Security Research Review

In Memoriam

(Volume 1(2) January 2005)

• In Memoriam

 

“Weapons do not cleave this self, fire does not burn him; waters do not make him wet, nor does the wind make him dry.”

“He is uncleavable, He cannot be burnt, He can neither be wetted nor dried. He is eternal, all-pervading, unchanging and immovable, He is the same forever.”

“He is said to be unmanifest, unthinkable, and unchanging. Therefore, knowing him as such, thou shouldst not grieve.”


- Srimad Bhagavad Gita 

We wish our loyal readers a happy and prosperous 2005. This year starts on a tragic note with the passing of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and National Security Advisor J.N Dixit. The architects of India’s post Cold War policy have passed the torch to a new generation of leaders. Both Prime Minister Rao and J.N Dixit have long and distinguished careers of service to the nation. They are credited with the current success enjoyed by India in economic, political, and international arena. A deeply indebted nation mourns their loss. The December 26, 2004 Tsunami wreaked devastation on the Bay of Bengal community and caused ripples as far as Africa. The shockwave spread 1000 km in approximately two hours and caused a shocking amount of destruction. The death toll nears 300,000. (more).

• Military-Industrial Complex: Crafting A Winning Strategy

Bharat Verma

Surrounded with security threats to its land frontiers since Independence and bedeviled with a paucity of funds, Indian defence industries for many decades plodded along alone striving for self-sufficiency as the western countries were loathe to part with the latest equipment or share their technology. (more)

• India and the Globalization of Drugs Regime

T. Raghavan

Organized criminal enterprise has a history as long as that of human civilization. However, recently with increasing trade and communications between different regions of the world, criminal enterprises morphed from purely local organizations into organizations that transcend national boundaries. (more)



• India’s Foreign Policy Challenges: Today and Beyond

Laxman Bahroo

The years 1989 – 1991 were a watershed in the history of the 20th century. In a series of swift and stunning events, the USSR and its proxy regimes in Eastern Europe collapsed. Grass roots revolts by disaffected youth were seen in both Europe and Asia as evidenced by the ceremonies at the collapse of Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square, and Myanmar. (more)



• India and the Demise of Global Arms Control Regime

Harsh V. Pant

The last few months have been particularly difficult for the global non-proliferation and arms control regime. From Iran to North Korea, from the nuclear black-market of A. Q. Khan to Brazil, new challenges are emerging virtually every other day and threaten to undermine the global arms control architecture. (more)

 

• Indian Special Forces: Reorganizing for an Expanding Role

Brig. (r) Gurmeet Kanwal

Critical examination of the role and employment of India’s Special Forces (SF) and the organizational structure necessary to support this important component of India’s armed forces, must necessarily be based on a holistic assessment of the current and future threats and challenges to national security. (more)

 

• Special Forces for Indian Conditions

Brig. Amrit Kapur VSM

The debate on Special Forces (SF) surfaces off and on and it dies down without taking it to its logical conclusion. Ironically, the concept has rarely been addressed in its entirety. The concept loses its sheen when discussed in isolation. It remains a theoretical exercise. It has been seen that more often than not, the western model is aped or replicated whether it suits Indian conditions or not. The debate, therefore, remains inconclusive and cosmetic in nature, being far removed from ground realities and needs. (more)

• Indian Army 2020

Gen. (r)  Shankar Roychowdhury, PVSM, ADC

A nation’s military is a major but unstated factor in international Realpolitik, howsoever moderated and underplayed, in acknowledgement of international sensitivities. Nevertheless, its existence and capabilities percolate into the public domain, domestic as well as international, and its presence, even unstated, becomes a background presence, which provides a sense of hard-edge backup to the national establishment for undertaking effective front line diplomacy. (more)

 

