanmar army had raided has always claimed almost 200 rebels several Manipuri rebel bases, the ‘right of hot and recovered rounded up almost 200 rebels pursuit’ and such 1,500 guns. Again, and recovered 1,500 guns. operations against in January 2006, Palestinian rebels joint operations were undertaken suspected of violent attacks are successfully by the two armies. part and parcel of the operational India-Myanmar cooperation has planning of the Israeli Defence also achieved some success in Forces. Retribution is usually controlling narcotics trafficking swift and sometimes from the ‘golden triangle’ of South- disproportionate. east Asia and in curbing the proliferation of small arms in the Closer home, the Indian army and region. Hence, operations to the army of Bhutan had launched destroy the remaining bases in joint operations against ULFA and conjunction with the Myanmar Bodo extremists who were army must continue. operating from 30 bases inside Bhutan. The King of Bhutan International Experience sought time to prepare his forces and then personally led the charge during Operation All Clear in

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December 2003. Over 600 very vocally advocating that India extremists were reported to have should declare a policy of been neutralised. launching hot pursuit military operations to counter Pakistani The government of Sheikh Hasina terrorist groups launching strikes has also taken stringent action on Indian territory. While the against Indian militants being operations conducted by India’s harboured by sympathisers on Special Forces inside Myanmar Bangladesh soil. ULFA Chairman have already sent a strong Arabinda Rajkhowa, its deputy message to the Pakistan army and military chief Raju Barua and the ISI, a ‘gung-ho’ approach is not several other militants were necessarily the best. rounded up and handed over to India in December 2009. Against Pakistan the better option would be to undertake targeted India’s Policy Options covert operations against the A nation’s policy for trans-border leadership of the terrorist groups hot pursuit operations depends on inimical to Indian security, and to the combat capabilities of its systematically destroy purely forces, the type of border military targets across the LoC management forces deployed by through covert means so as to the adversary on the border, their raise Pakistan’s cost for waging its state of operational readiness and proxy war. the nature of the terrain in the However, if another major sector. It also depends on the terrorist strike is launched in international ramifications of a India by terrorist organisations nation’s actions and whether it based in Pakistan and there is has strong strategic partners and credible evidence that points to friends in the international state sponsorship, like in Mumbai community who will support it. in November 2008, military Alternatively, the nation must retribution must be swift, have the gumption to go it alone – including the systematic in complete disregard of degradation of Pakistan army international opinion. posts abetting infiltration. Following the Special Forces raids Operations must be carefully into Myanmar, some political calibrated to inflict unacceptable leaders and analysts have been punishment on the Pakistan armed forces, the ISI and the

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 47 terrorist organisations, but immense strategic restraint in the designed to avoid provoking large- face of grave provocation and our scale conflict. threshold of tolerance has been severely tested. It can no longer be It will be argued that the risk of business as usual. escalation is inherent in such a course of action. Pakistan’s military leadership must be made to realise that India has shown Back to Contents

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MILITARY Why Does Siachen Matter to India?

- Nitin A. Gokhale

ixteen years ago this month, to secure Siachen and the territory the Kargil conflict was to its east. This deployment (a) S raging in the heights of dominates Pakistani positions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik. It took the valley west of Soltoro Ridge (b) more than 45 days for the Indian blocks infiltration possibilities army to evict the Pakistani across the Soltoro Ridge passes intruders from those icy heights. into Ladakh (c) prevents Pakistani Tololing, Tiger Hill, Three Pimples military adventurism in Turtuk came into popular lexicon and and areas to its south. Its brave hearts like Vikram Batra, Northern most position at Indira Anuj Nayyar, Saurabh Kalia, Col overlooks the Shakshgam Vijayant Thapar became Valley (illegally ceded by Pakistan household names, thanks to the to China) and denies Pakistani non-stop media coverage of the access to Karakoram Pass. Kargil conflict. Pakistan has never been able to More than a decade and a half reconcile to the fact that the later, researchers and analysts Indian Army raced to the top of continue to focus on the mis- the Saltoro ridge and occupied adventure of Gen Pervez three of its important passes. This Musharraf, then the Pakistan loss, in the eyes of the Pakistani Army Chief and the likely reason Army is second only to its military for his attempt to cut-off the link defeat in 1971. Musharraf, as a between Srinagar and Leh. To me, brigadier had tried-- Musharraf’s move in Kargil was unsuccessfully--to wrest Indian rooted in a development that took positions but had failed place in far North—on the Siachen spectacularly. Glacier to be precise--in the summer of 1984. So why does Siachen matter to India? Indian army occupied the Soltoro Ridge (that dominates the glacier) Disputed boundaries are often

*Nitin A. Gokhale, Editor & Senior Fellow, VIF

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 49 trip-wires of war. launched ‘Operation Meghdoot’ in April 1984. Siachen, the 75-km long glacier, sometimes described as the third Over the past three decades, the pole, sits astride two disputed Indian Army ably supported by boundaries: with Pakistan and the Indian Air Force has mastered China. Located in the Karakoram the treacherous mountains and Range (beyond the Ladakh has evolved a high altitude Range), the glacier descends from doctrine that is the envy of the a height of 23,000 to 12,000 feet. world. In the process, the Indian military has shed blood, made Along with other glaciers in this enormous sacrifices and braved area, it is an important source of the elements. No wonder, the water to Indus River which passes military leadership has told the through Ladakh and Kargil, and political executive time and again then into Pakistan that it is against Occupied Kashmir Along with other glaciers in any withdrawal (POK). The area is this area, it is an important from the Saltoro claimed by India on source of water to Indus River ridge and Siachen which passes through Ladakh the basis of glacier. and Kargil, and then into accession of J & K Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to India in October (POK). At the heart of the 1947 and the problem is the Karachi Agreement of 1949, which interpretation of the 1949 Karachi described the ceasefire line beyond and 1972 Simla agreements by NJ 9842 (Saltoro Ridge and both sides. During both these beyond) to be ‘running thence negotiations, India and Pakistan Northwards to the glaciers’. demarcated their borders only up to Point NJ 9842. This includes Pakistan’s cartographic attempt to the 772 km Ceasefire Line in 1949, join NJ 9842 to Karakoram Pass now known as the LoC or Line-of- on India-China boundary (a Control. It was stated in the straight line moving Northeast agreements that the border would instead of North) sending run “thence north” from map grid mountaineering expeditions and reference NJ 9842. preparations to occupy it with The Cease-Fire Agreement was military was foiled when India signed in Karachi by top military

