Vivek Issues N Otions November December 2014 PDF

2014 A year of Instability in Southern Asia The Circle of Maoist Insurgency
Afghanistan: Possibilities of Sino-Indian Arihant: Lessons from Submarine Programme

Cooperation?
and many more .
Published By : Vivekananda International Foundation

3, San Martin Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, info@vifindia.org, www.vifindia.org
Contents
EDITORS NOTE 3 Obamas
-
Forthcoming Visit to India: What it
means for Defence Cooperation
44
CENTRE STAGE - Dr Harinder Sekhon
Looking Back: 2014 - A Year of Instability in DEFENCE

Southern Asia 4
Arihant and Lessons for Our Submarine
- Gurmeet Kanwal
Programme and Indigenization
50
NATION
- Vice Admiral (Retd) Raman Puri
Message and Meaning of Mangalyaan 8
EVENTS
- Radhakrishna Rao
The Relevance of Police Custody of an Accused Vimarsha on Science of Economics 62

Person
15 Interaction with KIDA, a South Korean 64
- Dr M N Buch Think Tank
DEBATE Round Table on India-Sri Lanka 66
Cyberterrorism and Information Technology Relations
Act : An Analysis
20 Interaction on India-Japan Relations 69
- Commander Mukesh Saini
Interaction with a Chinese Delegation 71
DIPLOMACY French Defence Minister at VIF 74
Afghanistan: Can it be A Template for India,
China Cooperation? Joint VIF-RUSI-CICIR Seminar on 76
25 Afghanistan at Beijing
- Lt. Gen Ravi Sawhney & Sushant Sareen
Visit by Bangladeshi Parliamentary 80
Enhancing Strategic Relationship with South Delegation
Korea 29
Interaction on One Road, One Belt 82
- Maj Gen (Retd) P K Chakravorty with Chinese Delegation
Indias Foreign Policy in 21st Century: A Need Vimarsha: Article 370 and Resolution of 84
for Change Kashmir Problem
35
- Abhinav Pandya 86
Interaction on US-Pakistan Relations
VIVEK : Issues and Options November - December 2014 Issue: III No: VI
2
VIF Visit to Vietnam 88
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles published in the e-journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Vivekananda International Foundation
Editors Note
The year 2014 was very significant one because of the political transition which
brought in a strong leadership at the Centre indicating an end of coalition era.
Hope and optimism generated due to Prime Minister Narendera Modis being at the
helm of affairs also had a concomitant positive impact on the economic outlook and
Indias place in the emerging global and regional dynamics. As we look forward to
the year 2015 India is expected to gain ground in its domestic and international
aspirations with emphasis on development and growth.
The coming budget will reflect the priorities of the government and how far it is
willing to go to usher in reforms that would turn promises into substantial
deliverables over a period of time. Some alacrity has already been shown by the
government in adopting the ordinance route for effecting much needed reforms in
coal, insurance, land acquisition and other sectors to overcome the obstructionist
stance of the Opposition in the Parliament. Much more is needed to be done in the
coming time.
This issue carries a review by Gurmeet Kanwal on what was the year 2014 like for
South Asia and some others in the strategic neighbourhood. Of abiding interest to
India is what happens in Afghanistan in the coming years. Gen. Sawhney and
Sushant Sareen deliberate on the possibilities of India and China cooperating in
Afghanistan with a view to stabilize the situation there. Gen. Gautam Banerjee
looks at the state of Maoist insurgency in the last year and portents for the coming
year. The success of Indian Mars Orbiter Mission is critically analysed by
Radhakrishan Rao while Admiral Raman Puri examines in detail as to what lessons
Arihant nuclear submarine programme holds for our indigenization efforts.
South Korea is fast becoming an important cog in Indias Look East Policy which
now has been transformed into Act East Policy. Maj. Gen. Chakravorty gives his
perspective on evolving strategic relationship with Seoul. This issue includes many
other analytical perspectives that deal with internal and external dynamics of India
and its evolving international relationships.
Hope that you find this issue interesting.
Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year from Team VIF
Vinod Anand
Back to Contents
3
CENTRE STAGE
Looking Back: 2014 - A Year of

Instability in Southern Asia
- Gurmeet Kanwal
T
he gruesome terrorist strike standards necessary to prevail
on hapless school children over the Taliban that has begun to
in Peshawar on December show that it is capable of
16, 2014 once again underlined the resurgence. The remaining US
dark reality that the Af-Pak region forces will train, advise and assist
is the terror centre of Southern the ANSF. However, they are
Asia. In fact, the region is the likely to continue to launch air
second most unstable region in the and drone strikes in Pakistan
world and is closely competing against extremists sheltering in
with West Asia for the number one the Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa and
spot. FATA areas against al Qaeda
terrorists despite the adverse
The greatest contributing factor to diplomatic fallout. A gradual drift
the unstable regional security into civil war appears to be the
environment in Southern Asia is most likely outcome.
the conflict in Afghanistan and the
areas along the Hindukush Range Pakistans half-hearted struggle
astride the Durand Line. The against the remnants of the al
present situation can be Qaeda and the home grown
characterised as a stalemate at Taliban like the TTP and the
the strategic and the tactical TNSM, fissiparous tendencies in
levels. With the operational Balochistan, continuing radical
responsibilities of NATO-ISAF extremism and creeping
forces having come to an end, the Talibanisation in the heartland,
situation is likely to deteriorate the tentative counter-terrorism
further in the coming years. The steps of the new civilian
Afghan National Army has fought government, the floundering
well since it assumed economy and, consequently, the
responsibility for security, but it is nations gradual slide towards
still many years away from becoming a failed state, pose a
achieving the professional major security challenge for the
* Gurmeet Kanwal, Visiting Fellow, VIF
4
region. The Pakistan armys long- Sheikh Hasina cooperates with the
delayed offensive campaign new government in India to
against the TTP in North neutralise organisations like HuJI
Waziristan has not made much and the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen
headway as yet. Unless the Bangladesh (JMB) that operate on
Pakistan army gives up its both sides of the border.
idiosyncratic notions of seeking The Maoist ascendancy in Nepal
strategic depth in Afghanistan and and its adverse impact on Nepals
fuelling terrorism in India and fledgling democracy, as also
concentrates instead on fighting Nepals newfound inclination to
all varieties of Taliban that are seek neutrality between India and
threatening the cohesion of the China, are a blow to what has
state, Pakistan will continue to historically been a stable India-
slide deeper into chaos. Nepal relationship. Simmering
discontentment that is gathering
Sri Lankas inability to find a momentum in Tibet and Xinjiang
lasting solution to Despite the election of a civilian against Chinas
its ethnic problems government, the gradual repressive regime
despite the resurgence of the LTTE has the potential to
comprehensive remains likely as the core issue snowball into a
defeat of the of autonomy has not been full-blown revolt.
Liberation Tigers addressed. The peoples
of Tamil Eelam nascent movement
(LTTE) has serious repercussions for democracy in Myanmar and
for stability in the island nation. several long festering insurgencies
Despite the election of a civilian may destabilise the military Junta
government, the gradual despite its post-election
resurgence of the LTTE remains confidence. The movement for
likely as the core issue of democracy could turn violent if the
autonomy has not been addressed. ruling Junta continues to deny its
The unchecked rise of Islamist citizens basic human rights.
fundamentalist terrorism in
Bangladesh, even as it struggles The year gone by saw both China
for economic upliftment to and Pakistan become militarily
subsistence levels, could trigger more assertive on Indias borders
new forces of destruction if left than ever before in the last
unchecked. Much will depend on decade. China followed up its
how well the government of transgression into Depsang in the
5
DBO sector of Ladakh in 2013 Irans refusal to unambiguously
with similar incidents at Demchok renounce its nuclear ambitions
and Chumar that cast a shadow in and the vaguely stated threats of
President Xi Jinpings visit to several of its neighbours to follow
India. Quite inexplicably, despite suit are a cause of concern in the
Prime Minister Narendra Modis region. Saudi Arabia is suspected
efforts at reaching out to the to be funding Pakistans nuclear
SAARC leaders, the Pakistan expansion programme as a
army under General Raheel Sharif hedging strategy against the
repeatedly violated the cease-fire acquisition of nuclear weapons by
agreement and once again stepped Iran. If it is not halted, this course
up the infiltration of terrorists of action would be a disastrous
across the LoC to launch strikes in blow to international non-
Kashmir after lying low for several proliferation efforts. The collusive
years. However, a stronger than nuclear weapons-cum-missile
usual Indian response quickly development programme of China,
dampened the enthusiasm of the North Korea and Pakistan is also
Pakistani Generals. At year-end, an issue of concern.
ties between India and Pakistan
remain strained and diplomatic The continuing military stand-off
negotiations have been suspended. along the 38th Parallel in Korea is
a major destabilising factor in the
With the newly proclaimed precarious security environment
Caliphate that calls itself the in East Asia. Though the
Islamic State, turmoil in West international community may be
Asia is likely to continue. Despite able to ensure that a major conflict
the air strikes being launched by does not erupt again between the
the US and its allies to halt its two Koreas, the sub-region will
forward march, the IS militia has remain volatile unless the Chinese
been gaining ground. The Israel- use their influence with North
Palestinian stand-off shows no Korea to persuade it to back off
sign of abating. Israel refuses to from the path of confrontation.
halt the construction of new Increasing Chinese assertiveness
settlements in the West Bank and over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands
the Hamas militia is getting and in the South China Sea is
increasingly restive. completely out of character with
Chinas stated objective of a
peaceful rise.
6
Indias standing as a regional encouraged by large-scale
power that has global power narcotics trafficking and its nexus
ambitions and aspires to a with radical extremism. Together,
permanent seat on the UN these conflicts are undermining
Security Council has been Southern Asias efforts towards
seriously compromised by its socio-economic development and
inability to successfully manage poverty alleviation by hampering
the external conflicts in its governance and vitiating the
neighbourhood, singly or in investment climate.
concert with its strategic partners,
and the unending internal With a history of four conflicts in
conflicts. In fact, the situation in 60 years and three nuclear-armed
Afghanistan and Pakistan could adversaries continuing to face off,
deteriorate beyond the ability of Southern Asia has been described
the international community to as a nuclear flashpoint. It appears
influence. The spill over of inevitable that in 2015 Indias
religious extremism and terrorism extended neighbourhood will see a
from Af-Pak and political continuation of ongoing conflicts
instability in the CARs are also without major let up and also
undermining international peace confront the possibility of new
support efforts. conflagrations.
Other negative factors impacting Back to Contents

regional stability include the
unchecked proliferation of small
arms being nurtured and
7
NATION
Message and Meaning of Mangalyaan