• Indian Air Force 2020 : Perspective Planning - An Essential Requirement

Air Chief Marshal (r) A. Y. Tipnis, PVSM, AVSM, VM

India has yet to demonstrate its ability to do long-term perspective planning in any field. Defense is by no means an exception. Inability, if not disinclination, to do so in the early decades after independence could be arguably justified for the defense sector on several counts. The key factor, possibly, was the initial political disinclination to develop our defense forces. The Nehruvian pre-occupation with national economic and industrial development, non-alignment and global statesmanship resulted in a myopic vision towards our defense requirements. Development of defense forces came to be looked upon as a hindrance rather than an asset to India playing the role that it had set for itself, nationally and internationally. (more)

 

• Coping With A “Logically- Uncertain” Defense Budget 

Vice Admiral (r) G. M. Hiranandani, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD

Fifteen years ago, in 1988, three years into the 1985-1990 Defense Five Year Plan, funds had not been released for plan projects – the failure of the 1986 monsoon was followed by a prolonged drought, which compelled funds to be restricted for defense. This year, three years into the current Tenth Defense Five Year Plan (2002-2007), funds have yet to be released for plan projects. This is not a coincidence. It is a basic reality in monsoon-dependent India. Drought relief must always receive precedence. (more)

 

• Offsets In International Arms Trade Need For A National Policy 

 Maj. Gen. (r) Mrinal Suman AVSM, VSM

The end of the Cold War saw a considerable reduction in the demand for major weapon systems the world over. Additionally, free or subsidized military aid gave way to pure trade transactions. With limited buyers, the sellers were hard put to outbid their competitors. They had to make their offers virtually irresistible with promises of lucrative ‘add-ons’, collectively called offsets. Gradually, offsets became an essential part of all defense deals. From being an add-on, they became an important tool of decision-making as the purchasing countries used offsets to contend with the hostile public opinion against defense spending. Governments highlighted the benefits accruing to the national economy by way of technology transfers and buy-backs. Thus, the twin conditions of limited arms market and hostile public opinion in buying nations became the raison d'tra of the concept of offsets. (more)

 

• Qualitative Requirements Of Military Equipment Need For A Process Revamp

Maj. Gen. (r) Mrinal Suman AVSM, VSM

The Prime Minister of India expressed his grave concern about the delays in defense procurements during the Combined Commanders’ Conference held in October 2004, as it adversely affects the modernization of the defense forces. This issue has been engaging the attention of experts for a long time. Most of them fault poor planning, inflexible mindsets and tardy decision making for failure to utilize the defense budget and the resultant surrender of unexpended funds. The Group of Ministers on National Security, in their report submitted to the Prime Minister in February 2001, also took a serious view of this inadequacy. It was critical of the cumbersome and archaic procurement methodology and the lack of a dedicated procurement structure. (more)

 

• Is Pakistan Necessary? 

J. E. Menon

Does Pakistan need to exist? This is not a question normally asked about any country, but it is one that will be asked with increasing urgency in the years ahead if Pakistan continues to operate the way it does. Pakistan’s neighbors – Afghanistan, India, Iran, Tajikistan and increasingly China - are suspicious of its intentions. Often its actions tend to confirm these suspicions. Increasingly, the existence of Pakistan is being questioned by its component provinces as well – especially Balochistan and Sindh. (more)

 

• Kashmir Imbroglio: Whose Solution? 

Prakash Nanda

During his last tour to the United States and West Europe, Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf said on a couple of occasions that he had as many as 15 formulae for the solution of the vexed Kashmir issue. Though he did not elaborate what these formulae were, it is now well known that the Pakistani strongman, unlike, most of his predecessors, has been trying to project himself as a pragmatist and a moderate on the Kashmir issue. But, in reality, he is the cleverest Pakistani head of government and most dangerous from India’s point of view. If his ideas on Kashmir are taken to the logical conclusion, then India will forgo the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, whereas Musharaff’s predecessors would have been more than satisfied with only the Kashmir Valley seceding from India. This short essay is aimed at proving this theme of Musharraf. (more)