S
Srijan Sharma
Guest
As preparations for making India’s first on paper national security strategy begin looking back to India’s national security profile and discussing a need of a settled and focused on paper strategy is essential. Apart from horning the comprehensive national power through foreign policy craft, the national security craft also become a major proponent for strengthening the pillars of comprehensive national power and thereby sharpening India’s security approach towards mitigating the evolving threat matrix in the choppy geopolitical environment. If we run a scan of India’s national security craft, we will observe that there is a subtle departure from strategic restraint to a much offensive approach. This swinging change in India’s national security craft showcases India’s firmness in dealing with not only with global security challenges but also the security challenges viz-a viz from Af-Pak region and West Asia. Earlier, India’s national security craft was wrinkled by anxieties and doubt; showing restraint in retaliating(use of force) which proved to be non-effective towards defeating cross-border terrorism and handling Pakistan’s misadventures. A classic example of a defensive approach can be decoded from the response to the 26/11 attacks. The response was defensive- seeking diplomatic solutions instead of initiating a counterattack and taking retaliatory measures against Pakistan. The reason for adoption of such strategy can be attributed to doubtfulness and unwillingness of exercising of force with a failed attempt to understand security and strategic environment of neighbourhood and world politics. The defensive strategy also showed a passive attitude in India’s national security strategy which was later projected as a weakness of India’s softness. In the real sense, India was on an approach that was diametrically opposite or asymmetrical from Pakistan’s Doctrine in short, India was on the defensive whereas Pakistan was already taken an offensive approach towards India through capitalizing its unconventional warfare spectrum, the asymmetry had zeroed the effectiveness of India’s national security strategy towards Pakistan. This undue strategic restraint has committed a grave error in India’s national security calculations which was later leveraged by our hostile neighbors. Therefore there was urgent need to bring doctrinal changes and makeover the national security craft. The doctrinal change came in 2014 when Ajit Doval became National Security Advisor of India. Doval’s arrival introduced strategic doctrine which goes by his name: Doval Doctrine or double squeeze strategy which addressed the errors in India’s national security calculus and inserted a realist factor by bringing the hawkish outlook in India’s National Security strategy. This doctrine primarily has two dimensions- Offensive Defensive and Defensive Offensive.
Offensive Defensive- Offensive defense is pre-emptive way of carrying out offensive with defensive purpose. Here, the defensive purpose is to carry out offensive to force the larger foe on the back-foot at the outset by seizing the initiative is logic behind this dimension. India’s commitment towards carrying out pre-emptive strikes involving surgical strikes, Air strikes against terror safe havens in Pakistan occupied Kashmir indicates towards offensive defensive posture.
Defensive Offensive- Defensive Offensive posture is more focused towards countering the adversary by exploiting its internal conflicts and sharp efforts at international level including sanctions and international isolation. Defensive offensive also means carrying out deterrence through offensive means (offensive deterrence) India’s Air Strikes in Balakot In February 2019 and Uri Strikes In 2016.
India’s shift in national security strategy is going to nourish India’s firepower and most importantly the CNP. The long standing disturbances in India’s strategic rise from security purview is gradually getting erased, however, the changing national security craft backed up by continued efforts imbibing technology and upgrading the security spectrum- military, paramilitary and security agencies require more state of art contours to face the rising threat of China especially threats stemming from Pak-China nexus at conventional and unconventional front. Moreover, the changed national security craft after 2014 does effectively ensures the ends of security at tactical level i.e. detection, prevention and mitigation which were earlier obstructed due to undue restrain.