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 50 representatives of India and directional commands were Pakistan and the UN Military meticulously followed in tracing Observer Group. The purpose of the CFL, there was no reason the Karachi meeting (July 18 to whatsoever for any departure from 27) was to establish “a ceasefire this norm in the case of the line in the State of J&K” in very last command. “Thence pursuance of Part I of the key UN North”, could only mean due north resolution of August 13, 1948 that to wherever the boundary of J&K prescribed a ceasefire. State lay. The very next section crucially directed that “the The Karachi Agreement ceasefire line described above” be delineated the entire CFL, drawn “so as to eliminate any no demarcating over 740 km on the man’s land”. Therefore, the Line, ground. With the CFL increasingly whether delineated or demarcated running through high mountains could in no way be left hanging in and glaciated areas as it traversed the air. north, it often followed a directional path in the absence of The Cease Fire Line was ratified clear landmarks. Thus, finally, by both sides. Twenty-three years “Chalunka (on the Shyok River), later, it was revalidated as the Khor, thence North to the Line of Control by the Suchetgarh glaciers,” passing through grid Agreement of December 1972, in reference NJ 9842. The segment the wake of the Shimla Agreement beyond NJ 9842 was by mutual between Prime Minister Indira agreement not demarcated on the Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. ground, being a highly elevated, Both sides also agreed in the LoC glaciated, unexplored and the military gains made by either unpopulated region that had not side in J&K in the 1971 war. Thus witnessed any fighting. A in the Kargil-Siachen sector, all plebiscite was soon to follow and territorial gains went entirely to the matter, it was assumed, would India which acquired the Turtuk soon be settled. salient comprising five villages ( Chalunka, Thang, Tyakshi, Pharol The delineation of the northern- and Turtok) just south and west of most segment of the CFL was, NJ 9842. This modest but however, unambiguous: NJ 9842, important military acquisition “thence north to the glaciers”. If provided India an additional every one of 30 or more earlier territorial bulwark against hostile

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 51 cartographic or physical claims on Renowned mountaineer Harish Siachen. Kapadia in his book, Siachen Glacier: The Battle of Roses, in History fact claims that Pakistan had started permitting Till the mid-1970s, neither India mountaineering expeditions into nor Pakistan gave any attention to Siachen Glacier as early as 1974. Siachen but in 1978, India’s “The first expedition to Siachen renowned military mountaineer climbed the south ridge of Sherpi Col Narinder Kumar stumbled Kangri II. This was followed by an onto American maps that showed Austrian expedition, which the LoC between India and climbed Sia Kangri from the Pakistan running to Karakoram southwest. A major expedition pass. He persuaded the Army to from Japan climbed peak K12. launch expeditions to the area in Two climbers reached the summit 1978 and 1981. The reports and communicated this but they brought back by never returned to the missions gave “The first expedition to Siachen the base camp. Northern climbed the south ridge of Sherpi Kangri II. This was They died during Command a fair followed by an Austrian the descent. All idea about the expedition, which climbed Sia three expeditions civilian expeditions Kangri from the southwest. were in 1974 and that were now on the rim of the increasingly coming into Siachen Siachen Glacier...it was not long via Skardu and Gilgit in PoK. before an expedition entered the Clearly, Pakistan was throwing main Siachen Glacier. The open the Karakorams for Shizuka University team had mountaineering expeditions. It applied to the Pakistani began as an experiment to authorities for permission to climb encourage tourism in the Northern peaks here every year between Areas but soon turned into what 1964 and 1969, but had always Indian officials described as a bit been denied it. In fact, between of “mountain poaching,” in which 1961 and 1974, Pakistan had the line of control was extended to steadfastly refused permission to the Karakoram Pass from NJ 9842 climb in the vicinity of the showing the Siachen glacier as Siachen. Sometime in 1974, the part of Pakistan! Pakistani authorities informed the Japanese that their expeditions

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 52 would now be permitted. The history repeating itself? The Indo- Japanese were offered a 50% China war of 1962 had been discount on peak fees as well as triggered by a road that was being the assistance of the Pakistani built in the Indian territory of Army. Their permit statedthat the Aksai Chin...” peak was located ‘near the frontier of China and Pakistan.’ Final They Indians realised the permission was granted to them in importance of Pakistani activities January 1975. The 14-member only in 1978 (after Col Kumar’s expedition was accompanied by expedition returned) but did not Capt Shaukat Nazir Hamdani of take it seriously until a protest the Pakistani Army as the LO note from Pakistan laying the (Liaison Officer).” claim to Siachen actually arrived in Northern Command in 1983, Literature of the time also shows although three Army expeditions that Pakistan had launched a had been sent to the glacier in well-planned promotional 1980,1981 and 1982. campaign to attract mountaineers to come and climb some of the well Lt Gen ML Chibber who had known peaks in the region— taken over as Northern Army According to one report, between Commander in 1982 after 1975 and 1980, at least five commanding a Corps in Punjab, Japanese and one American was alerted to the Siachen issue expedition were allowed to cross during one of the early briefings the Saltoro ridge via Sia La and when his staff showed him a Bilafond La to explore the Siachen protest note by Pakistan’s glacier. Northern Sector Commander warning India to keep off the Harish Kapadia says the Siachen area, following India’s Pakistanis were testing waters. expeditions in the previous three And waiting for Indian reaction. summers. Gen Chibber couldn’t As he writes: “ It is indeed help recall the episode in 1978 surprising that Indian agencies when he, as Director General showed no interest in the reports Military Operations, had of mountaineering activities that permitted Col Kumar to launch were taking place right under the first operational their nose, even though details reconnaissance patrol disguised as were published in many journals, a civilian expedition to the including one from India. Was Siachen glacier.

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Gen Chibber, writing in a defence Bear II were sent between June journal after his retirement, and September 1983. The second recalled: “To understand the origin patrol was tasked to build a small of the Siachen conflict, it would be hut. A ‘shelter of sorts’ was put relevant here to look at the together by the end of September, developments in the Gilgit region. 1983. It was good enough to In the mid-seventies, the protect the patrols from strong Pakistani government adopted the winds. To be fair, these patrols policy of throwing open the never came across any Pakistani Karakoram to international ground patrols, although mountaineers. It was a step to Pakistani helicopters did buzz promote tourism, and they them on a couple of occasions. The simplified the procedure to clear troops came back to base by end expeditions. They even waived off September as the winter set in. the royalty for mountain peaks below 6100 metres. Northern A well planned A well planned promotional Command HQ campaign was launched to should have been promotional attract mountaineers to come campaign was satisfied with the and climb some of the well- feedback brought launched to attract known peaks in this region— mountaineers to Gasherbrum group, Mount back by the patrols, come and climb Godwin Austin and Nanga but two protest some of the well- Parbat. notes by Pakistan known peaks in in August 1983 this region—Gasherbrum group, were unusually strong and gave Mount Godwin Austin and Nanga the first official indication of Parbat. Travel facilities to Gilgit Pakistan’s stand. The note sent on and Skardu were improved, as 21 August 1983 by the Northern were hotel facilities in these Sector Commander for the first towns. The response was really time claimed all areas northewest good. In clearing expeditions, a bit of the line joining NJ 9842 to of ‘mountain poaching’ was Karakoram Pass as Pakistan’s! It read: undertaken!”i By the summer of 1983, it was “Request instruct your troops clear that India needed to keep a to withdraw beyond line of control close watch on Siachen. Two south of line joining Point NJ patrols, Polar Bear I and Polar 9842, Karakoram Pass NE 7410 immediately. I have instructed my

