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China, Pakistan and Naxalites constitute the major sources of worry for the Indian Air Force (IAF), Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, India’s Chief of Air Staff, said on 20th November, listing China’s growing influence in the Indian sub-continent as a major security challenge for New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address at 12th Subroto Mukerjee Seminar at the Centre for Air Power Studies, Raha, Air Chief Marshal said that Chinese growing influence was with a strategic aim in mind, and it was being factored in India’s foreign and defence policies.
‘China has increased its economic and military ties with all our neighbours. Rapid infrastructure development is taking place in the TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region). World’s highest airfield at Daocheng Yading, highest railway line from Xiniang, Qinghai province to TAR capital, development of the Gwadar port and Economic corridor through PoKand Pakistan, development of roads in TAR up to Indian border and increasing economic and military ties with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar are all strategic moves by China to contain India,’ commented Raha.
Highlighting Beijing’s other regional moves, he said that ‘China has been making sustained efforts to make its presence felt in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region), including dispatch of submarines in the name of piracy control, with a strange logic.Incidents of border standoff in the north, issuance of paper visa to the residents of Arunachal Pradesh (AP) and claiming of Aksai Chin and part of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China have diluted the agreement of five principles, Panchsheel signed way back in 1954.’
The rise of China, India and ASEAN has shifted the global economic centre of gravity and hence, the strategic centre of gravity to the Asia Pacific Region. India now faces a unique challenge; maintaining the physical security of the borders without affecting harmonious relations with neighbours. This becomes an increasingly difficult task especially when Pakistan Army continues to support the militant organisations and continuous interference in the internal affairs of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Despite the grim internal situation, Pakistan has managed to strike a balance in its relations with China and USA. It has steadily built up its nuclear and ballistic missile capability with covert assistance from China and North Korea while continuing to receive monetary support and conventional weapons and aircraft from both USA as well as China. Their gamble of ‘Running with Hares and Hunting with Hounds’, while proclaiming itself as a member of GWOT (Global War on Terror) is paying off handsomely due to various geo-political reasons,” he added.
On the internal security challenges, ACM Raha said that it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate the internal threats to security from the external ones.‘In the recent past Naxalism has emerged as the single biggest threat to India’s internal security and has assumed serious and threatening propositions.’ Highlighting the IAF’s role in support of anti-Naxaloperations, the Air Chief Marshal disclosed that IAF helicopters had flown 15,100 sorties since 2009 to transport 74,000 police personnel, 1,000 casualties and mortal remains and 1600 tons of loads.
The streamlined tactical brilliance displayed by Pakistan Air Force and navy during the recent joint exercise might have shaped his opinion. The fact remains that apart from China and Pakistan, the main threat for Air Force comes from obsolescence, lackof handling technology and operational expertise which may probably explain the high crash rate.
However it is really a brilliant analysis which Indian media miserably failed to highlight; they were busy dissecting Bihar verdict and given their pathological hatred for Modi, did not want to let go of the opportunity to downgrade Modi’sresurgent India for days no end.
When countries which fought world wars are forming economic regions with common currencies and transparent border, why should India have Pakistan and China as adversaries? China’s hasgrown too mature over the decade to cloak its territorial ambitions, smoothly morphing into a commercial industrial entity focused on business and trade. Conversely India displayed too arrogant self-obsessed, hegemonistic demeanour to alienatesmaller neighbours driving them into armament and strategic alliances. India is turning friendly neighbours into foes- Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives are examples. Why our neighbours are shying away from a democratic country like ours and inching closer to imperialist country like China?
China is on the verge of forging a balance of power in Indian Sub-continent as India unwittingly became a catalyst in creating regional shift of balance of power against itself. Is this a testimony of Indian foreign policy failure? Introspection is needed to reorient our policies. Rather than the policy of encircling Pakistan via Afghanistan, friendly relations with Pakistan could probably resolve the issue of encirclement by China. May be we need more openness in communication with neighbours toprevent our image of hegemonism.
Our mantra of ‘Live & Let Live’ and ‘VasudhaibaKutumbakam’ should be properly communicated to our neighbourhood. We could concentrate our energies on removing poverty, hunger, unemployment and alleviating health, education and housing for our teeming millions. India is doing very good work in SAARC in the face of Pakistani non-co-operation.
