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On target about national security Random Thoughts Since
Independence, various governments have not attached much importance to
country’s security and emerging technologies that affect national
security. Thus, such book becomes relevant in the present context. In
the fast changing global scenario, the balance of power seems to be
shifting from the West to Asia. This poses special security problems for
India. The author has divided the articles into chapters like National
Security, India’s Nuclear Policy, Indo-Pak Relations, Sino-India
Relations, Indo-US Relations,Indo-Russian Relations, India’s Look East
Policy and India’s Armed Forces. Discussing national security in
the first chapter, the author says the concept has by and large been
alien to our leadership. Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru neglected
conventional security by sidelining the armed forces, as they did not
see much need for them in a peace-loving country. No wonder India had to
fight so many wars after Independence. The author frankly states that
the Air Force continues to view the concept of Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS) with suspicion, as the Army might dominate it. That’s why the
Ministry of Defence has not accepted the CDS concept. However, India is
fast emerging as a military and economic power, so the country has to
develop better strategic awareness about its national security. The
second chapter deals with the nuclear policy. Nehru’s vision and Dr
Homi J. Bhabha’s scientific mission laid a sound foundation for the
country’s peaceful nuclear programme, but Nehru was against
development of nuclear weapons. He rather advocated nuclear disarmament,
but Indian scientists had mastered the nuclear technology, which could
be used for both peaceful and military purposes India and Pakistan have
both emerged as nuclear nations. The recent Indo-US nuclear pact is an
important development, which will enhance India’s capability to
produce nuclear power without harming our capability to produce nuclear
weapons. The next chapter dealing with the India-Pakistan relations
since Independence highlights the India Air Force’s contribution
during the Kargil War. He claims that caution on the part of the IAF has
been misinterpreted. The book also deals with India-China relations from
1995 onwards, which remain a cause for concern even today. India has to
balance its relations with China along with the US and Russia. The
author, later, deals with India-USA relations that have, in the last few
years, seen a major transformation as compared to the last so many
decades. India’s economic rise and the USA’s changing relations with
China and Russia have made the US realise the importance of India. That
is why it is offering to sell 126 F-16 fighter planes to India to beef
up its Air Force and has also signed the defence pact with
India. Coming to India-Russia relations, the Soviet Union (now Russia)
has always stood by India. The defence deals with Russia are well known.
India looks forward to purchasing fighters and long-range bombers from
Russia. The last chapter deals with India’s armed forces, with
emphasis on the IAF and its problems. The implications of decline in the
allocation on defence from 4 per cent of the GDP to less than 3 per cent
of it is correctly emphasised, as it affects the capabilities of the
forces. The author has compiled all articles in a logical manner. Summary
Notes before every chapter make it easy to understand the
full-length articles that follow later.
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Air Marshal Bedi retired in 1993 as Defence
Planning Staff Director General. Since his retirement, he has been
writing on matters of national security and allied issues in various
newspapers. This book has brought together the selected articles written
by the author on crucial defence issues like national security, nuclear
policy and India’s relations with other countries.