Category: Pakistan

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227: Urgent Need for National Security Strategy / Policy Document

 

PART 1: POLICY DOCUMENT & ITS ADVANTAGES

 

NSS Policy Document

 

  • NSS document outlines country’s major security concerns and guideline plans to deal with them.

 

  • It is Vision of the path nation should take in pursuit of attaining national objectives.

 

  • It outlines countries power to overcome internal and external challenges and projection of comprehensive national power.

 

  • It is a plan to employ tools of national power in accordance with national policy to achieve national security objectives I support of national interests.

 

  • It guides Military and Foreign Policy.

 

  • From NSS flows the national military strategy.

 

  • Joint, air, land and maritime strategies are derived from the military strategy.

 

Advantages of Clearly Defined NSS Policy Document.

 

  • It provides clear direction preventing ad hocism and knee jerk reactions.

 

  • It helps in a synchronised approach by various agencies and ministries. Whole of government approach becomes easier.

 

  • It encourages proactive approach.

 

  • It provides consistency and immunity from regime change.

 

  • It helps in formulation of appropriate response policy by better coordination and analysis of complex inter-relationship between domestic and external dimensions.

 

  • It helps in dealing with internal security challenges arising out of economic, political and social issues. Helps in timely political intervention and implementation of social welfare programmes, rather than using hard power alone.

 

PART 2: INDIAN CONTEXT

 

India Does not have a Comprehensive National Security Strategy Document.

 

NSC was formed in 1999. Still after 22 years the NSS document has not been promulgated.

 

Previous Attempts

 

Last two decades the issue has surfaced many times in the media.

 

  • In 1999 it found a mention in the Kargil Review Committee report.

 

  • It was reported that in 2007, HQ IDS submitted a draft NSS document to NSA and PMO.

 

  • It found a mention again in 2012, in the Naresh Chandra Task Force report on security.

 

  • It was reported in 2015 that NSAB document “Building Comprehensive National Power towards Integrated NSS” has been prepared.

 

  • In 2018 it was reported again that NSAB has drafted a NSS document and it has been reviewed by the Defence Planning Committee and forwarded to defence and foreign secretory.

 

  • In 2019 Congress party asked Retired Gen DS Hooda to prepare a draft NSS document.

 

Possible Reasons for Non promulgation of NSS.

 

  • No Political consensus on national security issues and ways to deal with them.

 

  • No common understanding and agreement about its contents

 

  • Fear of failure and criticism.

 

  • Political games and election gimmicks.

 

Indian National Security Objectives

 

For formulation of NSS document the starting point would be listing out the National Security Objectives. These have been suggested by many think tanks, analysts and writers. The national security objectives could include the following:

 

  • Strengthening of capabilities to maintain credible deterrence.

 

  • Protect and safe guard India’s
  • National Sovereignty.
  • National Constitution and Core Values.
  • National Territorial Integrity.
  • Air, space, cyber and maritime domains.

 

  • Maintain peaceful Internal Security environment by guarding against threats to national unity and development.

 

  • Human security by protecting citizens and providing them a safe, just, equitable and prosperous climate.

 

  • Achieving Safe neighbourhood and constructive engagement with other nations.

 

  • Maintaining rightful place in the international global affairs.

 

 

PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS

 

There is an urgent need to formulate and promulgate NSS document. Suggestions are as follows:

 

  • It should be a comprehensive document covering all the security concerns.

 

  • It should contain broad guidelines about ways to deal with them.

 

  • It could be very specific about certain issues while being open ended about others.

 

  • It could have two components – classified and unclassified.

 

  • It should have a short, medium and long term road map.

 

  • It should cover external and internal challenges.

 

  • It should touch regional and global issues of concern.

 

  • It should provide guidelines for multi-agency response.

 

  • It should serve as a national guiding document and not become a political tool.

 

Suggested Contents

 

Some of the suggested contents are as follows:

 

  • National security objectives.

 

  • Geopolitical and security environment (regional and global).

 

  • Security concerns related to all the tools of statecraft (DIME).

 

  • Could include following:
    • External security.
    • Internal security (NE, J&K, Naxalism and Terrorism)
    • Economic security
    • Energy security
    • Food security
    • Health security
    • CBRN concerns
    • Cyber security
    • Space security
    • Information security and media concerns
    • Water concerns
    • Environmental concerns
    • Disaster management.

 

  • Military capabilities
    • Deterrence value
    • Multi domain capabilities to deal with future wars.
    • Expeditionary capabilities.

 

  • Technology harnessing for civil and military purposes.

 

  • Structural reforms of national security apparatus.

 

  • Border management and demographic issues.

 

  • Issues related to natural resources and minerals.

 

  • Defence industry and Atmanirbharta.

 

The list is not comprehensive. Many more issues could be added or some of these could be left out for time being. A beginning could be made with a draft document and let it evolve over a period of time.

 

Titbits

USA in a period of 30 years (1987 – 2017) published 17 NSS documents. The document has been reviewed by every president and multiple times by some of them. The US document size varies from 40 to 70 Pages.

 

Coming Up

Pakistan’s Proposed National security policy Document.

 

Bottom Line

 There is an urgent need for Formulation and publication of National Security Strategy / Policy document.

 

Question

In India can we overcome political fears and publish the document?