India still does not posses a comprehensive national security policy or strategy on paper, and in this regard, K. Subrahmanyam minced no words in going blunt two decades ago: “It is now well recognised all over the world that India does not have a tradition of strategic thinking… mainly due to the incapacity of our political leaders and top civil servants to take a long-term view of national security. This is compounded by their consequent failure in giving a lead to the armed forces in preparing the country to face its long-term need for defence preparedness. “ Currently India’s endeavour in increasing the capability of strategic coercion and comprehensive national power is one side of progression, however, India still needs to think a lot to design a comprehensive approach towards national security strategy. The horizon of Indian security spectrum is still in dispersed board wherein there is no integrated attention to military, paramilitary and security/Intel agencies. Though, threaterization is underway but that is also futuristic and has its own challenges, a national security document would have provided more clarity or a strategic foresight in configuring the course of modernization and integration which is need of an hour for India’s national security calculus. As the geopolitical landscape transcends into multi domain warfare, the domestic/Internal front also needs to be put on vigilant watch, fears of PSYOPS, cyber-attacks, narco- terrorism and economic terrorism are looming around the India’s internal environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to inter-link or integrate the threat perception because there has been vigorous crisscrossing of threats viz-a viz internal and external fronts of India’s security calculus. The lines between internal and external threats are gradually become blur and hence, an integrated and comprehensive approach is required for meeting the ends of securing the overall dimensions of India’ national security. Perhaps, this is the reason the then CDS General Bipin Rawat has rightly said that in coming time India has to fight on 2.5 front and NSA Ajit Doval’s statement that civil society is new frontier of warfare. These statements are indicative of the fact that there is realization of changing security dynamics and evolution of threats, however this realization has not been translated to the reality. The two front dilemma is one of its own nightmares for India’s security establishment, a tight blanket of security effectively addressing traditional and non traditional threats has to developed which is possible after national security policy comes into existence. Earlier, attempts were made towards bringing a comprehensive national security policy or recommendations however, mostly of them still remain on paper, Kargil Review Committee(Subrimanyam Committee) suggested Integration of India’s security spectrum , some of them have taken place like formation of Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA) The Naresh Chandra Task Force on Security 2011 too suggested need for a national security strategy at doctrinal level but there is still long way to go. Integration can be systemically inferred or studied if we look towards our Intelligence setup, though Kargil Committee praised R&AW role during Kargil war but did raised eyebrows over lack of Inter- agency coordination during the war and hence included Intelligence reforms in its list of recommendations. What had happened in Galwan? The 2020 incident cannot be said as case of Intelligence failure but a case of Intelligence management failure and which is why a proper Integrated Intelligence grid for better and enhanced coordination has to be established, we already have Joint Intelligence Committee and Multi Agency Centre(MAC) but these were never been re- furnished or upgraded with more strategic foresight, there have been instances where states hesitated to share Intelligence and thereby creating problems in Intel gathering chain. Similarly, there are other such grey areas where India’s security establishment needs to retrospect and introspect. Though, it cannot be said that India’s national security architecture has no objectives in its mind as far as India’s national security is concerned merely due to non-existence of a policy paper but for clear visualization amidst heightened threat matrix in and around India due to various external and Internal factors, a synergized national security strategy which can give an integrated attention and strategically foresight on issues and enhancement of the actors of India’s national security- military, paramilitary and security agencies/Intel agencies can solidify our Comprehensive National Power. Therefore, India needs a well foresighted and comprehensive India’s national security craft, though there has been an increase in India’s firepower and coercion abilities but one cannot shut eyes that lines between external and internal threats are getting blurred and India’s domestic environment is appeared to be under heightened threat perception ever since the upping of tempo of grey zone warfare and therefore an synergized and comprehensive approach in India’s national security strategy becomes crucial at the present evolving strategic and security landscape of global order.
The post India’s Evolving National Security Craft And Need For On Paper Strategy appeared first on The Jaipur Dialogues.
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Offensive Defensive- Offensive defense is pre-emptive way of carrying out offensive with defensive purpose. Here, the defensive purpose is to carry out offensive to force the larger foe on the back-foot at the outset by seizing the initiative is logic behind this dimension. India’s commitment towards carrying out pre-emptive strikes involving surgical strikes, Air strikes against terror safe havens in Pakistan occupied Kashmir indicates towards offensive defensive posture.
Defensive Offensive- Defensive Offensive posture is more focused towards countering the adversary by exploiting its internal conflicts and sharp efforts at international level including sanctions and international isolation. Defensive offensive also means carrying out deterrence through offensive means (offensive deterrence) India’s Air Strikes in Balakot In February 2019 and Uri Strikes In 2016.
India’s shift in national security strategy is going to nourish India’s firepower and most importantly the CNP. The long standing disturbances in India’s strategic rise from security purview is gradually getting erased, however, the changing national security craft backed up by continued efforts imbibing technology and upgrading the security spectrum- military, paramilitary and security agencies require more state of art contours to face the rising threat of China especially threats stemming from Pak-China nexus at conventional and unconventional front. Moreover, the changed national security craft after 2014 does effectively ensures the ends of security at tactical level i.e. detection, prevention and mitigation which were earlier obstructed due to undue restrain.