It should utilise SAARC platform to share apprehensions and dispel doubts, reservations in the spirit of Brotherhood, Equality and Unity for all. We all have a share in each other’s success andprosperity or failure and poverty and we must decide what we bequeath to our upcoming generations. The chance to change history is now.
What constitute main threats to India? |
New Delhi Times – India's leading opinion based newspaper
‘China has increased its economic and military ties with all our neighbours. Rapid infrastructure development is taking place in the TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region). World’s highest airfield at Daocheng Yading, highest railway line from Xiniang, Qinghai province to TAR capital, development of the Gwadar port and Economic corridor through PoKand Pakistan, development of roads in TAR up to Indian border and increasing economic and military ties with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar are all strategic moves by China to contain India,’ commented Raha.
Highlighting Beijing’s other regional moves, he said that ‘China has been making sustained efforts to make its presence felt in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region), including dispatch of submarines in the name of piracy control, with a strange logic.Incidents of border standoff in the north, issuance of paper visa to the residents of Arunachal Pradesh (AP) and claiming of Aksai Chin and part of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China have diluted the agreement of five principles, Panchsheel signed way back in 1954.’
The rise of China, India and ASEAN has shifted the global economic centre of gravity and hence, the strategic centre of gravity to the Asia Pacific Region. India now faces a unique challenge; maintaining the physical security of the borders without affecting harmonious relations with neighbours. This becomes an increasingly difficult task especially when Pakistan Army continues to support the militant organisations and continuous interference in the internal affairs of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Despite the grim internal situation, Pakistan has managed to strike a balance in its relations with China and USA. It has steadily built up its nuclear and ballistic missile capability with covert assistance from China and North Korea while continuing to receive monetary support and conventional weapons and aircraft from both USA as well as China. Their gamble of ‘Running with Hares and Hunting with Hounds’, while proclaiming itself as a member of GWOT (Global War on Terror) is paying off handsomely due to various geo-political reasons,” he added.
On the internal security challenges, ACM Raha said that it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate the internal threats to security from the external ones.‘In the recent past Naxalism has emerged as the single biggest threat to India’s internal security and has assumed serious and threatening propositions.’ Highlighting the IAF’s role in support of anti-Naxaloperations, the Air Chief Marshal disclosed that IAF helicopters had flown 15,100 sorties since 2009 to transport 74,000 police personnel, 1,000 casualties and mortal remains and 1600 tons of loads.
The streamlined tactical brilliance displayed by Pakistan Air Force and navy during the recent joint exercise might have shaped his opinion. The fact remains that apart from China and Pakistan, the main threat for Air Force comes from obsolescence, lackof handling technology and operational expertise which may probably explain the high crash rate.
However it is really a brilliant analysis which Indian media miserably failed to highlight; they were busy dissecting Bihar verdict and given their pathological hatred for Modi, did not want to let go of the opportunity to downgrade Modi’sresurgent India for days no end.
When countries which fought world wars are forming economic regions with common currencies and transparent border, why should India have Pakistan and China as adversaries? China’s hasgrown too mature over the decade to cloak its territorial ambitions, smoothly morphing into a commercial industrial entity focused on business and trade. Conversely India displayed too arrogant self-obsessed, hegemonistic demeanour to alienatesmaller neighbours driving them into armament and strategic alliances. India is turning friendly neighbours into foes- Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives are examples. Why our neighbours are shying away from a democratic country like ours and inching closer to imperialist country like China?
China is on the verge of forging a balance of power in Indian Sub-continent as India unwittingly became a catalyst in creating regional shift of balance of power against itself. Is this a testimony of Indian foreign policy failure? Introspection is needed to reorient our policies. Rather than the policy of encircling Pakistan via Afghanistan, friendly relations with Pakistan could probably resolve the issue of encirclement by China. May be we need more openness in communication with neighbours toprevent our image of hegemonism.
Our mantra of ‘Live & Let Live’ and ‘VasudhaibaKutumbakam’ should be properly communicated to our neighbourhood. We could concentrate our energies on removing poverty, hunger, unemployment and alleviating health, education and housing for our teeming millions. India is doing very good work in SAARC in the face of Pakistani non-co-operation.
It should utilise SAARC platform to share apprehensions and dispel doubts, reservations in the spirit of Brotherhood, Equality and Unity for all. We all have a share in each other’s success andprosperity or failure and poverty and we must decide what we bequeath to our upcoming generations. The chance to change history is now.
What constitute main threats to India? |
New Delhi Times – India's leading opinion based newspaper