- Radhakrishna Rao
Q
uietly and efficiently, India after ISRO realized the breath-
created a scintillating space taking feat that was considered
history by becoming the first next to impossible. Prime
country in the world to reach the Minister Modi applauded the
Red Planet in the very first magnificent achievement of the
attempt. Evidently, Europe, USA Indian space scientists with his
and Russia were able to pull off observation, We have dared to
success in reaching Mars only reach out into the unknown. And
after initial failures and repeated we have achieved the near
attempts. India also set a record impossible. Travelling a mind
by becoming the first Asian nation boggling distance of more than
to successfully insert its Mars 650-million kms, we have gone
probe into the pre-designated orbit beyond the boundaries of human
around the Red Planet without enterprise and imagination. We
any hitches. For success had have accurately navigated our
eluded the Mars probes of both spacecraft through a route known
China and Japan. As it is, the to a very few. And as the eminent
unqualified success of the Indian space scientist and former ISRO
Mars probe Mangalyaan marks a Chairman Prof.UR Rao observed,
giant leap for the Indian Space No country had succeeded at its
Research Organisation(ISRO) in Mars mission this fast. Everything
terms of mastering the complex about our mission was correct.
and challenging technologies Significantly, Indian Mars orbiter
involved in the accomplishment of probe was realized in a span of
a deep space planetary mission. around 16 months with two third
of its components having been
Indian Prime Minister Narendra sourced from the domestic
Modi who witnessed the historic industries.
moment of the Indian Mars probe
slowly being nudged into its orbit For the Indian space scientists,
around Mars on the morning of this mission extraordinary
September 24 was left spell bound celebrates the excellence that
* Radhakrishna Rao, Visiting Fellow, VIF
8
India has built across a number of methane sensor to monitor the
fields--- from astronomy to presence of methane in Martian
engineering as well as materials atmosphere, a thermal infra red
science to exobiology. Not camera to study the geological
surprisingly then China has hailed features, a Lyman Alpha
the Indian space spectacular of Photometer to study the Martian
inserting its Mars Orbiter into the atmosphere and a payload to study
orbit around the Mars describing the neutral composition of the
the triumph as the pride of Asia. planets upper atmosphere. The
A report featured in the website of data transmitted by these
the state owned Peoples Daily had instruments will help ISRO study
praised India for making history the chemistry and geology of Mars
by becoming the first nation to in addition to providing a peep
successfully reach Mars on its first into the early history and
attempt. As pointed out by Modi, evolution of the planet. In view of
of the 51 missions a high rate of
attempted across A report featured in the website failures
the world so far, a of the state owned Peoples encountered by
mere 21 had Daily had praised India for Mars probes, ISRO
making history by becoming
succeeded. The the first nation to successfully team involved in
thrilling aspect of reach Mars on its first designing and
Indian Mars attempt. developing the
mission was it that Mars Orbiter had
it smoothly reached its pre carefully studied the successes and
determined orbit around Mars failures of the US, European and
after a marathon cruise across the Russian missions to the Red
space spread across 300 days. And Planet.
as observed by ISRO Chairman K
Radhakrishnan, Mars mission is Significantly, at Rs.4500-million,
a historical necessity since after Indian Mars mission launched in
having helped find water on the November 2013 by means of an
moon, looking for signatures of life augmented version of the four-
on Mars is a natural progression. stage Polar Satellite Launch
Giving details, he said, Mars Vehicle (PSLV) is considered the
orbiter has five scientific cheapest ticket to Mars. It also
instruments, all built by ISRO. It highlights the frugal engineering
has a colour camera for optical skill that ISRO has mastered in
imaging of the planets surface, building satellites and launch
9
vehicles. According to British probe is mirrored in comments
aerospace magazine Flight emanating from west. For quite
International, Remarkably, ISRO some time now, there has been a
has spent a mere US$75-million tendency in the west to run down
on the Mangalyaan mission, an Indian high technology strides.
astoundingly small budget for a For instance, the well known
project so complex. By comparison, British magazine The Economist
Aefonso Curarans acclaimed 2013 has dubbed Indian Mars mission
space epic Gravity, starring as Indian elites delusional quest
Sandra Bullock and George for super power status. Going
Clooney, was made at an beyond such rhetoric, the brilliant
estimated budget of US$100- triumph of the Mars mission
million.The price tag of implies that the country will
Mangalyaan has been computed to definitely feel empowered in the
be one tenth of what USA had cutting edge area where
spent on its MAVEN (Mars technology meets science. And at
Atmosphere and Violet Explorer) the end of the day, the successful
mission which entered the orbit of implementation of the Mars
Mars on September 22. mission would provide ISRO
hands down experience in areas
Even so there has been a criticism such as deep space
that a country like India battling communications, navigation,
the problems of poverty and mission planning and
backwardness should not fritter management.
away its precious resources on
grandiose space missions. But One of the key objectives of the
then India cannot afford to remain Indian Mars mission is to gather
a silent spectator in so far as the evidence for the presence of
race for conquering space is methane on Mars. If Indian Mars
concerned. On a more practical provides solid evidence for the
plane, ISRO has clearly presence of methane in Mars, it
demonstrated that fruits of space would be a win-win development
technology can be effectively for the Indian space programme.
leveraged to tackle the problem of There is as yet no clarity on the
under development. Clearly and existence of methane on the Red
apparently, the strategic planet. Monitoring the presence of
significance and geo political methane has been the mainstay of
importance of the Indian Mas the scientific payloads on most of
10
the probes sent to the Red Planet. with the firing of a 9-kg. sounding
For the traces of methane on the rocket from a facility in the fishing
Red Planet could provide a pointer hamlet of Thumba on the outskirts
to the existence of primitive life of Thiruvananthapuram in
forms at some point of the November 1963. And over the
evolution of Mars. years, ISRO has systematically
and methodically mastered the
Buoyed up by the successful complex art and science of
accomplishment of Mangalyaan, designing and building a variety of
ISRO is now looking at a follow on satellites and launch vehicles
mission to the Red Planet. without ay external assistance.
Whereas Mangalyaan is Indeed, self reliance remains the
essentially a technology hallmark of the Indian space
demonstrator, the second mission program described as a success
would focus more on scientific story on the shoe string budget.
exploration of the planet. We now
have a good On the one side, India has Indias marvellous
experience of notched up the unsavoury space strides when
making a satellite reputation of being the largest juxtaposed against
and reaching the importer of defence equipment countrys massive
Mars. If there is a and on the other hand the and depressing
scientific country is today a part of the dependence on the
elite space club.
consensus, future imported combat
Mars missions can hardware makes
be planned says AS Kiran for a terribly irreconcilable
Kumar, Director of the situation. On the one side, India
Ahmedabad based Space has notched up the unsavoury
Applications Centre (SAC) of reputation of being the largest
ISRO. The space research importer of defence equipment and
organisation has also a plan up its on the other hand the country is
sleeve to send probes to Venus and today a part of the elite space club.
inner asteroid belt. Planetary It is high time that Indias defence
missions form a part of Space establishment took cognisance of
Vision India 2025. ISROs impressive list of
achievements to initiate a time
Indeed the success of Indias Mars bound action plan to free India
orbiter marks a giant leap forward from the curse of costly and
for the Indian space program crushing import of defence
which took off in a modest way
11
hardware. It is not for nothing and subsequent planetary
that the Prime Minister Narendra missions have all the potentials to
Modi has made a clarion call for give new thrust to the cutting edge
the creation of an Indian military technological expertise of the
industrial complex fully well Indian industry. Of course, many
equipped not only to meet Indian civilian products with applications
defence requirements but also to potentials in areas including
position the country as a major health and medicine could be
exporter of defence equipment. For engineered from the technologies
without being supported by developed for planetary probes. On
domestically produced fighting another front, the success of
equipment, India can never hope Indian Mars mission could nudge
to lay claim to the status of being advanced space faring nations to
a global super power. While Indian involve India in ambitious deep
space agency was driven by the space missions including a
vision and hard work of possible manned expedition to
committed, talented and patriotic Mars. In the ultimate analysis, at
researchers and engineers, the the national level, the thrilling
defence establishment had gained message of Mangalyaan is that
notoriety for its lacklustre every sphere of activity in the
leadership, bureaucratic country could draw inspiration
wrangling, incompetent and and lessons from ISRO to achieve
moribund state enterprises, excellence and scale new heights
corruption and scandals of achievement.
nourished by the shady
middlemen enjoying right type of India Mars probe, the first
connection. interplanetary mission of the
country is considered a logical
The high point of the Indian Mars follow on to the success India
mission is that it has helped bring pulled off with the maiden lunar
on a common platform researchers mission Chandrayaan-1 launched
and experts from a wide ranging in October 2008. In the context of
fields including engineering, the changed political environment
celestial mechanics, space physics, in the country, India considers
exobiology, chemistry, geology, interplanetary missions such as
optics and long distance Mangalyaan as vital ingredients
communications .The technological of its quest to sustain the
spin offs derived from Mangalyaan
12
leadership position in space Orbiter mission provides us with
exploration. an opportunity to test technologies
like spacecraft autonomy, long
Indeed, the accomplishment distance space communications,
complex and challenging interplanetary navigation and
operations of inserting MOM into miniaturized space payloads and
its final orbit around Mars stands systems.
out as a brilliant tribute to the
meticulous and flawless On a global level there is a
implementation of the Indian growing focus on exploring Mars
space agency. Even a small slip with a view to unravel secrets
here or minor lapse there could and mysteries surrounding the
have sent MOM tumbling into the Red Planet which is considered
untraceable depths of space. . one of the benign planetary bodies
that could support
According to Dr. V human colonies.
According to Dr. V Adimurthy,
Adimurthy, who According to Prof.
who headed the study team on
headed the study Indian Mars mission, the UR Rao, Mars
team on Indian failure rate of Mars missions holds great
Mars mission, the was substantial, amounting to potential and
failure rate of Mars almost 50%.The team had relevance to
missions was analysed the results of the earthlings because
past missions undertaken by
substantial, various countries including the in about 500 years
amounting to US and Russia. from now we might
almost 50%.The be able to use Mars
team had analysed the results of as resources base for earthlings.
the past missions undertaken by Former Indian President and
various countries including the US internationally recognised space
and Russia. Communication with scientist Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
the satellite and tracking it poses has made an impassioned plea for
problems. So we had to have on- a well organised international
board autonomous control collaboration to give a practical
system, said Adimurthy. It is not shape to the human dream of
for nothing that ISRO researchers colonizing Mars. It is widely
had carefully studied the failures perceived that Mars could be the
and success of various missions to next outpost of human civilization
Mars before arriving at the in our solar system. But then the
spacecraft configuration and grim ground reality is that man is
mission profile. Indian Mars
13
still many years away from mission which landed on Mars in
sending a human expedition to the August 2012 revealed that
Red Planet. conditions on the planet were once
suitable for life even though there
The view of the Indian scientific was no methane. There is also a
community is that Indian Mars speculation that life began on
probe will be in a position to look Mars.
at Mars in a totally different
perspective. As it is, data provided According to Adimurthy,
by the American Curiosity rover researchers are now more than
has not been able to establish the curious to find more about Mars
presence of methane on Mars. because it holds the secrets of the
From the scientific perspective, past and the possibilities of the
detection of elusive methane on future. Indeed Mangalyaan stand
the Red Planet could determine out as a brightest symbol of ache
whether life in primitive forms din for Indian science and
ever existed on Mars. Data made technology.
available by the US Curiosity
Back to Contents
14
NATION
The Relevance of Police Custody of an

Accused Person
- Dr M N Buch
U
nder Chapter XII of the arrested person, under section 55A
Code of Criminal the arresting officer is required to
Procedure the police have take reasonable care of the health
the power, in fact the duty, to and safety of the accused, under
record information about the section 57 the arrested person
alleged commission of a cognisable must be produced before a
offence and thereafter to Magistrate without delay and in
investigate the offence, arrest the any case not more twenty-four
accused and produce accused hours after arrest, in bailable
persons before a competent court offences the police may grant bail
so that the court can take and under section 58, to further
cognisance and bring the accused protect the interests of the
to trial. Under Chapter V Cr.P.C. accused, the officer incharge of a
the power to arrest and the police station must report every
procedure after arrest is laid down arrest without a warrant to the
in considerable detail. Under District Magistrate or, if the D.M.
section 41 B when making an so directs, to the Sub Divisional
arrest a police officer is required Magistrate having jurisdiction. A
to prepare a memorandum of very special responsibility for the
arrest attested by at least one safety of the arrested person vests
respectable witness and in the arresting officer and the
countersigned by the person officer incharge of a police station.
arrested. Under section 41D Under section 174 every case of
Cr.P.C an arrested person has the suspicious death shall be brought
right to meet an advocate of his under inquest by a competent
choice, under section 54 he is Executive Magistrate and in
required to be examined by an addition where a person dies in
authorised medical officer, with custody of the police, then further
the record of examination enquiry will be made by a Judicial
containing any injuries or marks Magistrate. Further, under
of violence on the body of the section 436 Cr.P.C a person
*Dr M N Buch, Dean, Centre for Governance and Political Studies, VIF
15
arrested for bailable offence shall before the Magistrate. This is to
be enlarged on bail by the police or ensure that the Magistrate is
a Magistrate and under section convinced that the accused has not
437 a Magistrate may give bail to been subjected to undue
a person arrested for a nonbailable harassment or torture during
office. In other words, the right to detention.
bail is normal, custody should be
an exception. The question arises about what
purpose police custody of an
This brings us to section 167 accused serves. Under section 161
Cr.P.C. when the police, being Cr.P.C the police is entitled to
unable to complete the examine witnesses who may have
investigation within twenty-four knowledge about the offence or
hours of the arrest of a person, may be otherwise able to help the
may seek the orders of a police. The police officer may
competent Magistrate for reduce into writing any statement
detention of the of a witness or he
However, under section 162
accused in custody. may record such
Cr.P.C. statements made to the
Instead of giving statement by audio
police may not be signed by the
bail the Magistrate video electronic
witness and, therefore, cannot
may direct the means. However,
be entered into evidence.
detention of an under section 162
accused person in Cr.P.C. statements
police custody or in judicial made to the police may not be
custody as he deems fit. This signed by the witness and,
custody will not normally exceed therefore, cannot be entered into
15 days in the whole, provided evidence. The only purpose for
that the Magistrate may authorise which such a statement may be
detention beyond this period but used is to contradict a witness as
not for a period exceeding ninety per section 145 of the Indian
days when the investigation Evidence Act. Though such
relates to an offence carrying a contradiction will not render the
sentence of not less than ten years witness liable for action for
imprisonment and sixty days in perjury, the court may draw an
every other case. To take care of inference at its discretion about
the interests of the accused police the veracity of the sworn
remand may not be given unless statement made by the witness
the accused is produced in person during trial. Similarly under
16
section 164 Cr.P.C. no police It is for the purpose of section 27
officer may record a confession, that the police actually obtains
nor can any confession be recorded custody of an accused. During
by a Magistrate until he is police custody the accused is
convinced that the confession is brought under interrogation. By
being made voluntarily. and large the method of
Therefore, any statement made by interrogation is rarely scientific or
an accused person to the police has gentle. In fact it comes broadly
no evidentiary value at all. Under within the definition of torture
section 24 Indian Evidence Act a and the purpose is to extort
confession caused by inducement, information on the basis of which
threat or promise is irrelevant and the police can try and collect
inadmissible. Under sections 25 evidence which can prove the
and 26 of the Indian Evidence Act crime. Because it is only that
a confession to a police officer may much part of a statement made by
not be proved in court, nor may a the accused in custody which leads
confession by an accused while in to discovery of a fact or the
police custody be proved against physical material connected with
him. It is only under section 27 of the crime, such as a weapon,
the Indian Evidence Act that which is relevant that the police
information obtained from an tries to pressurise an accused to
accused person may be proved. give such information so that they
The exact wordings of the section can make recoveries based
are reproduced below: thereon. Quite often even such
recoveries are faked. Therefore,
How much of information the relevance of police custody is
received from accused may be substantially reduced because
proved: - Provided that, when any ultimately the intention is to force
fact is deposed to as discovered in from the accused some information
consequence of information on the basis of which he can be
received from a person accused of firmly implicated in the crime and
any offence, in the custody of a his associates can be arrested. One
police officer, so much of such reason for the dismal record of
information, whether it amounts convictions is that instead of
to a confession or not, as relates painstaking and scientific
distinctly to the fact thereby investigation of an offence the
discovered, may be proved. police tries to take short-cuts
which can lead to information
17
which, in turn, is relevant under makes it mandatory for the
section 27 of the Indian Evidence burden of proof to lie on the person
Act. alleging a fact, which means that
in a criminal prosecution the
The reprehensible act of torture burden of proving guilt lies with
and its use in solving crimes is the prosecution, in a country
brought out by a classic case from whose Constitution in Article 20
Italy. In March 1978 an extremist (3) provides that no person
communist militant organisation accused of an offence shall be
called The Red Brigade abducted compelled to be a witness against
Aldo Moro, former Prime Minister himself, the relevance of anything
of Italy. The abduction lasted over said in police custody is highly
for two months. The investigating suspect and may not be used as
officer made a request to General proof against the accused. The
Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, the question remains whether the
head of the Italian National Police, provision of police custody should
the Carabinieri, to Information extorted by third remain on the
apply third degree degree is very often inaccurate statute book at all.
methods to an because the accused, in order to
arrested member of escape torture, will willingly In most civilised
the Red Brigade give replies as desired by the countries where
because he would investigating officer. there is rule of law
then be able to the police do have
extract accurate information about the right to obtain a court order
Aldo Moros whereabouts. General remanding an accused to police
Chiesa gave a classical reply custody. At the same time there
which should be the motto of every are very strict rules about how the
police force in the world. He said, accused will be treated during
Italy can survive the loss of Aldo custody, there is a provision for
Moro, it would not survive the audio video recording of
introduction of torture. interrogation, physical
Information extorted by third mishandling of the accused or
degree is very often inaccurate application of pressure which
because the accused, in order to might physically harm the accused
escape torture, will willingly give is totally prohibited and whereas
replies as desired by the an admission made by the accused
investigating officer. In a country in police custody is relevant and
whose Evidence Act in section 102 admissible, its evidentiary value
18
will certainly be weighed by a perjury would be a deterrent to
court to determine whether it is witnesses telling lies in court
made voluntarily or not. Perhaps which negate the statement given
confessions made to the police in to the police during investigation.
India should continue to remain One has to be careful in India
inadmissible, but surely section about the police and its lack of
162 Cr.P.C. can be amended so bias in investigating an offence,
that witnesses are required to sign but let us at least give the police a
the statement made to the police. fair chance so that instead of using
The trial court should have the extra legal means to control crime
discretion, in case of discrepancy it adopts the forensic skills
between the statements to the necessary to solve crimes.
police and the court to decide on Unfortunately neither
the veracity of the two statements. government, nor the National
The witness may be prosecuted for Police Commission, nor successive
perjury if he is unable to explain Law Commissions have analysed
the discrepancy. This would the real problem of investigation
certainly make the task of the in India and least rationalised the
police easier while investigating laws so that science and
an offence because witnesses interrogative skills become the
would be deterred from giving main tools of investigation.
false statements either before the
police or before the court. The
possibility of prosecution for Back to Contents
19
DEBATE
Cyberterrorism and Information

