Security Research Review

Possibilities and Pitfalls

(Volume 1(3) April 2005)

• Possibilities and Pitfalls

The old wooden Kaman Bridge , the last Indian outpost on the Line of Control (LOC), was replaced by the Border Roads Organization with an iron-and-concrete structure in a record time of two months.  The bridge was renamed Aman Setu (bridge of peace).  The Srinagar – Muzzarfarbad bus began operating on April 7 across the LOC and was hailed by the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Shri. Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, as the “mother of all confidence building measures.”  The bus service is dubbed as the karavan-e-aman (peace bus). (more).

• Unraveling the Chinese Checkers

Bharat Verma

With Premier Wen Jiabo’s recent visit to India, New Delhi needs to conduct an honest appraisal of the basic Chinese characteristics and compare them with ours. On one hand, this ruthless evaluation of plus and minuses of both, will enable New Delhi to evolve a long term strategy to deal with the emerging threats posed by the Chinese proxies on our periphery.  On the other, we can simultaneously plug into each other’s market to reap huge mutual benefits as India and China continue to emerge as the core group that powers the unprecedented economic boom in Asia. (more)

• Choosing an Interim Fighter

Rupak Chattopadhyay

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in the market for an interim fighter that doesn’t break the budget. Interim fighter purchases are always tricky. If one is not careful, one is likely to end up with unsuitable aircraft, in limited quantities, that needlessly complicate logistics. The paradox of limited budgets and ever increasing responsibilities haunts the IAF. This piece considers the challenges before the IAF and discusses some procurement options. (more)



• Pakistan: Reconciling with Ground Realities

Abhijit Thambe

Ever since independence, the Pakistani establishment has nurtured two articles of faith amongst its masses: First, Pakistan would wrest Kashmir from India via a military victory, if not through negotiations; Second, Pakistan was destined for great achievements and a greater role, both in the Indian subcontinent, and in the international community. In contrast, the Pakistanis believed firmly that India was destined to mediocrity at best, and balkanization at worst. Such pakistani beliefs were motivated by concepts of racial superiority of the Pakistanis over the Indians, along with the notion that their God was on the side of the believer rather than of the infidel. This was fuelled further by the British policy of nurturing so-called ‘martial races’, a number of whom came from regions of West Pakistan . The disdain for the supposed ‘inferiority’ of the Bengalis within Pakistan can also be traced to this racist concept --- this disdain was also the root cause of the genocide of Bengalis in East Pakistani by the Pakistani Army, which in turn triggered the 1971 war with India. As a result, the prevailing conventional wisdom, in Pakistan and the rest of the world in the latter half of the twentieth century, was that Pakistan was destined for greatness, while India was doomed to failure and balkanization. (more)

• An Attack on Pakistan is an Attack on Islam

Shiv Shankar Sastry

The image of Pakistan , as evinced by global media reports, throws up a large number of contradictions that seem irreconcilable. On the one hand there is the often-presented romanticized picture of a tolerant Islamic state, conjuring up images of a nation worthy of inspiring the Arabian Nights. A “responsible” nation wronged by India and by the United states , a misunderstood nation that symbolizes peace and equality of Islam. A forward looking nation led by a latter-day Ataturk, who speaks of “enlightened moderation” as the cure to Pakistan’s problems caused by rampant religious fundamentalism. (more)

 

• Ageing Defense Forces - The Enemy Within

Brig. A. Kapur VSM

The profession demands a younger profile, whereas due to the narrow pyramid of promotional avenues, the age profile in various command assignments continues to soar upwards, notwithstanding the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee report. There are now six to seven Lieutenant Colonels or Colonels in a major unit. If we continue in the same manner, we will end up very soon having units commanded by Brigadiers. Instead of addressing the core issues, we try to push the main problem under the carpet. Quoting Central Police Organizations (CPOs), Central Para Military Forces (CPMF), State Police Force or State Armed Police, example of having a top-heavy rank structure is not going to solve the problem of an ageing profile of the Defense Forces in any way. The aim of this very exercise is not achieved, as there has been a marginal reduction in age profile in command assignments. Even the life expectancy in our country continues to soar upwards, further compounding and complicating the problem. The trend, therefore, is to keep increasing the average age up the ladder with a view to give employment till as late in life as is possible. On the face of it, it looks good but it militates against the needs of the job content. (more)

