Q-1 Has Indian foreign policy become more assertive about India’s interests?
A-1
- The trend for foreign policy is changing worldwide.
- Multilateralism is changing to mini-lateralism.
- The engagements between countries have become interest and issue-based.
- India’s policy has changed from a policy of non-alignment to a policy of equidistance.
- The engagements are governed by own interests, needs, and gains.
- The world is accepting Indian stand on various issues.
- Indian assertion level is appropriate, generally in take it or leave it mode without thrusting it upon others.
Q-2 Comments about India’s focus on Asian region and neighborhood.
A-2
- Focus on Asia and the neighborhood has come a bit late with China having made inroads into our neighborhood adopting the string of pearls policy.
- We need to be magnanimous in our approach towards our neighbours to retain them with us.
- Like any other country, our global engagements are based on our interests first and then on ideology and principles.
Q-3. Comments on India’s moral-based foreign policy, with a principled approach, and not using its military power for foreign policy objectives.
A-3
- In agreement with the statement that “India foundationally remains a pacifist state, following moral based foreign policy, the strength of soft power and principled approach”.
- It is not necessary to use force and military might to attain one’s foreign policy objectives.
- Hard power can be used as a soft power as well using Military Diplomacy to achieve one’s objectives.
- Foreign policy and military diplomacy need to work cohesively.
- Notwithstanding the above, India has in the past used its hard power to attain its foreign policy objectives. Examples include Bangladesh liberation, Sri Lanka and Maldives operations.
Q-4. India needs to spend more on its conventional military forces, building military capabilities and deterrence, due to its regional and global aspirations.
A-4
- At the moment India’s necessity to invest in building conventional military power is governed more by its threat perception and need to guard its interests.
- Regional and or global aspirations come next.
- Military capability and deterrence are essential to be considered as a major regional power.
- Military power alone is not sufficient, it has to be backed by economic clout and strength.
Q-5 In an age of comprehensive security, is military power by itself adequate?
A-5
- While it is true that, military power is a significant ingredient of power projection it greatly impacts international dynamics and relations between nations.
- It alone cannot achieve national objectives. It has to be backed by economic clout and a balanced all-round deterrence capability.
- Earlier the debate used to be between money being spent on development or military capability.
- Military power is essential even for unhindered growth.
- The nature of warfare is changing. Firstly, hostile actions do take place even in no-war scenarios and secondly, the hostilities are not limited to the military alone.
- New dimensions of warfare have emerged that affect the entire nation and demand a whole of national response.
- The question of choice is not as simple as “either one or the other”. A balanced approach is required for multi-dimensional holistic capability enhancement.
- Balance has to be maintained between:-
- Military power and other tools of statecraft.
- Conventional military power and other dimensions of warfare.
- Military capability and capacity to wage war.
- Quality and quantity of platform, weapons, and war-waging wherewithal.
- Military capability and adequate deterrence are required first and foremost for safeguarding own interests, thereafter comes regional/global responsibilities and aspirations.
Q-6 India with its present stage of development, can ill afford to suffer a military setback, due to loss of deterrence as a result of inadequate defence funding.
A-6
- In agreement with the statement.
- The minimum credible deterrence value of the military needs to be maintained at all times.
- The minimum deterrence value depends upon, the number of enemies, their military capabilities, and their attitude.
- In India’s case, the enemy’s capabilities are racing ahead creating a wide gap and the attitude has become more belligerent and aggressive.
Q-7. What does a ‘credible military capability’ entail?
A-7
Credible military capability to my mind would entail the following in sequence:-
- Adequate deterrence.
- The ability for strategic coercion.
- Punitive capability.
- Ability to wage war if required,
- Adequate war endurance.
- Ability to provide human assistance and disaster relief (HADR) domestically as well as externally.
- Capability to exploit Defence Diplomacy.
Collective security is valid not only during the war but also to deal with grey zone operations during the time of peace.
Q-8. What capabilities are required for military hard power to become an effective means of state-craft?
A-8
The military alone cannot achieve the national objectives. Besides aspects mentioned earlier areas which need attention are:-
- Ability to meet challenges in the nonconventional and new domains of warfare including Nuclear, Biological, Space, Cyber, Electronic, and Information.
- Any reorganization should be to cater for future challenges in these domains.
- A robust defence industry and production eco-system are essential.
- Intangible factors like morale and training are very important along with doctrine, strategy, and tactics.
- Reach, precision, standoff, and a robust supply chain are equally important.
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