Technology Act : An Analysis
- Commander Mukesh Saini
U
nder the Information After removing all irrelevant
Technology Act (IT Act), phrases due to extensive use of the
2000 a person can be disjunction or, the following
sentenced to life imprisonment for charge can be legally framed
merely having intentions of using under Section 66F IT Act:
a computer for likely indecency or
66F. Punishment for cyber terrorism
immorality, irrespective of the fact (1) Whoever, intentionally accesses a computer resource exceeding authorized
whether he or she has anything to

access, and by means of such conduct obtains access to any restricted
information, data or computer database, with reasons to believe that such
information, data or computer database so obtained may be likely to cause injury
do with any terrorist organisation

to morality, commits the offence of cyber terrorism.
(2) Whoever commits or conspires to commit cyber terrorism shall be

punishable with imprisonment which may extend to imprisonment for life.
or not. This may sound shocking
(Note: Words in bold italic have very wide undefined meaning)
and ridiculous but it is the truth.
The complete text of Section 66F

IT Act is given below: It is horrifying to note that there
is usage of the disjunction or
66F. Punishment for cyber terrorism
between sub clauses 1(A) and 1(B).
(1) Whoever,-
(A) with intent to threaten the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty of India or
to strike terror in the people or any section of the people by
While sub-clause 1(A) does has
(i) denying or cause the denial of access to any person authorized to access
computer resource; or
some semblance of acts related to
(ii) attempting to penetrate or access a computer resource without authorisation
or exceeding authorized access; or terrorism, sub clause 1(B) has
nothing to do with terrorism at all.
(iii) introducing or causing to introduce any Computer Contaminant.
and by means of such conduct causes or is likely to cause death or injuries

to persons or damage to or destruction of property or disrupts or knowing that it
is likely to cause damage or disruption of supplies or services essential to the life
of the community or adversely affect the critical information infrastructure There is an extensive use of the
specified under section 70, or
(B) knowingly or intentionally penetrates or accesses a computer resource without

authorisation or exceeding authorized access, and by means of such conduct
disjunction or within sub clause
obtains access to information, data or computer database that is restricted for
reasons of the security of the State or foreign relations; or any restricted
information, data or computer database, with reasons to believe that such
(B) thereby casting the wide to be
able to book any innocent person
information, data or computer database so obtained may be used to cause or
likely to cause injury to the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the
security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency
or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an
offence, or to the advantage of any foreign nation, group of individuals or
otherwise,
as desired. To further widen the
commits the offence of cyber terrorism.
(2) Whoever commits or conspires to commit cyber terrorism shall be punishable

scope, merely a relation to
morality or decency has been
with imprisonment which may extend to imprisonment for life.
* Commander Mukesh Saini, (Retd.) Former National Information Security Coordinator (GOI)
20
included as a crime. From the Technology to provide draft on
wide range of possible Cyber Terrorism to be included in
permutations given in the Act, It the amendments. The Ministry
hurriedly prepared a draft which
is possible to extract out any so-
apparently got included with the
called relevant portion for framing rest of amendments to the IT Act
a charge for even an imaginary without application of mind. The
offence, based on mere likelihood amendments to the IT Act got
or intention of the same. The passed in the din of the houses of
following box illustrates this: parliament. It is therefore,
necessary to expunge Section 66F
66F. Punishment for cyber terrorism IT Act before it gets misused.
(1) Whoever,-
(A) with intent to threaten the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty of India
or to strike terror in the people or any section of the people by
Obliviously, the question that
(i) denying or cause the denial of access to any person authorized to access
computer resource; or
arises is: should cyberterrorism be
(ii) attempting to penetrate or access a computer resource without
authorisation or exceeding authorized access; or
a crime? If yes, what constitutes
(iii) introducing or causing to introduce any Computer Contaminant. crime under cyberterrorism?
Should it be part of the
and by means of such conduct causes or is likely to cause death or injuries
to persons or damage to or destruction of property or disrupts or knowing
that it is likely to cause damage or disruption of supplies or services essential
to the life of the community or adversely affect the critical information
infrastructure specified under section 70, or Information Technology Act or
(B) knowingly or intentionally penetrates or accesses a computer resource
without authorisation or exceeding authorized access, and by means of such
conduct obtains access to information, data or computer database that is
should it be part of the laws on
restricted for reasons of the security of the State or foreign relations; or any
restricted information, data or computer database, with reasons to believe counter-terrorism? Some of these
that such information, data or computer database so obtained may be used to
cause or likely to cause injury to the interests of the sovereignty and integrity
of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public
questions and more are
deliberated in succeeding
order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or
incitement to an offence, or to the advantage of any foreign nation, group of
individuals or otherwise,
commits the offence of cyber terrorism. paragraphs.

(2) Whoever commits or conspires to commit cyber terrorism shall be
punishable with imprisonment which may extend to imprisonment for life.
The nature of cyberspace is such