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 54 troops to show maximum peaceful condition. Therefore restraint. But any delay in please instruct your troops to vacating our territory will create a remain south of the line serious situation.” Ironically the Point NJ 9842-Karakoram note ended on a conciliatory note: Pass NE 7410.” “Assuring my fullest cooperation in maintaining peace and Gen Chibber now recalls: “We tranquillity along line of control.” considered the protest note and took a view that such routine Northern Command was in no protests are a common feature of mood to accept the unilateral life in Jammu and Kashmir, where extension of the line of control. It the armies of India and Pakistan sent a counter-protest note are deployed against each other in pointing out air violations. a ‘no-war-no-peace’ confrontation. A suitable counter-protest was But, Pakistan was not willing to lodged and decision taken to accept India’s protest. Another continue our patrolling during the note received on 29 August was summer in 1983. It was during more explicit. It read: 1983 that the Pakistani side “Your reply to our protest note precipitated matters which of 21 August 1983 received. developed into a conflict. In 1983, it became obvious to us that the A) Your troops have carried out Pakistani side was getting ready intrusions across LC north of to physically come onto the Point NJ 9842-Karakoram Siachen glacier. Hence, we had to Pass-NE 7410. They act swiftly in order to prevent intruded approximately 25 them from doing so.” miles inside our territory in Siachen glacier, NJ 9797, Northern Command kept the NK 0689. Army HQ in the loop and began its B) Last year also your troops own assessment of the situation. had intruded into the same A detailed appreciation of the area for which protest had situation on Siachen and its been lodged by our importance as assessed at that government. time is buried in Indian Army This is a serious violation files. A part of the assessment and unless stopped forthwith said: is likely to disturb the

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“We had been launching PN Hoon’s office in the Badami expeditions and patrols onto the Bagh Cantonment, and passing on Siachen glacier since 1978. this and other inputs about Pakistan launched protests increased Pakistani activity in the against our activities in 1983 on area. “That time, we knew the plea that our patrols have Pakistanis were sending more and intruded into their territory. Their more civilian expeditions into claim to the territory is part of Siachen, but its importance was their geostrategic scheme backed not so apparent until we put two by the incorrect and unilateral and two together and realised marking of the imaginary Pakistan was up to something far extension of the LC on maps more serious than just sending published in the USA. From the mountaineering expeditions into various intelligence reports the area. When we got reports of received it was the large scale confirmed that Pak When we got reports of the snow clothing and was sending an large scale snow clothing and high altitude appropriately high altitude equipment equipment equipped force in purchase by Pakistan, there purchase by the area to contest was enough urgency for me to Pakistan, there go and share it with Prem (Lt our patrol in 1984.” Gen Hoon),” Vikram Sood was enough urgency for me to The assessment recalled during an interview with me in 2013. go and share it was based not only with Prem (Lt Gen on the Army’s own intelligence Hoon),” Vikram Sood recalled reports, since even RA&W during an interview with me in (Research and Analysis Wing), 2013. “The Pakistanis were not India’s external intelligence buying all that for a picnic,” he agency, had picked up information quipped. that suggested that the Pakistanis were shopping for Alpine clothing As matters came to head, it fell and equipment in thousands from upon Brig. VN Channa then Europe in the winter of 1983. commanding 26 Sector headquartered in Partapur to plan The former chief of RA&W, the occupation of Saltoro Vikram Sood, was the agency’s codenamed Operation Meghdoot. Srinagar station head in those years. He remembers walking into He recalls: “The decision wasn’t the 15 Corps Commander Lt Gen taken in haste. It was a very

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 56 deliberate, conscious decision Command have pointed out time taken at the highest level. The and again, occupation of the Prime Minister was involved in it. Saltoro and Siachen provides a My only regret is that they only buffer to Ladakh and in military told me to hold the crest line. They parlance, the much needed depth didn’t permit me to go down to important mountain passes that (towards Pakistani areas). One are gateways to Ladakh and onto should have and closed the Kashmir. There are other reasons chapter once and for all. If we had too why Siachen or Saltoro to be gone down to Gyari, go and hold more precise cannot be vacated. the area, you didn’t need to occupy For instance: the glacier, at all because all routes are blocked by you. But, of  It will enable widening of the course those are all bigger political China-Pakistan handshake decisions. I remember pressing for (collusive threat) to include it, though I was a small fry in the Gilgit-Baltistan (reportedly whole game. Had we done that, being leased out by Pakistan today’s situation needn’t have to China for 50 years), arisen. Siachen ensures that Shaksgam Valley (already Pakistan and China don’t link up ceded by Pakistan to China on top of our head, but also makes in 1963), Saltoro-Siachen sure that Pakistan alone does not region (that Pakistan may create problems for us in the reoccupy through “Kashmiri Nubra Valley. You have Freedom Fighters” or cede to forestalled all that. Look at China), own Sub Sector Siachen, look at Karakoram Pass North (SSN) east of Siachen and look at DBO,” he points at the with Chinese sitting on the map and explains. “As it is, northern slopes of the Pakistan has given Shagksham Karakoram Pass if not on top Valley to China. Why do you allow of it already, and Aksai Chin the two adversaries to encircle already under Chinese you,” he asks. occupation.  SSN and Eastern Ladakh Why India can’t vacate will become focused Saltoro/Siachen objectives of Chinese strategic 'acupuncture'. As many officers who have served Defence potential of SSN will on the glacier and in the Northern be totally degraded with

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western flank exposed and Xinjiang to Gwadar port in KK Pass to north, which Pakistan. India stopped patrolling years back for fear of Why has military withdrawal from annoying the dragon. We Siachen become more complicated continue to remain thin in now? Eastern Ladakh against Chinese threat via Aksai Whenever India and Pakistan Chin – heightened more now have discussed the Siachen glacier with possibility of two front issue, Pakistan has refused to war. authenticate the AGPL and the  India’s next line of defence existing troops’ locations. Pakistan will perforce base on Ladakh demands Indian troops’ Range with possibility of Leh withdrawal to the pre-1972 coming within enemy position i.e. to the east of the line artillery range. joining NJ 9842 and Karakoram  Ladakh and Zanskar Pass. Ranges will be targeted for terrorism by ISI nurtured The strategic consequences of a groups while Pakistan will deal without a formal say they are ‘out of control’. authentication are obvious. Pakistan army will have Siachen therefore is no longer a comparatively easier access to the disputed point between India and Saltoro Ridge and to the Glacier. Pakistan but a trilateral issue That will also ensure security of between India, Pakistan and the Shaksgam Valley for China China. China has now increased and put a final stamp on its its civil and military presence in political control. the northern areas, purportedly to improve infrastructure there. There are however, a number of Among the infrastructure ‘experts’ who argue that it is futile reconstruction projects to be given to hold on to the positions on the priority are those related to the Saltoro ridgeline because they are repair and up-gradation of the important only tactically and have Karakoram Highway, which was no strategic significance. As one damaged in 2009. China also plans Indian Army officer has written: to construct railway tracks and oil “They are obviously unaware of pipelines from Kashgar in the prevailing conditions in

