Military & Aerospace

Review of India’s Security Imperatives: Agenda for the New Government
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Issue Vol. 29.3 Jul-Sep 2014 | Date : 25 Aug , 2014

Infrastructure Development

Development of infrastructure in the border areas along India’s boundary with China, in particular, has been slow and lacking a sense of urgency considering its criticality. In the first instance, the number of agencies involved in independently assessing the viability of a project proposal makes a mockery of all the urgency accorded to these so called “strategic roads” projects. Secondly, taking the example of Arunachal Pradesh which needs these roads most urgently, the ground realties have been glossed over in the planning process. The Border Roads Organisation lacks the requisite modern equipment for speeding up the construction pace. There is a paucity of locally available skilled and unskilled labour.

Strategic roads must be accorded automatic Environment and Forest clearance when sanction for construction is approved in principle…

The situation is further complicated by local resentment to importing such labour. Due to the unique geological structure of these hills and mountain ranges, even basic ingredients such as stone and aggregate are required to be transported from distant source sites thus raising the cost and time required for construction. The vicious monsoon has its impact too. Every year, the existing roads are subjected to extensive damages. Substantial resources have to be diverted to resurrecting these roads, which in turn reduces the working window and adds to the delay in construction of the new roads. Induction of modern equipment in sufficient numbers at an accelerated pace is essential and urgent.

The plethora of Ministries and agencies involved in just the road network projects in the North East Region is another reason for the uncoordinated slow and disjointed development. The Ministries of Defence, Road Transport and Highways, Home Affairs (for Border Area Development Projects, Hill Area Development Projects and Border Roads), Rural Development and Development of North East Region are all involved in this exercise. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has a major role in clearing these projects. There is a crying need to coordinate all this effort and resource and have the Environment Ministry onboard ab initio. As a matter of fact, the strategic roads must be accorded automatic Environment and Forest clearance when sanction for construction is approved in principle.

To make available an alternative mode of induction into the remote regions of along the Northern border, the disused Advanced Landing Grounds are being reactivated and additional ones planned for construction. Similarly, those areas not conducive to operations of fixed wing aircraft should have Forward Armament and Replenishment Points (FAARP) for rotary wing aircraft situated along the axis of maintenance. The unpredictable weather patterns and small time window suitable for flying will be optimally exploited when such a network of bases is in place. These projects must be given the necessary heave for early completion.

The Indian Army has been slow in getting its act together due to various systemic constraints…

Logistic Warehousing

The geographical configuration of the Himalayas with a series of ranges running in depth and parallel to the boundary with China all along the Northern border areas has presented a major challenge in sustaining forces deployed forward. Due to the vulnerable and tenuous lines of communications, suitable logistic bases along the major axes are necessitated. In this regard, China has constructed a wide network of logistics bases and tunnels for logistic purposes in areas nearer the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Indian Army has been slow in getting its act together due to various systemic constraints. In Arunachal Pradesh, land belongs to the local tribal community. Today acquiring land for such purposes is becoming more and more difficult. Intervention by the government would be required to see timely fruition of these projects.

Synergy of Resources

With effect from March 2011, a more nuanced and narrow definition of “paramilitary forces” has been adopted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at the behest of the Army. The Assam Rifles, Special Frontier Force (SFF) and Indian Coast Guard are the only three that are in this category. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been listed as three of the eight Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of the country.

Assam Rifles forces are officered, trained and operate with the Army but report to the MHA implying thereby that the lien of the Army on this Force is only for actual conduct of Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorist (IC/CT) operations – not a neat arrangement. The Assam Rifles should be wholly placed under the MoD.

The BSF operates under the operational command and control of the Army when deployed on the Line of Control (LC) with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). However, even in these areas the Sector Headquarters, under a Deputy Inspector General of the BSF, is not under command of the Army but remains answerable to the Inspector General of BSF in the upward hierarchical chain. The ITBP deployment along the LAC is independent of the Army, though the LAC is a ‘live’ border prone to military actions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) rather than activities related to policing requirement as is the mandate of the ITBP.

A round-the-clock threat of a clandestine cyber attack is a reality…

In POK, along the LC the Mujahids deployed alongside the Pak army are directly under the command and control of Pak Army. Similarly, China’s Border Guards deployed along the LAC in Tibet are operating directly under the PLA. It is an operational imperative that there is a single point of control of all forces deployed on the LC and LAC for a timely and coordinated response. Therefore, all these forces should be under the operational command and control of the Army – a measure that has been resisted to by the MHA for decades.