that it can be anything: a means,
This is indeed a most unfortunate a weapon, a force-multiplier, a
piece of legislation but it is source, a target/victim or a fruit of
included in our statutes and has crime. There is also a need to
the power to be abused. Research distinguish between cyber crime,
indicates that Section 66F IT Act cyber terrorism, cyber espionage
was not part of the original and cyber war. Clubbing all these
proposal for amendments to the offences under same clause can be
Information Technology Act in harmful to national security
2008. During review the besides flouting norms of human
Parliamentary Standing rights.
Committee asked the Ministry of
Communication and Information
21
Terrorism implies imposing ones Terrorist organisations are
will regarding a religion or race on generally well equipped in
others by instilling terror in the statecraft and many forms of
minds of the masses through warfare, therefore the subject is
large-scale death, destruction and very challenging for handling by
loss of assets. It attempts to coerce the normal law enforcement
the government to change its procedures. Terrorists do not
policies and governance model to follow any humanitarian
align with those of the terrorists. international laws and generally
To achieve these objectives, abuse the benevolent acts of the
terrorist organisations use government towards its citizens.
technology and cyberspace They use the cover of innocent
extensively. Cyberspace is used for citizens to undertake their
identification of the target, cowardly acts. Therefore there
preparation of a exists a reasonable
terror attack, in Cyberspace is used for possibility of
identification of the target,
support of a terror someone on behalf
preparation of a terror attack,
attack in progress, in support of a terror attack in of State harassing
terrorism progress, terrorism innocent citizens.
indoctrination, indoctrination, launching To achieve a
launching psychological operations and balance between
psychological even for undertaking battle the conflicting and
damage assessment post a
operations and complex needs of
terror attack.
even for law enforcement
undertaking battle damage and human rights, general
assessment post a terror attack. criminal procedural laws are
There also exists a reasonable loosened but additional checks are
possibility of selecting the introduced to prevent abuse. An
National Critical Information overarching general law like the
Infrastructure as a target of a Information Technology Act is not
terrorist attack. Therefore it is capable of handling the
necessary to bring such complexities of terrorism.
perpetuators to justice. It is also Therefore cyberterrorism should
necessary to give a statutory ideally be a part of relevant
status to cyberterrorism to get counter-terrorism laws.
necessary international support.
Any accusation of cyberterrorism
should be accepted if there is a
22
direct or evidentiary link between (c) Hacking /attacking or
a resource in cyberspace used by planning to hack/attack any
the accused and any declared .gov.in site.
terrorist organisation. In case such (d) Inciting communal/racial
a link is not available then it may disharmony using cyber
be necessary for the executive to resources including social
take a considered decision to media.
declare such resource as a (e) Using cyber resources for
terrorist related resource before planning, communication,
anyone associated with it can be command structure, analysis
tried under the provisions of of victims, creating false
cyberterrorism. There are identity, stealing identity for
sufficient laws to deal with direct or indirect support of
hacking or similar crimes as well physical or cyber attack.
as attacks on the Critical (f) Undertaking propaganda
Information Infrastructure from warfare/psychological
undeclared terrorist organisations. warfare against the
Hence cybercrime and Government of India or
cyberterrorism should not be states through the medium
mixed. of cyberspace.
(g) Using cyber resources to
Following acts may constitute acts raise funds, transfer monies,
of cyberterrorism provided there is issuing online assurance for
evidence of direct or indirect funds, exchange currencies,
association of the accused or the distributing funds,
resource in cyberspace with any supporting local advocacy
declared terrorist organisation: groups or sleeping terrorist
(a) Hacking/attacking Critical cells, procuring any product
Information Infrastructure (moveable/
as defined under Section 70 immoveable/online) for an
of IT Act. act or in support of
(b) Planning or conspiring to terrorism.
hack/attack Critical (h)Propagating/indoctrination
Information Infrastructure of terrorists preaching or
as defined under Section 70 advocacy or thought-process
of IT Act. or teaching.
(i) Recruiting, motivating or on-
line training for acts of
23
terrorism or joining terrorist (Resource in cyberspace includes
organisations. but is not limited to computer,
(j) Hacking, penetrating or computer network, hardware,
attempt to penetrate or firmware, software, computer
using any innocent cyber- script, e-mail, chat, instant
resources to be a zombie for messaging, document, database,
any cyber terror act or for data stream, website, social media,
masking terrorists or cyber application (app) and
terrorist acts or any attempt web/computer universal resource
to transfer blame of cyber- location.)
terrorism on innocents.
(k)Any offence covered under There is an urgent need to clearly
Section 43 IT Act for the and concisely codify the acts of
purpose of terrorism or in cyber terrorism, while the existing
support of terrorist activities. ambiguous and catch-all law
(l) Any other act even if accused should be taken off the statute. It
is not linked to any declared is therefore suggested that Section
terrorist organisation, who 66F IT Act be repealed at the
through cyberspace, coerces earliest (even if it takes longer to
the Government of India or enact any law under counter
Indian states to alter policy terrorism related laws) and amend
policies in favour of a group the appropriate counter terrorism
or race or religious entity or laws to include acts of cyber-
terrorist organisation, terrorism with its associated
provided such coercion is procedures and safeguards.
real, possible and likely to be Back to Contents
effective if not countered.
24
DIPLOMACY
Afghanistan: Can it be A Template for
India, China Cooperation?
- Lt. Gen Ravi Sawhney & Sushant Sareen
O
ne of the most troubling, mood in India.
but also fundamental,
questions confronting India Even as the two sides work to
is while New Delhi is keen on manage, if not resolve, these
cultivating with China a mutually issues, Afghanistan has emerged
beneficial and cooperative as something of a test case on not
relationship that, despite an just how India and China will
element of competition, is not only relate to each other but also on
conflict-free but also cordial, does whether they will either work in
China want a similar relationship conjunction or at cross-purposes
with India? Despite trade between on other emerging issues like the
the two Asian giants booming, and West Asian crisis. With the
a fair degree of convergence in Western involvement, and perhaps
interests in global forums, there even interest, in Afghanistan
are outstanding issues among almost over, countries of the
others, the boundary question region will have to do some of the
between them that cause strains heavy-lifting to ensure that
in the bilateral relationship. Some Afghanistan doesnt once again
actions by the Chinese stapled become the cockpit of terrorism
visas for people and officials from which will also affect them. Among
the Indian state of Jammu and all of Afghanistans neighbours,
Kashmir, the aggressive and India and China are probably the
intrusive patrolling along the only two countries with the
disputed stretches of the Line of diplomatic, political, economic and
Actual Control, the complete military clout to help in stabilising
disregard for Indias concerns and Afghanistan. They can synergise
sensitivities when it comes to their strengths to prevent
relations with Pakistan muddy Afghanistans descent into chaos.
the waters by fouling up the public The Russians, still suffering from
the hangover of their Afghan
* Lt. Gen Ravi Sawhney, Distinguished Fellow, VIF
* Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, VIF
25
misadventure in the 1980s, are once again make a bee-line for
very wary of getting involved in Afghanistan and make it a safe
Afghanistan directly. The Iranians haven for plotting and launching
have a crucial role to play but terrorist attacks. A civil war in
cant do much alone partly because Afghanistan between the
of their strained relations with the resurgent Taliban and the forces
West and partly because of their opposed to them will also spill over
deepening involvement in West into other countries. This, in turn,
Asia to combat the scourge of the will force countries affected by the
Islamic State. The Pakistanis are war in Afghanistan to cultivate
more of a problem and, proxies, which will only further
notwithstanding the horrible fuel the war within and without
massacre of school children in Afghanistan. But keeping
Peshawar, are unlikely to become Afghanistan secure from
part of the solution unless extremists and jihadists is just one
someone like China of the common
The Uighur terrorists and
is able to knock separatists in Xinjinag, India- interests shared by
better sense into centric jihadists, Central Asian India and China.
them. The Central extremists, all will once again
Asian states have make a bee-line for
For Afghanistan to
their own problems Afghanistan and make it a safe remain safe it must
and can at best haven for plotting and become
play a supporting
launching terrorist attacks. economically viable
role. and vibrant. While
for the foreseeable future, foreign
The problem as far as Afghanistan aid and assistance will be
is concerned is that even though necessary to keep Afghanistan
the interests of both India and afloat, it cannot remain a donor
China converge, their strategies driven economy endlessly. There
diverge. Both countries are are two potential areas that can
extremely apprehensive of propel Afghanistan towards
Afghanistan getting destabilised economic viability. The first is
and once again becoming a base Afghanistan leveraging its location
for global and regional jihadist to become a bridge between South
terror groups. The Uighur Asia on one side and Central and
terrorists and separatists in West Asia on the other. China
Xinjinag, India-centric jihadists, really doesnt need Afghanistan as
Central Asian extremists, all will a bridge to reach Central Asia, but
26
India does. More importantly, remained the biggest obstacle in
Afghanistan becoming a transit efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.
hub between Central and South The Chinese however, have placed
Asia makes sense only if these faith in Pakistan and have been
routes extend into India. Without taking their cues from Pakistan
India, Afghanistans utility for while forging their policy in
transit is neither attractive nor Afghanistan. Given the influence
viable. The second is extracting that China exercises on Pakistan
the mineral resources of the much delayed and much-hyped
Afghanistan and using them to set Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North
up industry in Afghanistan and Waziristan was in no small
exporting some of the raw measure the result of Chinese
material to other countries. Here pressure the Chinese are ideally
both India and China have a role placed to force compellence on
to play, not just in making Pakistan to change its destructive
investments in developing policy on Afghanistan, both in
infrastructure roads, railways, terms of the support and
pipelines but also setting up sanctuary being given to Taliban
industries in Afghanistan. Peace, and their affiliates as well as its
security and stability is however a denial of transit rights to India.
sine qua non for Afghanistan
being able to exploit its location But as long as China sees
and its mineral wealth to become a Afghanistan through the prism of
self-sustaining economy. Pakistan and refuses to exert its
influence to make Pakistan do the
The biggest spoiler in Afghanistan right thing, the prospects of India
is also the country that is likely to and China working together on
be most despoiled by a destabilised Afghanistan will remain very
or Talibanised Afghanistan is bleak. Worse, the entire grandiose
Pakistan. It is also the major point plan to make an economic corridor
of divergence in how India and through Pakistan with one section
China seek to stabilise branching out into Afghanistan is
Afghanistan. For now, China going to become a victim to the
appears set to ride on Pakistan's instability that will spill over into
shoulder to play a role in Pakistan from Afghanistan. What
Afghanistan. While Pakistan the Chinese are not getting is that
undoubtedly is critical to solving Pakistan's current policy of getting
the Afghan conundrum, it has also the Taliban a stake in power in
27
Afghanistan is going to push Central Asia or through Iran to
Afghanistan into the throes of help Afghanistan. India can also
extremism and jihadism which, share its development template in
beyond a point, even Pakistan Afghanistan with China to rebuild
wont be able to control. The that country. Both the countries
difference between the approach of have the technical and
India and Pakistan is that while institutional strengths for build
India seeks to develop its influence Afghan capacity to handle their
in Afghanistan by helping to affairs. Most of all, India has a
stabilise that country, Pakistan much deeper cultural and social
exercises its influence by connect with the Afghan society
destabilising Afghanistan. As than China and can assist the
such, with or without China, India Chinese in this developing a better
will need to remain engaged with understanding of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan because its vital The spin-offs of Sino-Indian
security interests cooperation in
are involved in a Most of all, India has a much Afghanistan will
stable, non- deeper cultural and social also have positive
talibanised connect with the Afghan society impact on their
than China and can assist the
Afghanistan. Chinese in this developing a
bilateral
Of course, if the better understanding of relationship. But in
Afghanistan. the ultimate
Pakistan part of analysis everything
the problem is will depend on what sort of a
sorted out either by China relationship China wants with
pulling its weight to make India?
Pakistan fall in line or, in the
extreme case, China bypassing
Pakistan completely India and
China can work together through Back to Contents
28
DIPLOMACY
Enhancing Strategic Relationship with
South Korea
- Maj Gen (Retd) P K Chakravorty
Introduction participate in the 8th India
T
Republic of Korea Joint
here have been ancient Commission Meeting has further
links between South Korea strengthened relations between
and India. In modern times, the two countries.
it was bifurcation of the
international system into two rival Economic Relations
blocks after 1945 that prevented
links between the two countries. Rapid developments took place
Transformative changes in Indian with opening up of the Indian
economy and foreign policy in economy and initiation of Look
early 1990s drove the two East Policy in 1991.By this time;
countries to commence Korea had emerged as an
cooperating economically and industrial powerhouse and was
strategically. The fast changing looking beyond its traditional
landscape of Indo Pacific security economic partners. It was in this
architecture resulted in background that both countries
intensifying the strategic realised the need to deepen their
partnership between these mutual relationship. The economic
countries. With Narendra Modi relations have been on an upward
being at the helm of affairs, India- trajectory since then and there are
South Korea relations are roughly 450 Korean companies
expected to further strengthen as (Chaebol in Korean) operating in
he aims to make Indian a India today. POSCO steel plant in
competitive manufacturing hub. Odisha will be the single largest
Technical and financial assistance foreign investment by any country
from South Korea will be vital for in India.
boosting Indian economy. The The major achievement in
recent visit of our External Affairs economic relations has been
Sushma Swaraj who landed in operationalisation of
Korea on 28 December 2014 to Comprehensive Economic
*Maj Gen (Retd) P K Chakravorty, Indias former Defence Attache to Vietnam
29
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in concentrated in manufacturing
2010. It is Koreas first free trade sector, wholesale and retail trade,
agreement with a BRICS member. financial and insurance activities.
Korean FDI to India, up to
December, 2013 stood at US$ 3.25 Strategic Relations
billion but it will go up after the The geo strategic location of South
environmental clearance to Korea enables it to be the focus of
POSCO has been given. four major powers comprising the
Despite the recent rise in trade United States (US), Russia, China
volume, there is much scope for and Japan. The country has a
further improvement. According to robust alliance with the US, China
information available on website is her biggest trading partner, and
of Indian Embassy in Korea, Russia is a big trading partner
Indias share in Koreas global and sporadically provides defence
trade was 0.83 in 2002 which rose equipment to South Korea.
to1.63 in 2013. Culturally, there is
There is According to information an uneasy
considerable scope available on website of Indian relationship with
to increase it. In share in Koreas global trade Japan but
Embassy in Korea, Indias
2013, India was was 0.83 in 2002 which rose militarily they
Koreas 18th biggest to1.63 in 2013. have an
source of imports intelligence
while India was its 9th biggest sharing pact.
export market. Koreas restrictive Bilateral trade with India is $ 18
policy for agricultural imports billion and is being progressively
such as fruits and vegetables is a enhanced .South Korea has strong
barrier being faced by India. New military relations with the US.
Delhi needs to diversify its exports American troops are stationed on
which are dominated by Korean soil but the country is
petrochemicals. There is against the deployment of
tremendous scope for Korea to Terminal High Altitude Area
invest in Indian infrastructure Defence (THAAD) missile system
projects. Under its 12th five-year in their country as it is likely to
plan (2012-2017), India needs to offend China. Incidentally, China
spend US$ 1 trillion on its has good strategic relations with
infrastructure projects. At the South Korea and strong economic
moment, Korean investments are bonds. South Korea currently is
resisting pressure to take part in a
30
regional missile defence system between the two countries, the two
that includes Japan. leaders decided to enhance
bilateral relations to a Strategic
Strategic relationship between Partnership. Both countries also
South Korea and India started a agreed to strengthen dialogue and
decade ago. In East Asia, Indias exchanges in the area of defence
bilateral relations with South through regular high-level
Korea, Japan, and Taiwan are military exchanges. They also
influenced by the common factor of agreed to explore the possibilities
having China as a neighbour. of joint venture cooperation in
Indias growing strategic links research & development, and
with South Korea were evident in manufacturing of military
the Agreement on Long Term equipment including through
Cooperative Partnership for Peace transfer of technology and co-
and Prosperity signed during production.
former Korean President Rohs
visit to India in 2004. The high Viewing Indias aim of
watermark of the security modernizing its Armed Forces,
relations came in 2010, when Korean technology would be
South Korean President Lee necessary for developing state of
Myung-bak and Indian PM the art weaponry. Further need
Manmohan Singh upgraded the was expressed for greater
mutual relations and signed a cooperation between the navies
strategic partnership. The and coast guards in areas
strategic partnership was a result pertaining to the safety and
of convergence between Indias security of international maritime
revitalised Look East Policy and traffic. Both countries gave
New Asia Initiative launched by adequate importance to Science
Korean President Lee. Further, and Technology and a dedicated
President Lee was Chief Guest at fund of US$10 million (with a
the 61st celebration of Indias contribution of US$5 million by
Republic Day which marked the each side) to promote joint
growing closeness between the two research was created. This also led
countries. The joint statement to India posting its permanent
issued after the partnership said Defence Attache in Seoul in 2010,
considering that the ROK-India a charge that was earlier handled
partnership is a factor for peace by Indian Defence Attach
and stability in Asia as well as stationed in Tokyo.
31
During the visit of our President, of the central pillars of its Look
Smt Pratibha Patil to South Korea East Policy. Further the Korean
in 2011, an agreement on nuclear President Park Geun-hye visited
technology was signed. This India in January 2014. The two
permitted Korean companies to countries signed an agreement on
enter Indian market, build nuclear Protection of Classified Military
power stations and supply nuclear Information further deepening
reactors to India. Korean their defence relations. They also
companies possess technical know- agreed to launch a Cyber Affairs
how to build earthquake resistant Dialogue. Further, National
plants at cheaper price which can security organisations of the two
help India in its quest to increase countries will further enhance
its energy production through their cooperation. It is of interest
nuclear power. South Korea has to note that Samsung Techwins
developed a world- 155 mm Self
class civil nuclear Further, National security Propelled Gun is
organisations of the two
power plant which undergoing
countries will further enhance
contributes up to their cooperation. It is of evaluation trials in
40 per cent of the interest to note that Samsung India for induction
total electricity of Techwins 155 mm Self in the Indian
the country, the Propelled Gun is undergoing Artillery. This has
safety standards of evaluation trials in India for occurred after
induction in the Indian
which has the tremendous
Artillery.
IAEA stamp of persuasion by the
approval. South Korea can also Indian partner Larsen and
help India in developing its Toubro.
renewable energy potential as it
has cutting edge technology in Indigenisation forms an important
wind power turbine and solar aspect of our Defence Procurement
cells. Policy. Our Indian Navy has a
requirement of about 160 ships.
Indian defence companies held Our shipyards need technological
Aerospace and Defence knowhow which South Korea can
Exhibition (ADEX-2013) in Seoul provide as it is the worlds second
to showcase their indigenously largest ship builder. With Korean
manufactured weapons. This assistance all types of war ships
underlines strategic importance of can be built by India indigenously.
Korea to India and marks it as one Additionally, Korea is looking for
32
international partners for its space At the working level India and
program and Indian cost-effective Korea have to understand defence
expertise should be an attractive needs comprehensively. There is a
proposition. need to enhance Track II
dialogues and defence industrial
The current geo political contacts to understand mutual
environment needs India and requirements comprehensively.
South Korea to cooperate This is likely to enhance mutual
strategically. According to Sukjoon understanding and possibly lead
Yoon, South Korea, a genuine to defence joint ventures and co
middle-power can exert only development.
limited and selective influence
upon the great powers. However, Recent Visit of External Affairs
by networking with other powers Minister Sushma Swaraj
such as India, the impact of South
Korea would be enhanced The recent visit of Mrs Sushma
exponentially. He further adds Swaraj in December 2014 was a
that regional rivalry between step forward in strengthening
USA-China and China-Japan has economic and social relations with
diplomatically marginalised other South Korea. Along with her
states impacting their ability to South Korean counterpart Yun
build partnerships based on trust Byung-se, it was decided to chart
and limiting the scope to build out a road map to further deepen
strategic partnerships. China is engagement. To boost their
definitely a factor as far as the strategic ties both countries
deepening of strategic relations decided to enhance cooperation in
between India and Korea is ship building, electronics, defence
concerned. Chinas assertive production, infrastructure, energy
behaviour in South China Sea, besides outlining mutual interest
East China Sea and the Yellow in areas of nuclear energy and
Sea is a cause of concern for cyber security. The Minister
Korea. Declaration of new Air invited South Korean companies
Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) to make bold investments to
by China in November last year is benefit from Indian Governments
a big concern for Korea, as it focus of Make in India policy. She
overlaps with 3,000 square km of was of the view that was great
Koreas ADIZ. scope for companies to invest in
the manufacturing sector and both
countries would benefit from their
33
initiative. She also discussed the South Korean industries by boldly
co production of Liquefied Natural investing in our Make in India
Gas (LNG) tankers with Indian programme can greatly assist us
shipyards. Overall the visit in this field. Strategically both
further strengthened economic countries need to intensify their
and strategic relations between cooperation as it would enhance
the two countries. their strategic combined
coefficient exponentially.
Conclusion
The focus of the current Indian Back to Contents
Government is on development.
34
DIPLOMACY
Indias Foreign Policy in 21st Century:

