The second is the inadequacy of the defense budget. Given India’s security environment an allocation of barely two percent of the GDP is wholly inadequate. The Nation, given our circumstances, can afford 3 percent without seriously compromising on our developmental goals. The answer rather lies in the better management of the funds allocated for development and not curtailment of the defense budget..
The third requirement is the commitment of funds for the modernization of the defense forces based on a long term perspective. Fitting the services long term plans into each year’s budget allocation has not worked. Service Chiefs have repeatedly emphasized this point but to no avail.
The third is the sloppy and inefficient way of spending the allotted funds. For decades the MOD and the services have been throwing stones at each other on the subject and scarce money continues to be poorly spent. Unfortunately our defense ministers have done little to solve this problem. A related issue is the system of procurement. Whatever system we create and we have tried many- nothing seems to work.
Lastly is the inescapable- frequently emphasized- imperative of a domestic defense industry that can meet most of the modernization requirements of the defense forces. In 2001 the then Defense Minister- George Fernandes- had announced the policy of opening up the defense sector to the private industry as also permitting up to 26 % FDI but regrettably entrenched interests have ensured business as usual.
Reports indicate that the armed Forces have shifted focus from the North West to the North and North East. Appropriate structural changes are under consideration. With time, resources and some dedicated effort conventional force equilibrium will be achieved, however the problem of nuclear asymmetry will remain. While on this subject we may recall Mr. George Fernandes’s statement immediately after our nuclear test in 1999 that China is our enemy number one. The context of the statement in the intervening years seems to have been lost sight of. This is a very serious handicap and some solution must be found.
Thus concurrent to the mission of upgrading defense capability the more complex issue of balancing the nuclear equation will prove to be a monumental challenge. But this problem cannot be wished away and has to be addressed head on with the utmost priority. Without a credible nuclear deterrent against China we will continue to be vulnerable to pressures and the bullying that we are frequently being subjected to.
In seeking a solution to our territorial issues we must understand that possibly the route to solving our boundaries with Pakistan may lie via Beijing but trying to deal with China through Pakistan will not work. We must therefore be clear about our priority.
In conclusion- notwithstanding the precautions we may be taking we have to engage China in a spirit of cooperation and friendship. If both our nations work in concert and have a complementary approach to global issues we can both prosper and develop. There is enough space for the two of us to transform the 21 century into an Asian Century. In any case the two most ancient civilizations of the world should be doing better than exchanging insults not forgetting that the World is watching.
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