As a further measure for fullest synergy, it will be pragmatic on the part of the Government to adopt a policy wherein all personnel, including the officers selected for any CAPF, are mandated to initially serve in the Army for six years before reverting to their respective Force. Such an initiative would ensure uniformity of training, operational synchronism and would address Army’s persistent problem of shortage of junior leaders. The CAPFs have long resisted any such initiative as also a proposal of side stepping officers and soldiers to CAPFs on one pretext or another. Such a seamless bond with the CAPFs is a pragmatic and practical proposition sans any turf machinations or empire building.

Asymmetric warfare places a heavy demand on the quantum of force deployed…

Cyber Security

The ether medium has altered the security paradigm to a level of science fiction. A round-the-clock threat of a clandestine cyber attack is a reality. That India is subjected to continuous cyber intrusion is also a definite statement. India’s response is presently, defensive and limited. There is a concerted effort required to protect the cyberspace and guard our vulnerabilities. Both defensive and offensive measures have to be adopted. A robust response mechanism should be put in place for prompt action. Delay in getting our act together would have perilous consequences.

Maoist Insurrection

The Maoist insurrection has been brought down from the affected 180 districts in ten states in 2005 to 83 districts in nine states in 2010 and as of now is down to 60 districts in these nine states. The movement is directed against the policies for the Government relating to tribal autonomy to exploit the forest land and produce, non-receipt of benefits from mining and hydro-electric projects; the long-term goal being to create a Marxist Indian State. The insurrection has been galvanised by the failure of local administration reaching the people, political exploitation and deficiency of governance.

As has been acknowledged by the previous Government in power that, “Development is the master remedy to win over people. Strengthening development in these 60 districts is a must.” It, therefore, essentially remains a “law and order” problem. The new Government’s “development model” must be implemented here at the earliest.

Lack of or weak intelligence network extracts a heavy price in terms of casualties…

Asymmetric warfare places a heavy demand on the quantum of force deployed. Lack of or weak intelligence network extracts a heavy price in terms of casualties. Poor administrative support increases the feeling of isolation of the men and effects their morale and fighting capacity leading to further casualties and fratricide. CRPF deployed in these areas have to reassess the leadership, revamp the intelligence, and reorient the modus operandi to deliver on the tasks entrusted to bring down the level of insurrection for the civil administration to begin the process of governance. This new Government should reopen talks with the Maoists leaders and accommodate their legitimate demands. On all counts, the Army should be kept out of this area as its inclusion will take the movement to a different level which is not desirable.

Military-to-Military Cooperation

The term ‘military diplomacy’ is anathema to the fraternity in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). That notwithstanding, the institution of combined training with foreign armies has been a monumental success. It has projected the Armed Forces professional capabilities and matches that of the best armies of the world. Imparting instruction to individuals and sub-unit groups from friendly countries should be provided more liberal financial packages for foreign army personnel so that India becomes the training hub for most of the developing countries. These countries should also be assisted with supply of military hardware. Often a recalcitrant bureaucrat in the MEA seems to know what is best for the country and who to engage with – senior military officers visiting other countries cannot even extend invitations for innocuous activities such as sports events. Shying away from such initiatives is a major draw-down on India’s aspiration of being a global player.

India should become the training hub for personnel of most of the developing countries…

Conclusion

The armed forces of a country are a manifestation of the Government’s commitment to the people it represents of its concern for the pursuing the country’s national interests, for providing people security and creating a safe environment for the people to achieve individual success and growth. The armed forces require constant nurturing and involvement of the executive authority. Well-trained and modernised armed forces cannot be bought off the shelf.

The issues enumerated here are not a vague notional wishlist but fundamentals that impact various facets of security and the related modernisation of the Army. It is the right of every citizen to demand of the Government to ensure the territorial integrity of the nation and a peaceful internal environment for the well being of the people. The armed forces pay back fully in sweat and blood.

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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Lt Gen (Dr) JS Bajwa

is Editor Indian Defence Review and former Chief of Staff, Eastern Command and Director General Infantry.  He has authored two books Modernisation of the People's Liberation Army and  Modernisation of the Chinese PLA

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