A Need for Change
- Abhinav Pandya
F
ew months back, when I activities, I found that there were
was visiting Permanent several misperceptions about
Mission of India to UN in India. In diplomacy, perception
New York City to explore an plays a significant role and it is
internship opportunity in counter- something which is created and
terrorism and political affairs, I nurtured by a nation in myriad
had the opportunity to hear Prime areas. The general perception of
Minister Modi speak for the first India was of a meek, over polite,
time in Rajya Sabha after his and an ambiguous nation in
election. I distinctly remember a international politics. No doubt,
succinct observation and a brave our complex and ironical; social,
confession which the newly elected cultural, religious and historical
Prime Minister made. Mr. Modi textures play a major role in
remarked that the 1200 years of forming that perception, but there
slavery has somewhere led to a is something which is conveyed by
major dent in the self-confidence of the foreign policy of a nation. And,
India as a nation and of its there, on a closer analysis, one can
citizens. In an international find a range of shortcomings which
environment, be it academic, will be dealt in the following
political, cultural, diplomatic or paragraphs. A few examples of
social, one can feel the depth of the such misperceptions:
observation made by Prime
Minister Modi. a) Minority communities are
discriminated against in
During my tenure as International India.
Student Representative at Cornell b) Caste system of India is an
University, I got a chance to equivalent of apartheid or
interact with international racism.
community in both formal and c) Kashmir has never had any
informal settings. In my historical connection with
interactions and outreach India.
*Abhinav Pandya, International Student Representative, 2013, CPAS Board
35
d) India is considered a China lacunas. India is perceived as a
and Pakistan centric-nation confused nation in terms of foreign
which has the potential to policy. The case of China clearly
become a major player in the explains the importance of
world politics but is marred perceptions. The rise of China is
by its slack decision-making, perceived as threat by western
poor foreign policy and nations. During my interactions
corruption. with the Chinese student and
diplomatic community, I found
The aforementioned
that besides economic and
misperceptions are just a few
strategic issues, the major reason
prominent examples. Of course,
for this is the wrong perceptions
there are several more and there
resulting from the difference in
can be a grain of truth in them.
communication strategies of the
The intent of this article is to seek
west and the east. China is heavily
solutions within the domain of our
influenced by
geo-political
I found that besides economic Buddhist and
strategy and and strategic issues, the major
Confucian values
diplomacy. The reason for this is the wrong
therefore, it as a
suggestions made perceptions resulting from the
society speaks less,
are based on difference in communication
and is generally
vigorous academic strategies of the west and the
introverted in
research, formal east.
nature. Since it is
and informal
not able to socialize properly in the
interviews of the diplomats,
world community, it is suspicious
academicians and politicians from
about the intentions of the
across the world, and from my
western nations and tries to
experience as the International
protect its geographical and
Student Representative and the
culture identity at any cost. This
Chairperson of International
suspicious nature and its internal
Affairs Forum.
fear led China to befriend terrorist
Challenges of Indian Foreign nations like Pakistan. Due to
Policy: 1) It can be observed that insufficient communication and
Indian foreign policy suffers from vigorous economic might of China,
lack of confidence, clarity and western nations also feel
assertive attitude. Further, there suspicious about China. This is so
is a plethora of systemic, because western societies believe
institutional and policy related in direct ways of expression, and,
36
thus follows a regime of distrust also, India has not been able to
between the west and China. utilize the full potential of trade.
At both ministerial level and at
On similar lines, India is regarded the embassy level, the efforts for
as sort of a confused speaker. promoting trade are lacking.
Indian stand-point on the issues of Therefore, India needs to pay
Israel-Palestinian conflict, attention to trade and economic
terrorism, human rights and diplomacy.
democracy is perceived to be
ambiguous. Hence, we need to 3) Similarly, there is no emphasis
show a clear stand on the relevant on cultural diplomacy. India
issues of international politics, cannot establish itself as a world
which should be reflective of our power unless it sends a clear
interests, ideals and beliefs. Our message that it respects and has
international position must strong faith in its historical and
display our faith in, and our cultural traditions. This topic is
respect for our cultural and elaborated further with solutions
historical roots. At times because in the recommendations section.
of the ideological foundations, we
sacrifice too much and show a very 4) Most important challenge
compromising attitude. That kind which Indian diplomacy faces is
of attitude based on mental the quality of diplomats. The
weakness and a highly idealistic diplomats in terms of their
worldview, portrays the image of knowledge, training and
India as a weak nation. In sophistication are outdated and
diplomacy, too much politeness is not up to the world standards.
considered weakness. This area needs a complete
overhaul. Partly, the reason for
2) India needs to realize the inadequate attention to economic
importance of economic diplomacy. diplomacy and lack of confidence is
The trade and economic affairs in also the quality of Indian
Indian consulates and embassies diplomats.
are handled by the diplomats who
never received any specialized 5) India lacks specialists in the
education in economics whereas on field of water diplomacy, area
the other hand, the countries like experts, and climate diplomacy.
Turkey and Kazakhstan have Recently, Mr. Modis government
specialized diplomats for trade has been vigorously pro-active in
and economic affairs. In SAARC
37
foreign affairs. India is engaging India will brook no tolerance to
global players like China, Japan, anti-national elements, Islamic
US and Russia in an astute terrorism and any kind of
manner, but still these changes fundamentalism.
appear to be emanating from the
individual vision and foresight of 1) In todays world diplomacy is
the Prime Minister. What India transcending the confines of real-
needs is the systemic and politic and venturing into new
institutional reforms, so that this domains like economic diplomacy,
pro-activeness and world-leader climate change, development and
like behavior can be sustained in soft power. It does not imply that
the long-run in a systematic and military might has become
strategic manner. redundant. Military power/hard
power is still very relevant, but
Recommendations: because of new global challenges
like climate change, terrorism etc.
Philosophy: and phenomenon of
Atmavishwas, Before discussing the solutions,
globalization, the
Netrutva and it needs to be emphasized that world community is
the aforementioned three ideas
Vishwashanti must define our foreign policy. engaging with each
must be the watch And, all the aforementioned other on several
words of our three principles must be guided fronts. And, any
foreign policy. by the idea of tit-for-tat. nation aspiring to
However, they become a global
must be underlined by the player must not only be pro-active
principle of Shathe Shathyam. in the new aforementioned
Before discussing the solutions, it domains but also needs to be
needs to be emphasized that the creative and leader-like in its
aforementioned three ideas must approach, setting new standards,
define our foreign policy. And, all norms and innovative thinking for
the aforementioned three ensuring a peaceful future. In
principles must be guided by the ancient times, Indian diplomacy
idea of tit-for-tat. India must revolved around trade and soft
send a clear message that India is power (culture and religion).
a friend of friends and enemy of However, if we look at the history,
enemies. We must end the era of we find that whenever India
over generosity and tolerance. We dominated world politics through
must send a clear message that culture and trade, India was a
38
mighty economic and military lifestyle), teenage pregnancy. If
power, be it Gupta era or Mauryan India, with these centers of peace,
era. Since India was militarily and harmony, and spiritual and healthy
economically a powerful nation, it lifestyle can reach out to world
could dominate the world with its community in west and conflict
cultural influence. Hence, today areas, Indias diplomatic clout will
our diplomacy needs to be three- increase manifold. Recently, in my
layered: We must have solid research project with World Bank
military and economic on Costa Rica, I found that Yoga
infrastructure as a base and then classes were found to be very
our active diplomacy must be a successful in reducing teenage
cultural one. pregnancy and drug abuse in Costa
Rica.
1) The most attractive things of
India for the world community are 2) It is quite surprising that
: a) Bollywood, classical music, awareness about Indian political
classical dance and drama, b) thinkers like Chanakya, Vidura
Ayurveda, c) Yoga, d) Indian etc. in the international relations
cuisine China has established scholarship is very minimal. Our
Confucius centers all over the embassies can reach out to
world. Likewise, we can set up universities like Harvard, Cornell,
Vivekananda, Buddha, Ashoka Oxford and sponsor Kautilya
and Kautilya centers across the centers of International Relations.
world. These centers should In India, we can start schools and
systematic, organized and think tanks of international
scientific information on yoga, relations and trade, where the
Ayurveda, Indian philosophy, research is carried on Indian
spirituality, political thought and political thinkers and other aspects
Indian cuisine. These centers can of diplomacy and political economy.
also render consultancy services to They can have exchange
foreign governments, non-profits agreements with European
and private sector and bring universities. This way, India will
foreign exchange for India. change the discourse of
international relations scholarship.
Today the world is facing conflicts,
Islamic fundamentalism, terrorism, 3) India can form SAARC Peace
depression, problems like drug and Reconstruction Corps, with
abuse, HIV (as a result of unethical development, diplomatic and
39
military professionals from all diplomats, but also in raising a
SAARC nations. To begin with, cadre of diplomats equipped with
they can be posted in Afghanistan. latest skillset and scholarship in
This measure will counter the false International Relations. It has
notions like India has commercial failed to address the 21st century
and hegemonic interests in challenges and requirements of
Afghanistan, and there will be diplomacy. Therefore, following
more funds available for measures can be undertaken to
development and training of improve the quality of our
Afghan military, from all the diplomats:
SAARC nations. Additionally,
Indias diplomatic clout and a) 1/4th of the diplomats can be
relations with SAARC countries selected on a contract basis
will improve. However, as a word of through a lateral entry system.
caution, it can be argued that Many bright Indian students are
because of a troubled history and studying in Harvard, Fletcher,
internal politics of our neighboring Georgetown and other such good
countries, we should universities like
Additionally, Indias diplomatic
go for restrained Jawahar Lal Nehru
clout and relations with SAARC
and cautious countries will improve. University, IIMs
engagement with etc. These
them. Our focus should be more on universities and their curriculum
our global presence, for which we are advanced, keeping students
must engage Europe, China, abreast with the latest intellectual
United States and Central Asia on undercurrents in international
equal footing. If we have a strong relations like international trade,
global diplomatic clout, it will have climate finance analytics, global
spillover effects on our relations non-profit organizations, trans-
with our neighboring countries. national terrorism, water security,
social business, security
4) In order to realize these ideas, communities and development
we need an army of smart, fearless, investment. Students get global
modern, tech-savvy and sharp exposure in these universities i.e.
diplomats for which the existing they get to study with diplomats,
recruiting system needs to be civil society people, administrators,
reformed. The existing recruitment human rights activists and private
system has failed not only to sector people from across the world.
produce sufficient number of So it gives an excellent exposure,
40
making one a smart individual commissioners should be appointed
fully aware of global trends. from diverse areas like business,
Hence, such individuals with a private sector, non-profit sector,
decent international work academics and politics. Leaders
experience can be selected on the with diplomatic interests and
basis of their CVs, cover letters and experience from the ruling and
a series of specialized interviews. other political parties can also be
Then, they can be sent for 6 appointed as ambassadors. The
months orientation course in which nations where business interests
they must be trained in Indian are to be promoted can have envoys
constitution, history, culture and like Mr. Narayan Murthy, Nandan
diplomatic traditions. Having done Nilkeni etc.
that, they can be sent for field
assignments. Their performance e) India needs to increase the
must be reviewed after every 3 number of diplomats to at least
years and then a decision taken on four to 5000.
retaining them or asking them to f) We should get specialists in
leave. public diplomacy, soft power and
water diplomacy and climate
b) 1/4th of the candidates can be change.
selected on contract basis from the g) In the training system the use
existing government officials in and handling of social media
other central services, police should be given high importance.
services, state civil services, armed
forces, private sector and non-profit 6) India should set up a new
sector. They also should go through secretariat for cultural diplomacy.
an orientation course and sent to People who have an in- depth
field postings. knowledge of and faith in our
cultural values, traditions and
c) 50 % should be selected on history must be brought in as
contract basis though regular advisors and experts in this
competitive exam conducted by secretariat. The soft power
UPSC. Their tenure must be secretariat can make efforts for
reviewed after every 3 to 5 years setting up Kautilya centers,
and then a decision taken on Buddha centers, Asoka centers and
retaining them or not. Vivekananda centers across the
world.
d) The ambassadors and high
41
7) India should also set up a refugee rehabilitation, security,
secretariat for development and development or cultural
trade diplomacy each. First, we diplomacy. There must be at least
need to set up development bank of two to three rounds of interview
India, which will be a systematic the details of which can be worked
channel for giving aid to foreign out.
nations. It can either be a SAARC
development bank. It will generate In the training, the emphasis
a lot of jobs for youth in SAARC should be on the latest, skill based
nations and because of Indias courses. The curriculum should
leadership; its diplomatic clout will include subjects like conflict
increase. resolution and peacekeeping, food
security, area studies, climate
8) All the processes of visa and change, international law,
passport must be made online. The evaluation (Results Based
fee must be accepted by credit card Management), development
or checks and cash system should economics, international trade and
be abolished. This needs to be finance, security studies,
done immediately and, as first international public management,
priority because, the bureaucratic energy policy, water diplomacy etc.
delays in passport and visa makes The emphasis must be on power
the worst impression of India on point presentations, project
foreign nationals. assignments, group assignments
and writing research papers in the
Training of the Diplomats: To area of interest. The curriculum
create a generation of smart, must include a course in statistics
confident and aware diplomats, and econometrics, and computer
major changes are needed in the software like Geographical
training pattern for the diplomats. Information Systems, Stata and
First, only those people should be Microsoft Office. The curriculum
allowed to write UPSC exam for should also include social media
foreign services, which have a and public diplomacy etc.
Masters degree in international
relations, public administration, The training should be of two
conflict and peace studies, human years. First year should include
rights etc. They should also have a general courses in diplomacy,
minimum of two to three years of security, Indian history and
work experience in geo-political culture. In the second year, the
analysis, conflict resolution, emphasis should be on
42
specialization in the field of can be designed for Indian
interest. There should also be a tourism, which can be promoted at
capstone course in which the global level. The advertisements
candidates should undertake can have strong brand
consultancy projects for domestic ambassadors like Mr. Amitabh
and international clients in Bachchan who has a major fan
private sector, non-profit following in Central Asia, Middle
organizations, think tanks and East and eve United States.
trade organizations. Last but not
least, the trainees should be asked So far, in foreign policy India has
to find a three month internship been defensive and reactionary.
with local or international We will have to take a resolution
organization working in the field that we will be proud, confident
of geo-political analysis, and assertive world leaders. We
diplomacy, energy consultancy, have to take a vow that we will not
refugee rehabilitation, be a mere labour-supplying nation
international trade The advertisements can have in the world. We