 

Suggestions and value additions are most welcome

Commodore Sujeet Samaddar (Retd) wrote about this topic in his book in 2003.

 

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References:

1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Strategy_(India)#:~:text=The%20National%20Security%20Strategy%20(NSS,challenge%20of%20successive%20Indian%20governments.

  1. https://thewire.in/security/india-must-chart-out-a-national-security-strategy-for-a-changing-geopolitical-world
  2. https://www.cprindia.org/news/need-comprehensive-national-security-strategy 
  1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-blueprint-for-a-national-security-strategy/article27211062.ece
  2. https://idsa.in/idsacomments/ANationalSecurityStrategyDocumentforIndia_arvindgupta_201011
  3. http://164.100.47.193/fileupload/current/120816.pdf
  4. https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/india-needs-national-security-strategy-to-set-redlines-like-ladakh-intrusion-force-govt-to-build-capability-2783219.html

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223: Lesser Known Facts: 1971 War

Pic Courtesy: Defence xp

The Indo-Pak war of 1971 was a defining moment in the history of the subcontinent, resulting in Bangladesh becoming independent. This established the progress of the Indian Armed Forces including the Army, Air Force and Navy. The war started on 3 December 1971, when the struggle for independence was going on in East Pakistan. The war ended 13 days later on 16 December with the surrender of the Pakistani Army (93,000 POWs). 

 

Role of Kilo Flight in 1971 War

 

Pic Courtesy: Colours of glory

  • Kilo Flight is the code name for the Mukti Bahini combat aviation formation during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.

 

  • It consisted of one DHC-3 Otter plane and one Alouette III helicopter.

 

  • These ac carried rocket pods and machine guns for launching hit-and-run attacks on Pakistani targets, and one DC-3 Dakota for logistical missions.

 

  • 9 Bengali pilots and 58 ex PAF personnel formed the unit under the command of Group Captain A. K. Khandker in September 1971.

 

  • The aircraft were supplied by Indian Authorities and the formation was led by Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud under the operational control of IAF base Jorhat.

 

  • The unit started training in October 1971 at Dimapur in Nagaland, and this unit was the first to launch airstrikes on Pakistani targets in East Pakistan on December 4, 1971, by attacking oil depots at Narayanganj and Chittagong.

 

  • In total the unit flew 90 sorties and 40 combat missions between December 4 and 16, 1971. After the war it formed the core of the nascent Bangladesh Air Force.

 

Breakdown of POWs of 1971 War

 

Pic Courtesy: Bharat Rakshak

India took approximately 93,000 prisoners of war that included Pakistani soldiers as well as some of their East Pakistani collaborators.

 

  • 79,676 of these prisoners were uniformed personnel.
  • 55,692 were Army.
  • 16,354 Paramilitary.
  • 5,296 Police.
  • 1000 Navy.
  • 800 Pakistan Air Force.
  • Remaining 13,324 prisoners were civilians – either family members of the military personnel or Bihari Razarkars.

 

Tibetan Heroes of the 1971 War

 

The highly trained Special Frontier Force (SFF), played an important role along with the Mukti Bahini, in the 1971 War.

SFF was founded in November 1962. It was also known as ‘Establishment 22’ or simply ‘Two-twos’.

In 1971, the Tibetan force was selected to conduct guerrilla warfare. The terrain was a paradise for guerilla warfare. Forests and hills, rivers, streams and lakes made many areas inaccessible. Yet there was fish and fowl in abundance to keep a guerilla force functioning independently.

In February 1971, the SFF had already started infiltrating Bangladesh along with the Mukti Bahini. It was probably for reconnaissance only initialy.

The Mukti Bahini was very good at making guerrilla plans and at guerrilla tactics. SFF were responsible to support the Mukti Bahini and provide reinforcement to them as and when required.

The SFF played a crucial role in the war.

Incidentally, the force had only one helicopter. The pilot, Sqn Ldr Parvez Rustomji Jamasji, had to carry out all the duties, para-dropping over the battle sites, rations and ammunition dropping, rescue operations, etc — a feat in itself for which the young pilot was awarded Vir Chakra.

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References

https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1403-arun-karandikar.html#gsc.tab=0

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/operation-kilo-flight-story-valour-2158326

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners_of_war_during_the_Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1971

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200: Double Celebration: One year of Blogging and 200th Post

Air Marshal’s Perspective

(Candid and to the point – काम की बात)

Ranked 13th in the list of Top 25 Indian Defence Blogs and Websites

 

 

 

This blog was started in the month of September 2020.  It has been one year since then, with 200 posts.

 

Enjoyed researching topics related to defence, security, geo-politics, technology, leadership and management etc. The posts were interspersed with some humour and quotes.

 

Tried to live up to the motto of the blog – “Candid and to the point – काम की बात”. Most of the posts are short ones (two to three pages), covering the essence of the topic in bullet form.

 

The credit for starting the blog goes to my course mate and friend Col Murali. He provided me the space, encouraged me and held my hand initially.

 

Credit also goes to another course mate Vicky Sheorey for getting me all the equipment needed for video conference and recordings.

 

Sincere Thanks to all the subscribers and readers for the encouragement.

 

To provide a panoramic view of the blog, here are the links to the posts on various topics:-

 

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