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Siachen. If ever there was a in a year. This is a sea change tactical gain that was from the first two decades of the instrumental in providing conflict when the weather and exponential dividend to a strategic battle casualties both were high. cause, this is the one.” Financially, India has reportedly Through innovation, hard work spent over Rs 8,000 crores since and sustained effort to improve 1984 in Operation Meghdoot. The the situation, the Indian Army has recurring costs today are pegged established such strong, at about Rs 365 crores. This is no controlling position that it enjoys financial burden for a military overwhelming operational and that has an annual budget of Rs 2, psychological superiority in 24,000 crore or about 38 billion Siachen. It would be a folly to give dollars (2014). up the advantage. Infrastructure in the Siachen Self-proclaimed sector has analysts have put Self-proclaimed analysts have put forward arguments in developed over the forward arguments favour of demilitarising Siachen years. Pipelines for in favour of citing the high human and kerosene and water demilitarising material cost that the Indian have been laid and Siachen citing the military has to pay. better facilities high human and have been material cost that the Indian organised in every sphere of military has to pay. Let us activity. Therefore, the examine the costs. Between 1984 expenditure incurred now is more and 2007, the Parliament was told in the form of maintenance and that 884 Indian soldiers were regular improvements. Over the killed and 13,022 wounded. That years, the improvement in living makes it an average of 38 dead in conditions, health facilities and a year and 550 plus wounded. But communication have reduced the the figures don’t reflect the fact attrition rate significantly. Today, that since the ceasefire agreement financial and human costs in between India and Pakistan went Operation Meghdoot are into effect in 2003, battle sustainable. casualties are down to zero. Even the weather casualties are now So why is there an occasional down to single digit on an average clamour for demilitarising

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Siachen? More importantly, can it be done? Several experts have Yet there are many ‘peaceniks’ weighed in on the issue and as in who propose a unilateral every other issue concerning India withdrawal from Siachen, among and Pakistan the opinion is them military officers who divided right down the middle. professed to be hawks while in service but who turned doves De-militarisation by itself is a when out of it. process that consists of several logical steps: ceasefire, Several diplomats and analysts authentication, demarcation, have said India must recognise withdrawal, re-deployment and Pakistan’s compulsions and offer a verification. This concept, face-saving formula so that the everyone agrees, is the best agreement on Siachen does not possible solution. So why is there look like a defeat for the Pakistani no forward movement? Army. This is utter nonsense. If Pakistan wants demilitarisation of The primary cause of disconnect is Saltoro-Siachen, it must first the sequence of the process of de- accept the fact that Pakistani militarisation. India insists on Army troops are NOWHERE authentication of current troops’ NEAR THE SIACHEN GLACIER. position as the first step. The Pakistanis want the Indian troops Officially too, India and Pakistan to withdraw to pre-1972 positions continue to hold dialogue over before any further discussions can Siachen. Between 1986 and 2012, take place. 13 rounds of talks have been held. Twice, past reports suggest, both Then there is the question of trust. countries came close to an agreement but political What if the agreement is flouted considerations rather than and the positions are occupied by military compulsions prevented the Pakistan Army? The level of any final breakthrough. As Gen mistrust between India and Raghavan said a decade ago: “The Pakistan in general and the assumption that demilitarisation Indian and Pakistani Security is being hampered by military Forces in particular is deep-rooted obduracy is, of course a misplaced and cannot be overturned so one. The record of negotiations easily. (between 1986 and 2003) on

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Siachen is evidence enough of the without iron-clad guarantees political problems in bringing would be a fool’s errand especially about demilitarisation.” in view of the enormous sacrifices

and hardships that the Indian Not much has changed since then. soldiers have braved in these past

three decades to defend Siachen The civilian leadership in India and keep the Indian flag flying. has so far backed the military’s stand. So, giving up a dominant Back to Contents military position on Siachen

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TERRORISM The Reasons behind ISIS Picking up Pace Again

- SK Chatterji

he ISIS flag flies from a few was hope at that stage of ISIS more masts across the having been effectively T Syrian - Iraqi landscape. checkmated? In fact, the world Quite an achievement for an was looking at retaking of Mosul organization that a few months as the next big Iraqi operation to back was considered to be losing initiate the grand rollback of the steam. In the last few weeks ISIS ISIS saga. forces have notched up victories in Notwithstanding the reverses, the both Syria and Iraq. There have ISIS is back in reckoning. The first been some success for the other of its recent successes was at parties too; but the scales have Ramadi in mid-May, which tipped in favour of ISIS. brought them within 70 miles of The story at the beginning of 2015 Baghdad and gave them a better was one of major reversals faced control over the Anwar province. by the ISIS. In January, 2015, The next victory was at the other after protracted fighting, Kurdish end of the battlefield, Palmyra, an forces drove them out of the ancient Syrian town famous for its strategically important town of sculptures and monuments. Kobani, on the Syrian - Turkey Palmyra also gives the ISIS borders. In April, another success control of road networks in the story had followed at Tikrit, this region. It’s also in close proximity time with Iraqi forces, Shiite and to gas fields that could further Sunni militias, Iranian assistance, swell its coffers. US and UK air power coming The reasons for ISIS successes can together to deliver the blow. There

* Brig (Retd.) SK Chatterji, Former Deputy Director General, Public Information at the Army HQ

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 62 perhaps be traced back to the the PLF had withdrawn from stance taken by some major Ramadi and captured the city. players during the period after the At Palmyra it was a battle loss of Mosul almost a year back, between Assad’s forces and the to that preceding the defeat at ISIS. Perhaps the bigger reason Ramadi. The Iraqi government for the defeat was the dearth of air failed to coalesce the strengths of support. Palmyra is also Sunni the various groups that could have majority; a fact that has again and defended Ramadi. The Popular again decisively influenced the Mobilisation Forces (PMF), resolve of Iraqi forces to hold out. primarily Shia militias, was not Perhaps, the defeat also reflects acceptable to some Sunni tribes the fatigue that the Iraqi Army given the reputation of the group’s experiences after violations post the years of combat. victory at Tikrit. The Popular Mobilisation However, Forces (PMF), primarily Shia militias, was not acceptable to Beyond the issues notwithstanding some Sunni tribes given the discussed above is the fact files of reputation of the group’s the fact or fiction of Tikrit, the PMF violations post the victory at Tikrit. ISIS leader Abu had already Bakr Al Baghdadi operated jointly with Sunni being seriously injured in March, militias in Anbar without 2015. There were reports of his displaying even a trace of the death and jockeying for leadership Tikrit legacy. with Abu Ala Afri ultimately taking over. Whether he is dead or With the Shia militias out of the alive, or for that matter a new fight and Sunni tribes not having leader has been anointed or not, in adequate political support at each of these circumstances a Baghdad to be armed there was in degree of confusion may have effect neither a synthesized prevailed contributing to the strategy nor enough resources for reverses at Kobani and Tikrit. the defence of Ramadi. ISIS That phase, seemingly, is history launched its offensive hours after now.

