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Changing Perspective on National Security
Such seminars and discussions are essential as they enable us to set our priorities, helping us to plan our short-term as well as long-term strategies. The essays have been selected with great care, which makes the book comprehensive. The foreword by General V. P. Malik, a former Chief of Army Staff, sets the pace of the book. He exhorts the reader to take the problem of internal security as seriously as the issue of external security, failing which our enemies may get opportunities to interfere with our domestic affairs. Former Defence Minister George Fernandes answers P. C. Dogra’s questions regarding the vision of long-term strategic interest of our country, the challenges faced by our country and the disruptive forces operating and wrecking havoc within the country. The questions are relevant and the answers by George Fernandes are an eye-opener. The essay National Security Perspective by Ravi Nanda deserves a special mention. He has dealt with India’s relations with different countries, be it the US or Israel, Central Asian countries or our neighbouring states. He lays bare the strengths and weaknesses of India vis-`E0-vis other countries and thus, the reader gets a holistic real picture. N. N. Vohra, IAS (retd), stresses on the internal aspects of security. He asserts that in the event of aggression or war against our country, the role of our armed forces in protecting "India’s territorial integrity would be severely hampered if there is internal disorder or turmoil in several parts of the hinterland and even more so if the frontier areas are disturbed, for whatever reason." Every essay is the result of a great deal of thinking. There are quotes of leaders and examples of statesmanship exhibited by leaders of different states. The main thrust of a majority of the essays is the threats by our two immediate neighbours—Pakistan and China. They should be the focus of our study, as disputes between us are still unsettled. In Pakistan and Challenges to National Security, G. Parthasarthy warns us about the Islamic fundamentalism that drives the Pakistan army. He quotes a former ISI chief who stated publicly: "Our aim is to weaken India from within and we can do it." Discussing Indo-China relations, P. C. Dogra identifies three areas where the two states can clash—Tibet, Burma and the control over the waters of the eastern Indian Ocean. P. C. Dogra welcomes the thaw in Indo-China relations, but warns us to be wary of China. Our defence management, the role of Defence Research and Development Organisation and defence forces, expectations and shortcomings have been discussed. There are essays on the impact of the illegal immigration of Bangladeshis into India, Nepal and Bhutan. The Naxalite Movement by D. R. Kaarthikeyan traces the plans of the Naxalites to carve their own territory across India and Nepal. Again, it is time for both countries to thwart this "Compact Revolutionary Zone". Kaarthikeyan talks of the LTTE in Sri Lanka and its effect on India. It is good that our Army and police organise such seminars that lead to a better understanding of the ground realities. The word spreads with readership. The essays are written in a simple language. Society and the administration can only benefit from the experiences of our retired and serving personnel. |
National
security, both internal as well as external, has become a focus of study
of researchers as well as defence analysts. This book is a result of a
seminar organised by the Forum on Integrated National Security,
Chandigarh, in which speakers of national and international repute
deliberated on the various threats faced by the country.