New Delhi, November 22
Terming the gradual shifting of balance in the global strategic environment from the West to East as a development fraught with uncertainty, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked top commanders of the tri-services to prepare to tackle the altering landscape institutionally.

Addressing the Combined Commanders Conference, he said: “Just as the economic pendulum is shifting inexorably from the West to East, so is the strategic focus, as exemplified by increasing contestation on the seas to our east and the related ‘pivot’ or ‘rebalancing” by the US in the area. This, to my mind, is a development fraught with uncertainty. We don’t yet know whether these economic and strategic transitions will be peaceful, but that is the challenge this audience must grapple with institutionally.” What remained unsaid was the US push in the Asia-Pacific region that is now being referred to as Indo-Pacific by strategic analysts as also an oblique reference to the Chinese position to exert influence in the region.

The Prime Minister highlighted the changing strategic matrix in the world and asked the top brass of the Army, Navy and the Air Force to adopt a coordinated approach in preparing for the challenges on the horizon.

Referring to global snooping by the US National Security Agency, he sought to look at it through the prism of intense competition and rivalries in the security domain, which, he said, was a result of complex inter-dependencies among states and multinationals on the economic trade front.

“Our objective must be to acquire tangible national capacity...as a comprehensive national power,” he said. It should be an amalgam of economic, technological and industrial prowess, buttressed by appropriate military sinews.

Reiterating that India remained committed to the path of peace, he told the commanders that the way ahead for the military was to be able to protect Indian interests “if these are threatened or challenged. Thus, creating a military that is drawn by abiding interests, as opposed to the transient threat, is the driving principle”.

Turning to the neighbourhood, he said the country continues to confront formidable challenges and cautioned that turmoil in West Asia might not only affect energy security, livelihood and safety of seven million Indians there, it would also become a crucible for “radicalism, terrorism, arms proliferation and sectarian conflict” reaching domestic shores.