 

• India, China and US: Current Realities

Professor M. D. Nalapat

Hard times are tough, but good times can be even worse. After the Vietnam defeat in 1975,the US has not suffered a serious overt blow to its military power, with the result that there has not been a serious effort at reconfiguring strategies in a context in which India and China are displacing Europe as the geopolitical pivot of the Eurasian landmass. Over the coming decade, the "European premium" that has enabled the countries of the west of that continent to enjoy a standard of life far in excess of their productive capacities or future potential will gradually erode. At present, only the countries of East Asia and West Asia are victims to this premium. Thus they are willing in large numbers to pay in excess of the value that they are receiving for European labels. For the most part both Arab as well as Sinic societies remain in a time warp. They are unwilling to accept that the center of excellence is shifting from Europe to Asia and North America. However even they are changing slowly so that a secular decline in the standard of living within Europe (though not for Europeans moving elsewhere) seems inevitable. (more)

 

• Towards Modern Ship Design and Shipbuilding in India

 Vice Adm. (r) Rajeshwar Nath PVSM,  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)

 

• Selection of MRCA for the IAF

Air Marshal (r) B. K. Pandey

After the usual scrutiny and associated delay, the Government of India has finally cleared the proposal by the IAF to procure 126 Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) needed to replace the obsolete MiG 21FL and MiG 23 fleet and restore the strength of combat squadrons to the authorized ceiling of 39.5. These aircraft are being phased out progressively on completion of technical life and as there is no certainty of the timeframe in which the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would be made available in adequate numbers, there is no option for the IAF but to acquire replacements for ageing aircraft from foreign sources to close the gap and prevent unacceptable erosion of operational capability. (more)

 

• Quality of Acquisition Staff: A Key Factor in Defense Procurements

Maj. Gen. (r) Mrinal Suman

Despite the recent reforms in India’s defence procurement structures and promulgation of the new defence procurement procedure, no major improvement is discernible on ground. Ministry of Defence (MoD) is aware of the existing deficiencies and is constantly reviewing the whole mechanism. The stress so far has been on the establishment of a dedicated procurement organisation and streamlining of procedures. However, any mechanism is as good as the people who operate it. Surprisingly, little thought has been paid to the selection and training of the functionaries entrusted with the procurement of military equipment worth hundreds of crores of rupees. The quality of personnel continues to be the weakest link in the whole procurement system and this aspect needs immediate attention. The acquisition staff should be professional, well qualified and adequately trained. A look at the acquisition systems of other countries shows how negligent India has been of this crucial requirement. (more)

 

• India's Submarine Acquisition Program needs a relook 

Amrish Sahgal

Indian defense acquisitions are governed by Defence Procurement Procedure –2002, which lists `free competition' as its basic aim and underlying philosophy. The procedure repeatedly stresses the importance of generating maximum competition. It also mandates that competitive tendering be followed as a norm. Therefore, Indian defense acquisitions have to be broad based with tenders being issued to all eligible producers. But surprisingly, under the NDA regime, DCN, the manufacturers of the Scorpene submarine, were the only ones approached with a request for an offer. Neither Kockums of Sweden (an obvious contender), nor Germany 's HDW (then still under a cloud), were approached, making the entire `selection' process monopolistic and non-competitive. What is more, the finalization pending signing of the contract was done on the basis of selection criteria that are hopelessly outdated. As a result, India almost contracted for a vessel that lacked many essential facilities like Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), at a price that was not only very high to begin with, but has since been upped enormously by the suppliers on the plea that the costs have gone up due to a delay by the Indian government in inking the deal .(more)