and human rights, strong brand ambassadors like will export
like UN, IFC, FAO Mr. Amitabh Bachchan who has philosophers, yoga
(Food and a major fan following in Central teachers,
Agricultural Asia, Middle East and eve academicians and
Organization), United States. leaders.
Oxfam, Pathfinder With these changes
International, Brookings in place, India has the potential to
Institution etc. They can be also redefine the norms and definitions
sent to semester long exchange in diplomacy. However, all this
programs to reputed universities can be achieved only if India is
of international relations. strong, militarily and
Publicity: The graduates from economically. We have to engage
communication schools can be the world, and engage it on an
involved with foreign ministry to equal footing. The world should
design advertisements that reflect know us for reasons other than
Indias culture, strength and poverty, Kashmir and Pakistan.
power in non-aggressive, but Back to Contents
assertive way. The advertisements
43
DIPLOMACY
Obamas Forthcoming Visit to India:
What it means for Defence Cooperation
- Dr Harinder Sekhon
H
ectic preparations are relationship will be one of the
underway for the defining partnerships of the
forthcoming visit of twenty-first century, rooted as
President Obama to India later they are in common values and
this month where he will be the interests. It is therefore natural
Chief Guest at the Republic Day for Obama to aim at leaving a
Parade. This visit, like PM Modis lasting legacy in foreign affairs
visit to the US in September 2014, through this visit in the last two
will be extremely high in optics years of his Presidency.
especially as there are many firsts
to the visit the first time ever Coming barely four months after
that a US President will be chief Indian PM Modis extremely
guest at Indias Republic Day and successful visit to the US, Obama
the first ever also for an would logically like to carry the
incumbent US President to visit momentum forward and work
India twice during his term in towards specific deliverables to
office. The significance of the realise the true potential of India-
invitation to Obama is deeply US strategic relationship in the
appreciated but the United States 21st century1 thereby sending a
obviously expects that there would strong message about the great
be some substantive strategic value he places on the partnership
announcements during Obamas with India. While five key areas,
visit which will give a fresh which include trade and economic
impetus and sense of strategic links, Energy and Climate change,
direction to the future trajectory of Defence and Global issues, form
US-India relations. During his the basis of the US-India Strategic
earlier visit to India in November Dialogue and were also mentioned
2010, President Obama, in his in the Modi-Obama Joint
address to the Indian Parliament Statement of September 2014,
had stated that the Indo-US given the global security
architecture, common threats and
* Dr. Harinder Sekhon, Senior Fellow, VIF
44
challenges that confront us, and friendly countries. Another major
Indias own considerable plans for achievement in Indo-US defence
defence modernization, Defence ties was the US Defence Secretary
and High Technology agreements William Perrys visit to India from
will, as expected, get more 12 to 14 January 1995. Perry and
attention during Obamas the then Indian Minister of State
forthcoming visit. for Defence, Mallikarjun, signed
the first Agreed Minute on
Background: Despite very Defence Cooperation, aimed at
tentative beginnings, US-India strengthening as well as
defence ties have continued to expanding defence cooperation to
grow through the decade of the meet the requirements of the new
1990s, beginning with the 1991 post-Cold War world.2
visit to India of Lieutenant
General Claude M Kicklighter, the While much progress was made in
then the Commander-in-Chief of holding regular joint military
the US Army Pacific Command. exercises, and the US has emerged
The so-called The so-called Kicklighter
as the biggest
Kicklighter proposals were described as the supplier of
proposals were key element in transforming weapons to India,
described as the India-US defence relations. various matters
key element in like Defence co-
transforming India-US defence production did not meet
relations. The proposals comprised expectations. Matters stalled over
service-to-service exchanges and the issue of transfer of high
expansion of the defence technology weapons due to
cooperation framework: steering stringent US export control
groups were established among legislation. While India took a big
the three services within both step in 2009 by agreeing to certain
countries to intensify military-to- clauses of the End User
military cooperation. The Monitoring Agreement (EUMA)
Kicklighter proposals made it problems remained due to Indias
possible to hold the first ever joint reluctance to sign the
military exercises between India Communications Interoperability
and the United States in February and Security Memorandum of
1992. This was in keeping with the Agreement (CISMOA) and the
US policy of cooperative Basic Exchange and Cooperation
engagement with the militaries of
45
Agreement for Geo-spatial would take definite steps to
Cooperation (BECA). energise the Defence Trade and
Technology Initiative (DTTI),
Current Scenario: However in announced by Leon Panetta in
2012, describing defence 2013. The aim of the DTTI was to
cooperation with India as the shift US-India defence relations
lynchpin of the US re balance from a buyer-seller relationship to
strategy that focuses on the Asia- one involving co-production and
Pacific region, US defence co-development. It said the
Secretary Leon Panetta said "closest partners" would
America is at a turning point. collaborate in "defence technology
After a decade of war, we are transfer, trade, research, co-
developing a new defence strategy development and co-production for
a central feature of which is a defence articles and services,
rebalancing toward the Asia- including the most advanced and
Pacific region. In particular, we sophisticated technology."
will expand our military
partnerships and our presence in US Expectations: In the bilateral
the arc extending from the arena, therefore, US would like to
Western Pacific and East Asia into see a more expanded participation,
the Indian Ocean region and with a sustained and a higher
South Asia.3 Panetta further level commitment to move forward
announced that the three defence on the strategic partnership from
pacts that his predecessor (Robert Indias MOD. While interacting
Gates) insisted on were now off with the strategic community in
the table. Panetta said he has also New Delhi in December 2014, a
asked the Pentagon to cut red tape senior US Department of Defence
that was holding back arms sales official stated that there has been
to India.4 a perceptible shift in policy and in
the way the US now views India,
Unfortunately, US-India relations Indias defence offsets policy is
hit a rough patch during 2013-14 seen as a major hindrance towards
and things began to look up only enhanced defence cooperation.
after a new Government assumed This is one of the major factors
office in New Delhi in May 2014. why the DTTI has not worked
On his visit to India in August, efficiently. There have been two
then US Defence Secretary, Chuck meetings between US and India
Hagel announced that the US Defence officials since Chuck
46
Hagels August 2014 visit to India A key deliverable will be the
and the US hopes that some signing of a new 10-year defence
significant announcement can be framework that will replace the
made under the DTTI during the existing agreement of June 2005.
Obama visit. US Under Secretary Apparently, this agreement is all
of Defense for Acquisition, but done and awaits a final
Technology and Logistics Frank clearance. This Framework will
Kendall, who has been tasked to outline the modicum of exchanges
lead the US side on discussions on on various aspects like upgraded
DTTI, visited India in November military and naval exercises
and the US hopes to get at least between India and the US, looking
two projects across the finish at ways to move forward on the
line before the Obama visit. The DTTI, holding of regular meetings
Pentagon has apparently given between US and Indian Defence
license approval for officials and
The Defence Framework will
the co-production of furthering
however remain a lackluster
two projects and document if definitive steps are knowledge
even set aside USD not taken to give it more teeth partnerships
20 million for by laying out positive Next between the
strategic co- Steps in the document to National Defence
operative science actually escalate defence Universities in
cooperation through an
and technology both countries. The
agreement for co-production of
projects with India, one or two weapon platforms. Defence
something the US Framework will
has not done with however remain a
any other country. Without giving lackluster document if definitive
details about the two licenses steps are not taken to give it more
approved5 by the Pentagon, it was teeth by laying out positive Next
conveyed that these projects would Steps in the document to actually
fit in with the Modis vision of escalate defence cooperation
Make in India but to implement through an agreement for co-
the Indian PMs positive vision for production of one or two weapon
India, the Indian bureaucracy platforms.
must shed its inertia and
overcome the lack of strategic Concluding Observation: US-India
knowledge amongst the civilian relations are still a work in
staff in the DRDO and the MOD. progress, and the two nations have
not been able to achieve the full
47
potential of their partnership. 1. Lalit K Jha, Why Obama
There is some strategic distrust Promptly accepted Modis R-
that is evident between our policy Day invite, 5 January 2015,
elites. Though we have come a
available at :
long way since the low point in our
relations witnessed in 1971, http://www.rediff.com/news/r
leaders in both countries would eport/why-obama-promptly-
need to display immense accepted-modis-republic-day-
statecraft to nurture and invite-india/20150105.htm
strengthen this relationship. 2. For details see, Harinder
There seems to be a lack of vision Sekhon, New Directions in
and commitment on both sides as
US-India Relations, in MK
President Obama has been more
preoccupied by other more Rasgotra, ed., The New
pressing matters. To India, the Asian Power Dynamic, Sage,
United States seems too New Delhi, 2007
transactional and there remains a
residue of substantial mistrust 3. Sujan Dutta, US plucks
towards the United States that defence thorn in India side:
often forces the Indian Three pacts Antony opposed
government to be cautious on are off the table, available at
something new like a security -
relationship with the United http://www.telegraphindia.co
States, a caution that in turn m/1120607/jsp/nation/story_1
frustrates the US as this delays or 5580241.jsp#.VKud1smMFnI,
even stymies initiatives. It is in accessed on 6 January 2015.
Indias own interest to put in place
a long-term framework for India- 4. Ibid.
US strategic partnership, and to
add value to that partnership in 5. According to media and other
all of those areas that are critical sources, India and the U.S.
for Indias own economic and are negotiating a deal for the
strategic advancement. purchase of high altitude,
long endurance (HALE)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Endnotes
(UAV) and perhaps an
announcement confirming
this would be made this
48
month when US President 155mm artillery guns.
Barack Obama visits India. However, for this a fresh
Another item on the agenda RFP has to be issued, with
could be an announcement Buy and Make in India
for the acquisition of an terms that allow foreign
Artillery gun as Indias partnerships.
Defence Acquisition Council
recently cleared the INR 157
billion (about $2.56 billion)
proposal to buy 814 mounted Back to Contents
49
DEFENCE
Arihant and Lessons for Our Submarine
Programme and Indigenization
- Vice Admiral Raman Puri
T
he launch of India's first Indian Naval Staff for a submarine
nuclear propelled submarine was refused by the British. The
INS Arihant was indeed a submarine essentially provides a
historic occasion, which has been sea denial capability and the British
widely reported in the press and the did not approve of the Indian Navy
comments have been very largely acquiring such a capability in the
laudatory. It is important however Indian Ocean as it did not quite
to trace the history of India's quest compliment the British fleet.
for submarine capability leading to
nuclear submarine capability and After the 1962 war with China, sops
the many obstacles it has for both the Air Force and the Army
meandered through to fully were offered by the United States,
comprehend the strategic import of but for the wish list of the Indian
this event and the many lessons it Navy, we were told to seek British
has in India's quest for self reliance assistance. On being pressed for a
in its arms acquisition effort. submarine, the British first offered
only submarine training. After the
It was in 1955 that the government
training was completed and the
of India for the first time thought of
British again requested, they
re equipping the Indian armed
publicly stated that a submarine
forces. For the navy this called for
that was to be scrapped could be
an addition of 3 corvettes, 3 frigates,
offered. Fundamentally the British
2 destroyers and one aircraft
(Western) policy remained to deny
carrier. What is important to note
India a submarine or sea denial
however is that even eight years
capability in the Indian Ocean and
after independence it was Great
India then scouted for submarines
Britain that decided what the
with the Soviets.
Indian Navy as indeed the Indian
armed forces should have, i.e those
fleet units that could complement The year 1965 is the next watershed
the British fleet. A request from the year when the Soviets not just
*Vice Admiral (Retd) Raman Puri, Distinguished Fellow, VIF
50
offered the four submarines we had building technology of the
bid for but increased the numbers Germans and these designers were
to eight new 'F' class submarines soon to become the backbone of the
which were advanced submarines submarine design groups in India.
for their times and two submarines
of this class after modernization The subsequent controversy over
remain in service even today. the contract with HDW led us to
However, subsequently when India take the most unfortunate
wanted to build submarines decisions which showed a complete
indigenously, the Soviets declined lack of strategic vision and we
to offer the capability to design and allowed the indigenous submarine
build submarines in India. The programme to lapse after two
Naval Staff then evaluated the submarines had been constructed
Swedish and German designs and in India as per the contract. The
the saga leading to the selection of nation thus allowed the Mazagon
the HDW offer is well known. Two Dock facilities built for submarine
submarines were to construction with
be built in The Naval Staff then evaluated an investment of
Germany and two the Swedish and German considerable
designs and the saga leading to
in India. As the selection of the HDW offer financial and
brought out aptly is well known. human capital to
by Rear Admiral decay and the latter
Raja Menon in his article in The especially has cost us dear.
Outlook, the overseas part of the Welders migrated to Dubai,
project included three big ideas. engineers retired and eventually
One team representing the all that was left was designers who
Mazagon Docks would learn how to formed the Navys submarine
actually construct the body of the design group which undertook the
submarine that was designed; necessary designs and passed on
another would oversee the the construction technologies to the
building of the submarine in industry, especially to companies
Germany, and learn to form the like L&T (this aspect we will
backbone of the construction team revisit with the nuclear submarine
in the years to come. The third story). The net result however, was
group would learn how to design that we resigned ourselves to
submarines from K / Lubeck, the outright purchase of submarines
German groups that quickly once again and signed with the
recovered the wartime submarine Soviets for ten Kilo class
51
submarines. The four HDW class In 1974 Indira Gandhi authorized
submarines and the nine Kilo the project to undertake feasibility
Class submarines today form the studies for a nuclear propulsion
backbone of Indian conventional reactor to give the Nation a
submarine fleet. We however, survivable nuclear deterrent. This
continue with license production programme in the 35 years since,
(SCORPENE) with a very high in its effort to design and build a
imported content especially in nuclear submarine, has gone
crucial sensors combat & through a number of technical and
propulsion management systems & other problems including a possible
so on, ignoring capabilities built in 'sabotage' by personnel in high
the country as will be evident from positions, with international
this article ramifications, which would be
worthy of a 'Thriller Story'. This
The Nuclear Story included the victimization of
Captain Subba Rao (Retd) who had
The story of India's quest for the courage to bring forth serious
nuclear propulsion began with the technical flaws in the designs and
feasibility report of the Bhabha other issues and had to suffer time
Atomic Research Center (BARC) on in jail till the Supreme Court
nuclear propulsion. A more detailed exonerated him. This era is worth
report was prepared and in 1971, examination for it is necessary to
Indira Gandhi asked the Naval bring in the public domain the
Staff to look into nuclear possible sinister motives of those
propulsion. It is at this time that who acted against Captain Subba
the naval staff also scouted for Rao a brilliant and dedicated naval
building conventional submarines officer and the establishments
and obtaining the necessary total inability to protect this
submarine design capabilities. officer against charges in respect
HDW contract as stated above of which he defended himself and it
provided for these capabilities and took ultimately the Supreme Court
despite the attrition of personnel, to exonerate him after a number of
the design and overseeing and trying years.
construction resources built up,
served the nations nuclear program
Be it as it may the launching of
well.
the ARIHANT on 26 July 2009 is
an astounding achievement. The
strategic import of this event has