Need For A Comprehensive National Security Strategy or Policy
India still does not posses a comprehensive national security policy or strategy on paper, and in this regard, K. Subrahmanyam minced no words in going blunt two decades ago: “It is now well recognised all over the world that India does not have a tradition of strategic thinking… mainly due to the incapacity of our political leaders and top civil servants to take a long-term view of national security. This is compounded by their consequent failure in giving a lead to the armed forces in preparing the country to face its long-term need for defence preparedness. “ Currently India’s endeavour in increasing the capability of strategic coercion and comprehensive national power is one side of progression, however, India still needs to think a lot to design a comprehensive approach towards national security strategy. The horizon of Indian security spectrum is still in dispersed board wherein there is no integrated attention to military, paramilitary and security/Intel agencies. Though, threaterization is underway but that is also futuristic and has its own challenges, a national security document would have provided more clarity or a strategic foresight in configuring the course of modernization and integration which is need of an hour for India’s national security calculus. As the geopolitical landscape transcends into multi domain warfare, the domestic/Internal front also needs to be put on vigilant watch, fears of PSYOPS, cyber-attacks, narco- terrorism and economic terrorism are looming around the India’s internal environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to inter-link or integrate the threat perception because there has been vigorous crisscrossing of threats viz-a viz internal and external fronts of India’s security calculus. The lines between internal and external threats are gradually become blur and hence, an integrated and comprehensive approach is required for meeting the ends of securing the overall dimensions of India’ national security. Perhaps, this is the reason the then CDS General Bipin Rawat has rightly said that in coming time India has to fight on 2.5 front and NSA Ajit Doval’s statement that civil society is new frontier of warfare. These statements are indicative of the fact that there is realization of changing security dynamics and evolution of threats, however this realization has not been translated to the reality. The two front dilemma is one of its own nightmares for India’s security establishment, a tight blanket of security effectively addressing traditional and non traditional threats has to developed which is possible after national security policy comes into existence. Earlier, attempts were made towards bringing a comprehensive national security policy or recommendations however, mostly of them still remain on paper, Kargil Review Committee(Subrimanyam Committee) suggested Integration of India’s security spectrum , some of them have taken place like formation of Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA) The Naresh Chandra Task Force on Security 2011 too suggested need for a national security strategy at doctrinal level but there is still long way to go. Integration can be systemically inferred or studied if we look towards our Intelligence setup, though Kargil Committee praised R&AW role during Kargil war but did raised eyebrows over lack of Inter- agency coordination during the war and hence included Intelligence reforms in its list of recommendations. What had happened in Galwan? The 2020 incident cannot be said as case of Intelligence failure but a case of Intelligence management failure and which is why a proper Integrated Intelligence grid for better and enhanced coordination has to be established, we already have Joint Intelligence Committee and Multi Agency Centre(MAC) but these were never been re- furnished or upgraded with more strategic foresight, there have been instances where states hesitated to share Intelligence and thereby creating problems in Intel gathering chain. Similarly, there are other such grey areas where India’s security establishment needs to retrospect and introspect. Though, it cannot be said that India’s national security architecture has no objectives in its mind as far as India’s national security is concerned merely due to non-existence of a policy paper but for clear visualization amidst heightened threat matrix in and around India due to various external and Internal factors, a synergized national security strategy which can give an integrated attention and strategically foresight on issues and enhancement of the actors of India’s national security- military, paramilitary and security agencies/Intel agencies can solidify our Comprehensive National Power. Therefore, India needs a well foresighted and comprehensive India’s national security craft, though there has been an increase in India’s firepower and coercion abilities but one cannot shut eyes that lines between external and internal threats are getting blurred and India’s domestic environment is appeared to be under heightened threat perception ever since the upping of tempo of grey zone warfare and therefore an synergized and comprehensive approach in India’s national security strategy becomes crucial at the present evolving strategic and security landscape of global order.
The post India’s Evolving National Security Craft And Need For On Paper Strategy appeared first on The Jaipur Dialogues.
Continue reading...