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The other factor is the deep hypothetically argued, that if the distrust with which Iran’s rise is Americans had pitched in, viewed by Sunni Arab leadership however impossible the suggestion of Gulf States. The issue was may seem to be, the results could evident in the recent Camp David have been different. meet of Arab Gulf countries with Even with the best of resources, President Obama. Some Arab taming ISIS is quite a challenge. leaders went to the extent of In Iraq, the Army is not up to the sending their deputies, viewing task. Kurds haven’t the resources. current American moves, They have made some additional especially the nuclear deal, as successes recently, however, empowering Iran. Obama was able beyond a point Baghdad would be to make some progress in the all apprehensive about their growing but impossible prowess. If the strategic balancing Kurds haven’t the resources. They have made some battle is to be won, of American additional successes recently, the militias, both relations astride however, beyond a point Sunni and Shia the Sunni States - Baghdad would be apprehensive about their need to be used Iran divide. His growing prowess. extensively just as assurance that a role for Iran Bashar al Assad will have no role requires acknowledgement. It’s a in Syria’s future also eased the truth that Gulf states will need to other major apprehension of the come terms with. Gulf States. In Syria, if the tide is to be The cascading effects of Camp turned, the singular focus needs to David were felt at the operational be the ISIS at this stage. The level in Ramadi, a week later. The current chaos with every group Popular Mobilization Front, with inimical to almost every other its Shia identity and Iranian makes it a lot easier for ISIS. A linkages, was not allowed to take fundamental principle of war - to the field for Ramadi’s defence. Concentration of Forces - is in the At Palmyra too, it can be bargain, clearly violated.

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In both Iraq and Syria, to be ready for the long haul and considerable air effort and special accretions in force levels committed. operations will also need to be leveraged. As such, Americans and the rest of the countries that have Back to Contents deployed their resources will have

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INSURGENCY Middle Class Boost to Baloch Struggle

- Ahmar Mustikhan

or over six decades, the the Baloch majority will likely opt people in Balochistan have for independence. He has frankly F been fighting against the admitted that the Baloch educated Pakistani military. The periodic class supports an independent uprisings in the province-- first Balochistan and unlike in the past one in 1948, second one in 1958, when the uprisings were limited to third one in 1962, fourth in 1973-- the mountains led by tribal have generally petered out quickly heavyweights, the desire for because of the overwhelming force independence has now spread to applied by the Pakistani state. towns and villages all over However the current Balochistan, with the minuscule phase, running in its 10th year but vibrant middle class playing a now, has even survived former key role. “Successive governments dictator General Pervez made huge blunders in Musharraf’s decision to eliminate Balochistan, which led to the an inspirational leader, former present crisis,” Hasil Bizenjo, governor and chief minister president of the National Party, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. told Dawn newspaper during a visit to the US in April. "The The present struggle is militancy, he said, was popular qualitatively different from the among the educated youths of past four insurgencies in the sense Balochistan but 'we do not have a as it is witnessing larger large, educated middle class, so it participation of the intelligentsia-- will always remain an students, lawyers, doctors, insurgency.'" engineers, journalists, teachers and professors—and people from This class is unwilling to urban areas. Even Senator Hasil surrender their conscience for Bizenjo, widely regarded as close economic, financial and personal to the establishment (read the ISI) gains, but appear determined to admits that if a referendum was play their role as a stakeholder in held on Balochistan’s future today, the liberation politics. Moreover,

* Ahmar Mustikhan is a Senior Balochistan journalist, who now lives in the Washington DC area

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 66 the Baloch middle class does not their cadres to most humiliating wish to allow the tribal forms of torture. “Thousands of personalities to decide the political Baloch youths have been killed,” future of Balochistan, which was a says Rafique Khoso, a former practice in the past. “This is the general secretary of the Baloch beauty of the present insurgency,” Students Organization, who now says Kachkol Ali, former fisheries belongs to the ruling National minister Kackol Ali, leader of the Party. It’s far more difficult for the middle class-dominated Baloch army GHQ to pressurize or bribe National Movement. He now lives the middle class cadres unlike the in exile on Oslo. Because of this past when the Pakistan middle class participation, the establishment opened its coffers-- nature of Baloch nationalism is like the late general Ziaul Haq did witnessing a big shift from in 1977-- to buy out some of traditional patriarchal politics into Balochistani leaders. The middle some forms of classes have in fact established “This is the beauty of the exposed the corrupt present insurgency,” says institutional Kachkol Ali, former fisheries and inefficient politics. minister Kackol Ali, leader of federalist parties the middle class- such as the It is perhaps dominated Baloch National National Party, because of this Movement. He now lives in which had earlier paradigm shift that exile on Oslo. claimed to an icon of the represent Baloch Baloch nationalist movement, people, for being in league with Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, the security establishment. before his death one year ago, reposed his trust in the leadership The current situation in Dr Allah Nazar, chief of the Balochistan has been correctly Baloch Liberation Front. Alarmed described as “conscience-shocking” by this 'institutionalization' of by “Bloodshed and suffering politics, which has seen the BLF temporarily wreck national and its allied Baloch National aspirations but the movement Movement and Baloch Students can’t be eradicated,” the former Organization Azad emerge as key minister, whose son Nabil Ahmed players, the Pakistani security is among thousands of victims of forces have cracked down heavily enforced disappearances in on these organizations, subjecting Balochistan, emphasized. To me,