52
been well reported. While we will As regards the nuclear reactor, the
initially have a 750 kms SLBM BARC civilian power reactors were
capability, an IRBM should also be just too large and would not meet
available as all critical technologies the performance parameters. This
in respect of an underwater launch was so as India's nuclear power
stand largely established. ICBM program was essentially built
capability will necessarily have around natural Uranium using
other political & strategic heavy water as the moderator.
considerations and require Nuclear submarine reactors on the
additional developmental effort. On other hand are light water
balance, it seems that our current moderated reactors using highly
requirements will be met by an enriched Uranium as the fuel.
IRBM capability. As to-the- Western countries started their
technological achievement, a large nuclear reactor programs with a
constraining factor is the view to developing the nuclear bomb
submarines hull and a nuclear
diameter of about 8 Western countries started their propelled submarine
meters. Two key nuclear reactor programs with a for which enriched
elements have to be view to developing the nuclear Uranium and a
bomb and a nuclear propelled
compressed to fit in submarine for which enriched light water reactor
into this diameter. Uranium and a light water are necessary. Their
Firstly, the nuclear reactor are necessary. nuclear power
reactor and programs took the
secondly the missile and this is a pressurized light water reactor
major challenge. Apart from these route as it saved them the cost and
the design development and effort in utilizing the technology
production of the integrated and designs built in their nuclear
combat and propulsion bomb and nuclear submarine
management systems, Sensors, propulsion development effort.
Secondary Steam, and propulsion Canada which did not have nuclear
machinery and a host of other weapon ambitions followed the
systems was a challenge to be met heavy water r-natural Uranium
largely with own efforts for in this route to power generation as a safer
program other than liberal design and more cost effective way. The
& consultancy assistance from the same has been India's case.
Soviets/ Russians, nothing else However, as far as nuclear
was quite possible. propulsion goes both the
enrichment and light water reactor
53
technologies had to be mastered by nuclear powered submarine could
BARC to realize the nuclear begin only in the 1980s. The
submarine. submarine would basically be a
ballistic missile firing submarine
The complexity of designing and (SSBN) and here again India
building a light water reactor to fit deviated from the normal, practice
into the 8 M diameter hull of of first, building a nuclear propelled
ARIHANT and producing highly attack submarine equipped with
enriched Uranium (HEU) enriched torpedo's and sub surface to surface
to levels of at least about 20% cruise missiles (SSN) before
(power light water reactors require graduating to a nuclear powered
no more than 3-5%) were daunting ballistic missile carrying
tasks before the BARC. It may be submarine (SSBN) It seems that
noted that the higher the level of the Naval Staff was not too keen
enrichment the smaller could be the on this idea of a ballistic missile
reactor size. Also the shielding carrying submarine (SSBN) and
provided to the reactors had to instead preferred the Nuclear
ensure that the submarine when attack submarine(SSN) first, but
diving to deep depths of 200 -300 then the political directions based
meters and higher, the residual on national strategic requirements
radiation which the crew would be prevailed.
exposed to over prolonged undersea
operational schedules would be Thus in 1984 three year lease
negligible and well below the limits agreement for acquiring one
prescribed. BARC in short, had no Charlie 1 class nuclear powered
experience in the design, cruise missile submarine (SSN)
development and construction of was signed and the ATV project
light water reactors, producing was set up under the DRDO with
HEU, sizing the reactors to fit a a retired Vice Admiral M K Roy
submarine hull and the provision of heading the project and reporting
right type of shielding. These were to the SA/RM/DG DRDO. This was
difficult tasks indeed. probably so as the Navy then
declined to steer the project but
Therefore, while the political remained fully committed to it and
clearances and push were there, was deeply involved in all its
actual work on the Advanced facets. This is a facet which has
Technology Vessel (ATV) i.e. been sadly lacking in our other
major DRDO programs like LCA,
54
AKASH MBT & so on where the Navy on various technical aspects
Users have largely kept away. So of the submarine combat and
that the Navy's Submarine Design propulsion management systems
Group (SDG) which actually and sensors as also their operating
designed the ATV trained with environment.
Russia's Rubin design bureau and
the joint DRDO- Navy - BARC The Navy's submarine design
project efforts were well matured with Russian design
synergized. Though with the consultancy and while the Navy
coming of Mr. Gorbachev on the developed the designs of the
scene in 1985 there was an attempt submarine and converted them for
to deny India the lease of a Charlie industrial manufacture, the DRDO
1 class submarine, the matter was developed the missiles and
resolved after strong reaction from associated fire control system as
the Indian side and the Chakra also the SONARS & EW systems,
(Charlie 1 class which are the
submarine) arrived For nine months the Soviets ran crucial sensors for
in Indian waters in the submarine and for the the submarine.
1988. balance period in excess of two
years the Indians operated and
BARC was busy
maintained the submarine with with the reactor,
There was some Soviet personnel always fuel and other
tremendous gain to remaining on board. systems. The Navy
the trio of Navy, was involved with
BARC and the DRDO from the Indian industry both public and
lease of the Chakra from 1988- private in developing the
1991. For nine months the Soviets downstream systems connected
ran the submarine and for the with the reactor, that is the steam
balance period in excess of two and auxiliary machinery and other
years the Indians operated and systems for the nuclear submarine
maintained the submarine with including their testing and
some Soviet personnel always certification. This too has been a
remaining on board. The navy got tremendous effort. The integration
first hand experience in operating, of the submarine has been
maintenance and safety drills, managed through the much talked
while BARC gained knowledge on of public private partnership in
various aspects of reactor design which the private and public
and shielding issues, stated above. sector have contributed their
The DRDO interacted with the strengths and the efforts
55
synergized by strong Navy-led The DRDO, Navy, BEL and Tata
project teams at various levels. Power combine has further been
Here again it is worth mentioning instrumental in the development
the deep commitment of the and production of the submarine
Navy(User) to the project and the combat and platform management
high levels of synergy achieved system including the hardware
between the various and software required. This again
organizations involved. This was was technologically a highly
possibly due to there being no challenging task.
BUY/ BUY & MAKE or the
current Joint Venture options While the above were the various
being available. design and development challenges
of the various sophisticated
The DRDOs contribution to the systems and sub systems that go to
development of ARIHANT has make a nuclear ballistic missile
been significant. Apart from the carrying submarine the actual
fact that the submarine has been construction and fitting out of the
developed under the aegis of the submarine were equally
DRDO, the ballistic missile and its demanding. After more than a
fire control system has been a decade of intensive design and
tremendous challenge for our development effort it was on 05
scientists and engineers. New January 1998 at the Hazira facility
technologies for underwater of L&T that the first steel plate of
launch and control of the missile the ATV project was cut even
had to be mastered and highly while the development of crucial
innovative measures adopted for systems was still continuing.
the developmental firings and
trials. Further as stated For integrating the submarine
development of the Ballistic sections transported from Hazira
Missile to be accommodated and to Vishakhapatnam, a
employed within the dimensional shipbuilding centre designed,
space constraints of a submarine constructed and operated by the
has been critical to the project. The Navy was commissioned
sophisticated Multi Sonar suite sometimes in the year 2000. The
and EW systems have also been fitting out which is a major
developed by DRDO and these activity in submarine construction
systems and the communication was undertaken by the Navy,
suite manufactured by the BEL.
56
Walchandnagar industries and It will thus be seen that realizing
Larsen and Turbo in respect of the ARIHANT has taken over 25
different sections, with all the years since the project was
weapon and sensor related work sanctioned in 1984. Was this time
being undertaken by the Navy. span excessive? A survey of
With all this construction & fitting equivalent capability creation by
out effort over a period of ten other countries would show that
years ARIHANT has been we have probably done as well as
launched as a functional, fully- if not better than most and at
fitted out submarine. It will now costs which are an order of
undergo a series of full system magnitude lower at about Rs
harbour trials. In this the primary 4,000- 5000 crores, which is the
system a nuclear reactor which range of costs quoted, also an
generates the heat to drive equal amount would cover the
secondary system, a steam turbine cost of R&D and infrastructure
which would turn the ships creation. All this, is very much less
propellers are all In this the primary system a than what others
being tested nuclear reactor which generates have achieved.
separately. After the heat to drive secondary Compare this to
all the systems are system, a steam turbine which the cost of the
tested the primary would turn the ships propellers Scorpene
and the secondary are all being tested separately. (conventional
systems would be submarine) at
mated. At an early date now the approximately Rs 4,000 crores and
submarine if all goes well will more a piece. To put the
begin extensive sea trials when all comparison of costs in perspective
the propulsion and combat the ARIHANT nuclear submarine
systems will be extensively tested has a displacement of over 6,000
in their operational environment. tons as compared to the Scorpene
Weapon trials to include the firing which is about 1,500 tons. The
of the submarine arsenal of the B- capabilities of the Nuclear
05 short range ballistic missiles Submarine in terms of speed,
would also be undertaken before endurance, and combat are vastly
declaring the submarines as fully superior to the Scorpene. The issue
commissioned and operational. is- does it make sense to acquire
the Scorpene at costs comparable to
a nuclear submarine? The Chinese
are now set to reduce their
57
conventional Submarine force sensors and weapon systems. All
levels as they stabilize their these systems, it is a pity, are to be
nuclear submarine program which imported in the Scorpene class and
has been beset with numerous the decision is difficult to
problems. The US, UK France understand. It is hoped that follow
have now only nuclear on submarines will have
submarines. It is time that we indigenous systems.
looked critically at our mid/long
term conventional submarine force b) Though we have not yet
levels which were defined almost developed the submarine torpedoes
30 years ago. We will probably and sub launched cruise missiles
require some conventional like the Klub and the Exocet, with
submarines for relatively shallow the sub launched, ballistic missile
water offensive tasks; however and ship and helicopter launched
with plans to acquire both the torpedo capabilities now developed
nuclear ballistic missile and our R&D effort could be focused in
nuclear attack submarines the these areas. The success with
number of conventional Nirbhay needs to be followed up for
submarines needed, can be an underwater launch capability.
substantially reduced. The present However, the rationale of the
force levels of conventional Scorpene being fitted with the
submarines may be good enough, Exocet Missile whose range is much
while we undertake indigenous lesser than that of the Klub class
construction of more nuclear and also has no land attack
submarines that are afoot. capability is also difficult to
understand. This is especially
At the technological level the
because of the extremely high
ARIHANT also shows that the
costs of the Exocet when compared
nation has developed the capability
to the Klub and the conditions
to:-
that have had to be accepted.
However, the development &
a) Design, develop and
production of a sub surface &
manufacture most of the
surface launched cruise missile
submarine sensor and
capability which should be now well
communication systems as also
within our reach in a five year time
the submarine combat and
frame, again at much lower costs
platform management systems,
should be a priority area.
integrated to the submarine
58
c) Another aspect of import is that etc with a continuous technology
R&D to production system ( development and higher levels of
ARIHANT & the general DRDO Mission Need Fulfillment. Also in
case) is very different to the in the process the transfer of
production abroad to Licensed technology from R&D to production
production in India case which our and thence to the user is complete
Procurement & Production system and the capabilities of our
in the country is familiar with and production system enhanced. As
JVs with foreign partners will not our experience of the last 60 years
alter the situation. The latter shows developing capability
results in replicating mature through the license production
production processes but no route touted as TOT has only
meaningful transfer of technology, resulted in an ad hoc arsenal
leading to very high life cycle costs , where large amount of foreign
inability to modify or upgrade technology of which we have little
except at very high costs and to a understanding has been passed off
level agreed to/ defined by the or labeled indigenous. This
vendor (the Mirage upgrade process now needs to be reversed
program among others is a typical by a synergized effort of the User,
example of this phenomenon DRDO (and other S&T partners)
where it seems we were not be able and the industry. The ATV project
to use available indigenous shows the way forward.
capability and settled for French
terms & conditions at exorbitant (a) The current levels of
costs.) and finally, dependency & indigenization using domestic
end user restrictions in the development effort have reached
maintenance and operations as approximately 75 % by cost.
well. In the former i.e. R&D to Efforts are in hand to take it
production route for the first of type beyond 95% for our future nuclear
system (indigenous development submarines.
case) has necessarily to go through
a process of Technology Design & (b) There have been also a number
Production maturity; the process of spin off benefits from the
necessarily takes time depending indigenization efforts of the ATV
in the Technology Readiness Levels Programmes. For example ship
for the system in the country and building steel and a number of
this happens the World over with equipments developed for the ATV
systems being accepted at MK1, 2
59
programme are now being utilized launched IRBM/ICBM & cruise
in other Naval Programmes. missiles with suitable land attack
capability, as also the torpedoes
Therefore with the capability the which we sadly continue to import
nation has acquired in the field of at very high costs. These are not
submarine and its sensors design just financial costs as these also
and construction as also the ensure by various means a
integrated combat and propulsion situation of permanent
management systems through our dependency and the atrophy of
experience with both the earlier indigenous R & D and production
HDW class and the ARIHANT, as capability. There is always this
also the upgrades to our other question of state-of-art when it
conventional submarines, it would comes to system definition and
be appropriate that selection and here it is good to bear
(A) We now recast our submarine in mind that submarines need to
acquisition plans towards follow essentially deal with the Anti
on Nuclear Ballistic Missile and Submarine Warfare capabilities of
Attack submarines (whose main the countries of our national security
armament is the sub launched concern. Neither their absolute
cruise missile and torpedoes) while submarine force levels (which
reducing the conventional should impinge on our ASW
submarine force levels. The time system) nor some hypothetical
taken to develop these first of type state of art as depicted in the Arms
systems will be considerably Merchant brochures, (which in our
reduced in the follow on class as conditions often fail to perform and
indeed is the case with the follow those in the system are well aware
on Arihant which is likely to be just of this aspect) are of great
5 years and is probably less than relevance.
the time it would take to acquire The essential point is that we need
even conventional submarines as reliable and interoperable systems
our Scorpene & most of the other to beat the competition; this fact is
major foreign acquisition generally forgotten when a import
experiences show. option is available. The philosophy
(B) Simultaneously, thrust needs seems to be to BUY WHATEVER IS
to be given to increasing the POSSIBLE AND BUILD ONLY
indigenous content of the THAT WE MUST. Further, costs
submarines developing the sub seem to be of no consideration. This
60
needs to be stopped and a Force RFP need be issued. Project ATV
Development and Production could be the model. Not only will
strategy developed by our this contribute substantially to our
Acquisition Planning System based R&D but also give a boost to
on our modernization needs to meet industry lead to submarines being
future threats. The propensity, as delivered at reduced costs. The
of now is to fill the current voids Scorpene /HDW designs could be
and the entire planning is geared chosen for the hull and submarine