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 67 the Baloch have the spirit of a Pakistani security forces raided Phoenix as a nation due to which the home of a relative of Baloch day by day our movement is resistance leader Waja Akhtar getting stronger. The atrocities Nadeem from in Mashkay, and and barbarism of security forces abducted seven of his relatives. and the boasts of the army chief They then killed four of them in (General Raheel Sharif) cannot cold blood but announced they damage the capacity and died in an armed encounter. At capability of the Baloch people to least three of the victims were resist,” Ali has said. newlywed grooms. On Tuesday Pakistani security forces in a Apart from resilience of the scorched earth raid on Mehi people, there is no doubt the lay of village in Mashkay, in which the Baloch land, its physical gunship helicopters were used. At geography, also plays a vital role least 13 people were killed and in this phase of the struggle.The scores of women and children imposing mountains help the injured. The dead included Dr Baloch people in surviving against Allah Nazar's brother Safar Khan the Pakistani forces. In this and his two nephews Suleman backdrop, the administrative, Baloch and Zakir Baloch. The military and legal machinations of security forces also burned down Islamabad have fallen flat on the homes. The BLF resisted the bedrock of Baloch political attack from the adjoining stubbornness. Follies of the mountains leaving at least two Pakistani generals sitting at the dozen of the security men dead or army GHQ and ISI’s Aabpara injured, according to the BLF headquarters have also helped the spokesman Gohram Baloch, Baloch resistance. In some cultures, use of force may On April 15, just five days before successfully intimidate a Xi’s visit, a doctor of the provincial population and beat them into government Dr Amir Bakhsh was complete submission, but not in abducted by the intelligence Balochistan. The army operations services while he was on his way have accelerated since the visit of to his office in provincial capital Chinese President Xi Jinping in Quetta. Then on June 2, a famous April. While Xi was inking MoUs Baloch poet Anwar Sahib Khan in Islamabad to connect Gwadar home was raided in Pasni and he with Kasghar, on April 21, was abducted along with his son

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Waseem Anwar. The whereabouts Pakistan Economic Corridor of the abducted doctor was (CPEC) as being irrelevant to the unknown but the poet surfaced interests of the people of after 10 days and at a Press Balochistan. In Europe, Baloch conference in Gwadar apologized activists, most notably the Baloch for his nationalist poems, Republican Party of Nawab according to Humgaam news. Brahumdagh Bugti, have been actively protesting Pakistan’s The development has not gone injustices with a focus on the unnoticed elsewhere in the world. CPEC and Chinese Marc Tarabella, member of the intervention. “China’s European Parliament, observed in intervention in Balochistan is an article in The Parliament, “The unacceptable. The investment in recent visit of Chinese president Balochistan is a tactic to plunder Xi Jinping to Pakistan and his its resources,” Bugti told a promise to pump conference in 40 billion dollars Earlier this month, with Geneva last week. Chinese backing Islamabad into projects in the succeeded in getting the UN Gwadar-Kashgar consultative status of two Indeed suppression energy corridor NGOs, African Technology of Baloch by could, according to Development Link and the Pakistan with the local African Technical Association, Chinese help is population, withdrawn. also taking place at endanger the lives international of the people of Balochistan and forums. Earlier this month, with the protection of their Chinese backing Islamabad fundamental freedoms. To ensure succeeded in getting the UN absolute control over natural consultative status of two NGOs, resources, the authorities have African Technology Development been cracking down on all dissent Link and the African Technical in this region.” The way Pakistan Association, withdrawn. It’s and China want to proceed in noteworthy that Army chief Gwadar violates UN principles general Raheel Sharif named according to which development Maleeha Lodhi, much despised by has to benefit the local and Premier Sharif for her role in indigenous population." Former supporting his ouster twice in the chief minister Sardar Akhtar past, to head the UN mission in Mengal dismissed the China New York. It is evident Lodhi’s

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 69 brief includes countering the Clearly, such draconian measures Baloch. Additionally, just four and Rawalpindi's unrelenting days before Xi’s visit the army military operations has not launched a cyber attack to bring dimmed the struggle of the Baloch down the pro-independence Radio against the Pakistani state. Sangar, while the government blocked the Daily Sangar web site one month earlier. Another pro- Back to Contents liberation web site Humgaam was also blocked,

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EVENTS Vimarsha: Northeast as the Backbone of India’s Act East Policy

imarsha - VIF’s monthly the federal government over long series of talks on issues of years, has led the Northeast to V contemporary strategic being one of the least developed relevance - was held on 13 May regions in the country. He stressed 2015 with then Governor of that the centre needs to accord Arunachal Pradesh His Excellency development of the Northeast a Lt Gen (retd) Nirbhay Sharma high priority, keeping in view its sharing his perspective on the growing geo-strategic significance, development of the Northeast in especially the ‘Act East’ policy, the light of India’s ‘Act East’ and a whole set of security related policy. Lt Gen S K Sinha, former risks, among others, insurgent Governor Assam and J&K, chaired movements, illegal migration, gun the session, while several running and drug peddling. Gen prominent experts among the Vij also maintained that the audience interacted with the policy, per se, is directed towards speaker. achieving strategic balance in the region. General NC Vij, Director, VIF, presented an illuminating H.E. Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma’s overview of the developmental incisive presentation sought to imperatives of the Northeast from address a broad gamut of issues a strategic perspective. He including, the reasons for over six underlined that the Northeast, decades of developmental lag of sharing borders with a number of the northeast, the imperatives of South Asian countries, is also development of the Northeast and India’s gateway to Southeast Asia the adjoining region, challenges in and beyond. He further laid developing connectivity, issues emphasis on improving related to governance, ecological connectivity not only between the issues, and India’s China policy, northeast and the rest of India but among others. Combining the also within the region itself. The perspectives of both a strategist Director opined that the lack of and an administrator, Governor Lt easy access to the northeast, Gen Nirbhay Sharma said the coupled with political neglect by Northeast is an important land

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 71 bridge to India's immediate and connectivity. He, however, added extended neighbourhood – a natural that integration within northeast is partner. It therefore holds the a prerequisite before the region potential to become an engine of integrates with other countries. growth for the entire region. While underscoring the need for Differentiating between India’s old functional synergy between ‘Look East’ policy and the present planning and execution, H.E. ‘Act East’ policy, the Governor said Nirbhay Sharma also dwelt on the whereas the ‘Look East’ policy need to develop local capacities and sought to engage only the ASEAN remove the sense of alienation from countries, the ‘Act East’ policy is people’s minds. A substantial part much wider in scope especially as it of the talk was also devoted towards encompasses the entire Asia-pacific discussing India’s China policy region. Also, while the ‘Look East’ wherein the Governor said how to policy focused on India’s economic deal with undefined and contested integration with the Southeast borders, yet economically engage Asian countries, under the ‘Act with China is a real challenge East’ policy India is seeking deeper before the government. political and strategic engagements with countries in the region. He further advised that a balanced Relying more on soft power – socio- approach would best serve India’s cultural dialogues, diasporas, food interests vis-à-vis China. Lt. Gen. S security, space security etc, the ‘Act K Sinha, former Governor of Assam East’ policy is more action-driven and Jammu & Kashmir, who and result-oriented as compared to presided over the session, also the policy in its earlier avatar. shared his perspective on a broad range of issues, including the While the present efforts towards perceived threat from China and connectivity were discussed by the the subtle changes that are Governor in quite some detail, he gradually seeping into India’s also deliberated upon the approach to its foreign policy. challenges in developing Following the observations by the connectivity through the region. Chair, members of the audience Strategic mistrust among major actively participated in a lively powers, exorbitant costs in Q&A session with the speaker. developing infrastructure and lack of effective implementation of the Back to Contents projects were cited among prominent challenges towards

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EVENTS Round Table Discussion on India’s Energy

Security

he VIF held a Round Table uninterrupted access to energy Discussion (RTD) on ‘Energy resources and relevant technologies T Security for India’, on 14 & at affordable prices, but it also need 15 May 2015. An astute panel of to have access to cleaner sources of policy experts and stakeholders, energy. Underlining the growing comprising, among others, Shri GB need the world over to homogenize Pradhan, Chairman, Central energy with environment, Piyush Electricity Regulatory Commission, Goyal, the honourable Minister of Shri B.K.Chaturvedi, former State (I/C), Power, Coal, New & Cabinet Secretary and Member Renewable Energy said in his Planning Commission, Shri keynote address, ‘India needs to R.V.Shahi, former Secretary dovetail its energy security, with (Power), and Dr. Ajay Mathur, our consciousness for the Director General, Bureau of Energy environment’. Efficiency (BEE), along with a select group of officials representing The deliberations by experts over the Ministry of Power, discussed a four sessions helped to a large broad range of policy options and extent identify gaps and bring out a strategies to ramp up India’s energy number of workable solutions security. The discussions were held towards India’s energy security. It largely against the backdrop of the was decided by consensus that ambitious target set by the Ministry instead of compiling the of Power to generate 1, 75,000 MW proceedings into a large report, only green power by 2022 and bring last four or five recommendations from mile connectivity across India a list of priorities be sent to the within the stipulated timeframe. An ministry for its consideration. It energy deficient country, India faces was also agreed by the house to the twin challenge of maintaining a have a follow up session after a gap moderate to high growth rate while of five to six months to review reducing it’s over dependence on progress on the recommendations. imports to meet its energy requirements. However, it is imperative that India not only has Back to Contents

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EVENTS Interaction with Mr. Stewart Beck

r. Stewart Beck, former longstanding bilateral relationship High Commissioner of based on shared democratic M Canada to India and values, pluralistic societies and currently President of the strong people-to-people contacts, a Vancouver based Asia-Pacific lot more can be done to further Foundation of Canada, visited the strengthen relations between VIF on 25 May 2015 for a round India and Canada. table discussion on the future course of India-Canada relations. For an energy hungry India, In his welcome remarks, Director energy security naturally ranks VIF, Gen. NC Vij, mentioned that high in its list of priorities. while bilateral business and Canada has surplus energy commercial linkages are the key resources that India could tap and drivers of the wide ranging India- this can be mutually beneficial for Canada partnership, other both countries. Being amongst the important areas for expanding top two Uranium exporting bilateral cooperation are civil countries in the world, Canada's nuclear energy, renewable energy, potential to be a partner in India's education and skills development, economic transformation and to agriculture, security, science, meet Indian quest for clean energy technology, innovation and space, is undisputable. The recent regional and global issues. agreement on uranium sale by Canada for India’s civilian nuclear The discussion centered around power plants heralds a new era of three main themes: nuclear energy bilateral nuclear cooperation. co-operation; Canada-India co- operation on Afghanistan, and Similarly, as India looks to extend developing a Track-II mechanism its global foot print and move to further strengthen Indo- beyond the Indian Ocean to Canadian bilateral relations to engage more actively in the Pacific develop upon the positives that region, both India and Canada can have emerged from the Indian pool resources to build a stable Prime Minister’s visit to Canada security framework in the Asia- in April 2015. There was Pacific. Maritime security consensus around the table that cooperation can therefore be an while India and Canada have a important driver of the India-

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Canada friendship. This, along Sawhney, Mr. CD Sahay, with strong cultural and people to Ambassadors Dinkar Khullar, people ties, and the contribution of Sheelkant Sharma, TCA the Indian Diaspora to both Rangachari, Vice Admiral Raman societies, creates a positive Puri, Mr. Jess Dutton, Deputy synergy in India-Canada relations. High Commissioner of Canada, The emergence of global terrorist Ms. Theressa de Haan, Political threats, the conflicts in Syria and Counselor at the Canadian High Iraq, the efforts to stabilize Commission, Commodore Mukesh Afghanistan through Bhargava (retd), Vice President reconciliation and economic Larson and Toubro, Mr. Rajesh recovery, are all areas of Menon, Deputy Director General, convergence between India and CII, Mr. Shreekumar Nair, Canada and offer the opportunity Regional Director, CII, Brig. Vinod to enhance dialogue and Anand, Mr. Sushant Sareen and cooperation between our two Dr. Harinder Sekhon. countries.

Participants at the round table discussion included Lt. Gen. Ravi Back to Contents

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EVENTS Seminar on Make in India & DPP 2013

n May 27, 2015, the VIF out a overview of the need to put together a panel of reform the defence procurement O eminent policy experts on processes in India. While it has defence, comprising, among long been felt that defence others, serving and retired high procurement in India is in crying ranking military officers, senior need for reform, not much bureaucrats and representatives headway has been made in this from the defence manufacturing direction despite the Kelkar industry for a seminar on ‘Make in Committee’s recommendations. India’ and DPP 2013. While the Not only the country continues to interaction aimed at giving a new remain overly dependent on thrust to ‘Make in India’ in the foreign arms suppliers to meet the present DPP 2013, efforts were critical requirements of its armed also made during the seminar to forces, in most cases it has to seek an institutionalised and remain dependent on a single integrated policy approach vendor, an unpalatable situation towards making defence for any military in the world. With acquisitions in India effective, Import liabilities being time-bound and transparent as increasingly prohibitive, there is also removing the bottlenecks in also often a long time gap between the processes. Encompassing the the time a particular item is entire spectrum under which the identified for import and the time defence procurement in India it is actually procured. The operates – the civil-military seminar sought to address all interface, finances, regulations, these problems and many more contracts, offset provisions, against the backdrop of Prime military-industrial complex et al, Minister’s clarion call to ‘Make in the seminar not only brought out India’. the existing lacunas in the defence acquisition processes but also While several useful suggested way forward in terms of recommendations were made, it policy guidelines. was pretty evident that the long term solution to defence In his opening remarks, General modernization in India can come NC Vij, a former Army Chief and only when weapons and weapon the VIF’s current Director, gave platforms are designed and

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 76 produced at home. While the sustaining them through the indigenous production remains the entire life cycle of products were a cherished goal, it should not few amongst the major takeaways obstruct the military getting the from the seminar. right equipment at the right time. Creating ownership for defence Mr. Shekhar Dutt, former Defence procurements in India, creating Secretary who later became the especially a permanent body of Governor of Chhattisgarh, Mr. well qualified people and fixing Dhirendra Singh, former Home responsibilities to them, creating Secretary, Jayant D Patil, infrastructure for education and Executive Vice President - Defence training in procurement matters, and Aerospace, Larsen & Toubro, bringing policy planners, research Lt Gen JP Singh, former DCOAS bodies, manufacturers, users and and Dr. VK Saraswat, former all other stake holders on the DRDO Chief and presently a same page, creating level playing Member of Niti Aayog, were filed for the private industry, a among other key contributors to higher intake for indigenous the seminar. products in offset provisions, and involving the private partners from the planning stages and Back to Contents

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EVENTS Seminar on ‘Design and Make in India in Electronics’

ith a view to evolve the and international cooperation, future roadmap towards among others. W building comprehensive national capabilities in design and Prominent Speakers included Dr manufacturing in the Electronic Arvind Gupta, Deputy National Sector, the VIF, in collaboration Security Advisor, Mr. Amitabh with the DRDO, CII and the Kant, Secretary, Department of American Chamber of Commerce Industrial Policy and Promotions in India (AmCham India), (DIPP), Dr. VK Saraswat, formerly organised an important seminar Chief of the DRDO and presently ‘Design and Make in India - Member of the Niti Aayog, Mr. Electronics Sector’ on 3 & 4 Jun Chandrajeet Banerjee, Director 2015. General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Dr. Kiran Kumar, While Defence Minister Manohar Chairman, Indian Space Research Parrikar delivered the keynote Organisation (ISRO), and Dr. address at the seminar, a high- Gulshan Rai, National Cyber powered panel of experts Security Coordinator, NSCS. representing the government, the industry and the Diaspora The participants at the seminar comprehensively discussed, over identified the gaps in the existing five highly focused sessions, a framework of policies and actions broad range of issues relating to as also the technologies that need the electronics industry in India, to be targeted in three specific including the policy framework high technology sectors – cyber and regulations, capabilities in security, telecom sector, defence indigenous design and and aviation. Several manufacturing, research and recommendations that emerged development in secured and during two days of proceedings trusted systems, strategic were collated in the form of electronics, commercial systems, policies during the concluding developing synergies between session, chaired by Dr. VK different research organizations, Saraswat.

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In what could be considered as the the creation of an Indian domestic first step towards laying the industrial base which will foundation stone for concrete generate intellectual property projects of national importance, rights, design systems, and the outcome of the seminar is also manufacture systems in India expected to help the government thus resulting in the creation of an fine tune its policies relating to L1 Indian industrial base to achieve clause, strategic support to start the mission of ‘Make and Design ups in high technology sectors and in India’ in the Electronic Sector. initiate mechanism to attract foreign diaspora by creating a supporting environment to enable Back to Contents

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EVENTS Seminar on Indian Civilization (2000-500 B.C.)

he Vivekananda urbanization in India presumably International foundation kicked off even before 1000 B.C. In T (VIF), in association with so far as the extent of this the Archaeological Survey of India civilization is concerned, it covered (ASI), held a two-day national the whole of India, and possibly seminar on the theme of ‘Indian even beyond. Civilization (2000-500 B.C) on 17 & 18 Jun 2015. The seminar was Clearly, there is a case to project essentially aimed at underlining India as a precursor to human the need to start a course civilization. However, there is also correction in the study of India’s need to connect the missing dots ancient history, especially in light and correlate the existing of the new historical research and literature with evidences on the evidences which have surfaced ground. The seminar, spread over the past 70-80 years. Till across five sessions over two days, about the beginning of the 20th largely dwelt on this theme and century the antiquity of Indian several aspects of India’s history civilization was thought to be during the period 2000-500 B.C. about 600 B.C i.e. from the time of were examined in the process by Buddha. While the discovery of the eminent historians and Harappan civilization in 1922 took archaeologists, including Dr. the antiquity of the Indian Rakesh Tewari, Director General, Civilization to 3000 B.C, the Archaeological Survey of India, emergence of new archaeological Dr. B.R. Mani, Addl. Director evidences since then in many General, Archaeological Survey of parts of India, especially in India, Prof. Vibha Tripathi, northern, central and southern Department of AIHC Archaeology, India, take the antiquity of the Banaras Hindu University, and Indian civilization as far back as Prof. Makkhan Lal, Distinguished 7000 B.C. Even more significantly, Fellow, VIF, among others. there are archaeological evidences General NC Vij, Director, VIF, to suggest that agriculture in while making the opening India began almost 9000 years remarks, questioned the wisdom of ago, while the process of historians who have portrayed

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Indian freedom fighters as of research scholars from mutineers in textbooks. He also universities around Delhi also urged on the historians to explore participated in the seminar. the potential to make the strategic use of history to promote India’s national interests. A large number Back to Contents

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EVENTS Round Table Discussion on Counter Measures against Naxalism

n Jun 19th, 2015, VIF concentrated mostly in tribal hosted Lt. Gen VK dominated areas which are O Ahluwalia, formerly Army abysmally low on human Commander Central Command, development indicators. While the for a talk on ‘Counter Measures tribal areas are rich in natural against Naxalism’, followed by a resources, the tribals themselves round table discussion. With have never been a part of India’s General NC Vij, Director, VIF, growth story. The exploitation of presiding over the session, others mining resources by private who took part in the discussion companies, often with connivance included Satish Chandra, former of state officials and willful neglect Dy NSA, Rajiv Mathur, former IB of governance in these areas, Chief, AK Verma, former RAW especially the wastage / loot of Chief, Adm KK Nayyar, former subsidies on cooking gas, food, and Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Lt Gen public works programme et al RK Sawhney, former Deputy Chief have led the tribals to being of the Army Staff & former DGMI, further alienated from the and PK Mishra, former Additional national mainstream. With Director General of BSF, among naxalites feeding on this sense of others. depravation among the tribals, the naxal insurgency in the country General Ahluwalia’s presentation gets further compounded with included a long overview of more various state governments than six decades’ old naxal treating it as a law and order insurgency in the country, problem. followed by a string of counter naxal measures which he General Ahluwalia further said suggested as part of a strategy to that most naxal incidents take contain the naxal violence. Taking place along inter state borders, a broad view of the extent of naxal making hot pursuit by the security insurgency in the country, the forces even more difficult. He general said while the naxal called for an institutionalized and presence is felt in large parts of integrated policy approach to deal central and eastern India, it is with the problem of naxal

VIVEK : Issues and Options May – June 2015 Issue: IV No: III 82 insurgency in the country. General infested areas, raising Ahluwalia’s prognosis to fight the employment levels and skilling the naxal insurgency encapsulated a masses, unity of effort and broad range of measures, monitoring mechanism, action including, among others, raising a plan with short, medium and long specialized armed force at the term strategy, and raising the cost central level where 80 percent of of insurgency for the naxalites. A personnel are recruited from the lively interaction followed the talk. local areas, providing legal cover The discussions were moderated to forces fighting the insurgency, by General Vij who also summed grass-root political activities up the proceedings. allowing people to voice their grievances, deeper penetration by the state apparatus into naxal Back to Contents

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