towards the same. A plan based systems and the ATV experience
on our National Security Strategy extensively used for the combat and
will necessarily have a time horizon propulsion management systems.
on a rolling basis of at least a This will also lead to series
decade or more given our complex production in numbers that give the
geopolitical environment and the industry the scales for their active
denial regimes we face. We also participation in the development
need to take in account the and production effort.
technology readiness levels
available in the country for the (D) A long term view should be
various technologies required for taken of the our submarine mix
the systems under consideration. and a continuous development and
production program for the nuclear
(C) The follow on to scorpene class and conventional submarines along
submarine ( where again with all the other lines of
considerable ToT fees have been development necessary to effectively
paid) design and construction be utilize our submarines needs to be
taken up indigenously though put in place.
some systems / s u b systems may
need to be imported and no Global Back to Contents
61
EVENTS
Vimarsha on Science of Economics
V
imarsha, VIFs monthly affects economic policies in India.
series of talks, was held on By his own admission, Dr Roy
18 Dec 2014 with Dr. belongs to the growing class of
Rathin Roy, Director & CEO, economists who revolt against
National Institute of Public globally established economic
Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and norms and principles, perpetuated
Member, Seventh Central Pay by institutions such as IMF and
Commission, Government of India, World Bank. He said in his speech
speaking on the Science of that academic economists, who are
Economics as Applied to India. A often fed on imported economic
large audience, comprising many logic, are leading the government
senior retired bureaucrats and to formulate skewed policies which
military veterans among other not only affect the economic
informed citizenry, attended the progress of the nation but also
event. General NC Vij, Director influence to a great extent the
VIF, introduced the guest speaker economic decision making of the
and the subject to the audience people. While he stressed on the
while Amb Prabhat P Shukla, need to synthesize laid down
Distinguished Fellow VIF, economic principles with local
presided over the evening session. conditions, he also asked global
financial institutions including the
General Vij presented a brief rating agencies to be more
overview of the state of Indian transparent and accountable with
economy over the past six months. their predictive analysis. Dr Roy
He said going by the present presented four examples from four
indicators, the Indian economy different domains to buttress his
appears to be back on track. arguments.
However, he stressed greater
structural reforms are still needed, Lending his support to Dr Roy,
especially in infrastructure, Amb Shukla complimented him for
manufacturing, insurance etc, to giving a refreshingly different
reboot the economy. account of how to micro-manage
economic affairs of the state. He
Dr Rathin Roys talk focused on also said while the purist
the nature of economy and how it economists remain prisoners of
62
orthodoxy, the media is not doing linking human growth to economic
a fair job of economic reporting growth and drawing upon
either. While remaining fixated on traditional economic wisdom of the
issues like market sentiments et country. It was also brought out by
al, the media often ignores the real a member of the audience that
economic issues facing the economic policies are often the
country. During the final session, result of political considerations
lots of insightful questions were with little economic prudence
raised by members of the behind them.
audience. A few of the questions
related to the lack of
communication between
Back to Contents
economists and the government,
63
EVENTS
Interaction with KIDA, a South Korean
Think Tank
D
r Cho Nam Hoon, Director, power as a potential alliance
Korean Institute for partner, the visiting delegate
Defence Analyses (KIDA), maintained. Dr Cho, however,
leading a three-member refused to see merit in China
delegation, visited VIF on 17 Dec threat theory while he
2014 for an interaction on issues underscored Chinas potential for
bearing strategic relevance to both North Koreas de-nuclearisation
India and South Korea. The process. South Koreas troubled
delegation interacted extensively relationship with Japan also
with members of VIF faculty formed part of the discussion,
across a wide spectrum of issues, especially in the context of re-
inter alia, economic and defence balancing strategy, with the VIF
cooperation between the two experts advising their
countries, the emerging power counterparts from South Korea to
balance in Asia-pacific, and South get over historical legacies. Among
Koreas strategic compulsions. The other issues discussed
discussions were held largely comprehensively between the two
against the backdrop of a rising sides were the emerging economic
China and growing realisation order in East Asia, global nuclear
amongst Asia-Pacific countries for denuclearisation, and potential for
multilateralism across political the unification of two Koreas.
and economic spectrum. Some of
the participants underlined the Setting the agenda for discussions
need for a regional cooperative earlier, General NC Vij, Director
security arrangement with the US VIF, had underlined the
taking a lead. The visiting increasing significance of Asia-
delegation spelt out South Koreas Pacific countries for Indias Act
strategic compulsions to walk a East policy. He expressed
diplomatic tightrope between a satisfaction that despite a
leading economic partner, China lukewarm relationship in the past,
and a long term security ally, the South Korea and India have
US. While South Korea wants to gradually moved closer to each
expand its relations with China, it other in recent years, evidenced by
does not see the rising Asian the growing number of bilateral
64
exchanges at the highest political between the two countries for
level. He said while both countries closer cooperation on a whole
already enjoy a robust economic range of other issues. The role of
partnership, the need, however, is Track-II diplomacy in furthering
to take bilateral defence bilateral relationship between the
cooperation to the next higher two Asian countries was also
level. Reciprocating General Vijs highlighted during the discussion.
sentiments, Dr Cho urged that Director VIF thanked the
both countries jointly identify delegation for their visit to the
areas of specific cooperation VIF and wished to carry the
between the two nations. It dialogue process forward.
emerged from the interaction that
while there may have been
divergence of views on certain
Back to Contents
issues, there is increasing desire
65
EVENTS
Round Table on India-Sri Lanka Relations
E
xperts and scholars from Lankan Civil War in the 1980s,
Pathfinder Foundation, Sri new dimensions have been added
Lanka and members of VIF to the relationship, posing tough
Faculty discussed a broad range of diplomatic challenges, especially
bilateral issues between India and to India. He, however, said the
Sri Lanka on 09 December 2014. upcoming celebrations marking
The Sri Lankan team was led by 2000 years of Lord Buddhas
Amb. Bernard Goonetilleke, Enlightenment would provide an
Chairman, and consisted of two opportunity to both countries to
other scholars, Dr. VK Valsan and get closer to each other.
Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy.
General NC Vij, Director, VIF, led Strategic and security issues,
the VIFs battery of experts, including extra-regional influence,
including, among others, Lt Gen were discussed in the first session.
Ravi Sawhney, Amb RS Kalha, With Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney in the
Amb TCA Rangachari, Mr CD Chair, two presentations were
Sahay, and Lt Gen Ata Hasnain. made, one each by Amb. Bernard
Held over five grueling sessions, Goonetilleke and Amb RS Kalha.
the interaction ranged across a The issue of maritime security in
complex web of intricate issues the Indian Ocean, especially the
confronting the bilateral recent docking of a Chinese
relationship, inter alia, Tamil submarine off the Sri Lankan
ethnicity, fisheries issue, and coast largely dominated the
Chinas growing footprints in the proceedings in this session. It
Indian Ocean. emerged from the discussions that
while sea-piracy remains a
In his opening remarks, General genuine concern for all, it is being
Vij highlighted Indias close used as a pretext by some extra-
proximity to Sri Lanka, both in regional powers to amass
terms of geography and cultural disproportionate naval strength in
and civilisational linkages dating the Indian Ocean, posing serious
back 5,000 years. While Indias threats to security and safety of
relationship with Sri Lanka has strategic sea lanes of
been traditionally warm and communication. The visiting side,
friendly, in recent years, especially however, said ports built with
since the beginning of the Sri Chinese assistance in Sri Lanka
66
would be used for commercial toughness should go hand in hand
purposes only, while no anti-India in dealing with violent extremism /
activities would be allowed to be nationalism.
carried out from within Sri
Lankas territorial waters. They The agenda for discussion in the
also added Sri Lanka has the third session was bilateral
political maturity not to allow economic cooperation, with a
activities which may affect Indias special focus on infrastructure
security. development. The session was
chaired by Amb Bernard
With Amb TCA Rangachari Goonetilleke with Vice Admiral
chairing the second session, Lt Anup Singh and Dr. Indrajit
Gen Ata Hasnain and Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy on the panel. The
Coomaraswamy shared their discussion brought home the point
perspectives on the extremist that while there is close
threats to South Asia. Various geographical proximity between
manifestations and trends of India and Sri Lanka, its
terrorism in the region were also advantages have been lost due to
discussed by them. While General lack of infrastructure
Hasnain dwelt on the religious development. The Admiral said
dimension of terrorism, Dr. while the FTA (Free Trade
Coomaraswami touched upon the Agreement) signed between the
identity politics in Sri Lanka. The two countries in 1998 serves as a
latter shed light on the various model for other countries,
facets of extremist threats to Sri especially for differently-sized
Lanka, including Tamil nationalist countries, the need however is to
extremism and Buddhist Sinhala move from FTA to CEPA
extremism. He said while there (Comprehensive Economic
are no global templates available Partnership Agreement) regime, a
on how best to tackle terrorism, win-win situation for both. Besides
strengthening democratic laying emphasis on infrastructure
institutions and balancing development, other potential areas
interests of all sections of the for economic cooperation identified
society are among measures by him included tourism
required to be taken to prevent the expansion, maritime economy, and
rise of radicalisation. In the services health, education and
context of Sri Lanka, it was training etc. Dr. Coomaraswamy,
highlighted that magnanimity and on his part, said Prime Minister
67
Modis invitation to SAARC however, flagged Sri Lankas
leaders for his swearing in and his security concerns as regards
subsequent visits to neighbouring illegal shipment of drugs and
countries have set off positive weapons by the fishing
trends for resetting the economic communities. Amb Rajagopalan
bilateral cooperation. While the urged the need for quite diplomacy
speaker hoped that Prime between India and Sri Lanka in so
Minister Narendra Modis Make far as repatriation of over 100,000
in India campaign will have ethnic Tamil Sri Lankans from
positive spin offs for Sri Lanka, he India and rehabilitation and
also stressed on the need for resettlement of Tamil refugees in
reducing the level of trust deficit Sri Lanka are concerned.
between the two neighbours.
The final session was devoted to
With Amb Rajagopalan in the cultural and religious issue, with a
Chair, the Fourth Session focus on dialogue between
extensively dealt with bilateral Buddhism and Hinduism. There
political aspects, including Sri were two speakers in this session
Lankas 13th Amendment, Indias Dr. Valsan and Prof. Makkhan
political compulsions vis--vis Lal. While Dr. Valsan gave a
Tamil issue, anti-India forums in fascinating account of different
Sri Lanka, and non-compliance of facets of Buddhism, dwelling
bilateral agreements, among especially on how Sinhala
others. While Dr. Valsan said our Buddhists in Sri Lanka are
sovereignty and your security different from Buddhists
remains the concomitant theme of elsewhere, Prof. Makkhan Lal,
Indo-Sri Lankan relations, Amb quoting profusely from Vedas and
Goonetilleke analysed the Upanishads, argued that
anatomy of contentious fisheries Hinduism and Buddhism are
issue between the two countries. essentially one and the same. The
Since the fisheries issue is also a interaction concluded with an
livelihood issue, it needs to be understanding reached between
approached from a humane angle, the heads of the two participating
the latter said. His prognosis for institutions to carry forward the
resolving this contentious issue dialogue process through periodic
lay in regulating illegal fishing exchanges.
activities under a licensing
regime. Amb Goonetilleke, Back to Contents
68
EVENTS
Interaction on India-Japan Relations
A
four-member delegation the need for exploring further
from Japan Institute of potential for tri-lateral or even
International Affairs, led by multilateral cooperation amongst
Ambassador Yoshiji Nogami, regional countries, including
visited VIF on 08 December 2014 Vietnam and Australia. The
for an interaction on India-Japan Indian analysts, while expressing
relations. The interaction broadly satisfaction over the present state
encompassed three strategic of relationship between the two
aspects: strengthening of bilateral countries, also stressed on the
relations between Japan and need for Japan to facilitate the
India, domestic development economic prosperity of the regional
agenda and policies under Prime countries. The economic prospects
Minister Shinzo Abe, and regional of Japan and India were also
architecture in the Asia-Pacific. discussed against the backdrop of
The responses to views were given Chinas economy.
by Amb. Rajiv Sikri, Amb. Aftab
Seth, and Amb. PP Shukla, The current political trends and
following which there was a Q&A their influences on foreign policy
session. making in both the countries were
also discussed. Through his
In their opening remarks, structured presentations, Prof
Directors of the two institutions Toru Itu explained the rationale
underlined the increasing behind Prime Minister Abes
significance of stronger bilateral sudden decision to hold mid-term
relationship between the two elections, calling it a national
Asian countries in both regional referendum on Abenomics. If re-
and global strategic framework. elected, Abe would push through
While General NC Vij, Director the second phase of reforms
VIF, underscored Japans directed towards fiscal
centrality in Indias Act East consolidation. He also saw great
Policy; Ambassador Yoshiji potential in the leadership of the
Nogami noted the increasing two countries for taking the
significance of tri-lateral bilateral cooperation to the next
cooperation between Japan, India higher level. Interestingly, he
and the US in relation to Asia- paired Abenomics with
Pacific. Both, however, agreed on Modinomics in his presentation.
69
His recipe for improving bilateral the VIF experts noted with
cooperation included, joint efforts satisfaction the steady rise in the
towards establishing international bilateral relationship since Prime
norms in Asia, cooperation for Minister Moris path-breaking
democratizing and stabilizing visit to India in 2000. With the
Indias neighbours, and support bilateral relationship having
for Modinomics by boosting progressively reached a global
investments in infrastructure in strategic level, efforts should be
India. made to secure global commons in
domains such as maritime, cyber
The Japanese presenters also and outer space, they contended.
touched upon the imperatives While Amb Aftab Seth said
shaping up their countrys foreign growing bonhomie between Japan
policies. It also emerged from the and India is giving comfort to
presentation that Japan is other regional countries, Amb
impelled to reinterpret Article 9 of Rajiv Sikri said India is willing to
its Constitution against the become a stakeholder in the
backdrop of US diminishing economic prosperity of its
influence in the region, another neighbours. In so far as the
imperative for Japan to seek regional cooperation in Asia-
additional alliance partners in the Pacific is concerned, the Japanese
region. Significantly, while interlocutors held out TPP (Trans-
Japans security threats are Pacific Partnership) as the best
getting multiplied, its defence template for regional growth. With
capabilities remain hamstrung AIIB (Asian Infrastructure
due to a pacifist constitution. It Investment Bank) and EU-Japan
was also noted during the cooperation also forming part of
interaction that the US the interaction, Amb PP Shukla
rebalancing strategy will be tested shared his views about the
against the countrys assumed role imperatives for India to balance
of being a net security provider in out its relations with major world
the region. powers.
In so far as the Indian responses

to the above views are concerned,
Back to Contents
70
EVENTS
Interaction with a Chinese Delegation
A
five-member delegation China and India and China-
from China Institute of Pakistan nuclear collaboration as
International Strategic areas of major concern for India.
Studies (CIISS), led by Maj Gen While he urged for better clarity in
(Retd) Zhu Da, Vice Chairman, Chinas India policy, he also
and comprising Maj Gen (Retd) suggested both countries exchange
Zhang Jianguo, Senior Advisor, maps delineating their perceptions
Mr Li Jie, Executive Secretary of the borders as part of
General, Senior Col (Retd) Lin Yu, Confidence Building Measures
Senior Research Fellow, and Mr (CBMs).
He Botao, Assistant Research
Fellow as members of the Sharing his perception of Sino-
delegation, interacted with the Indian relations, Maj Gen (Retd)
VIF faculty on 02 Dec 2014. The Zhu Da said India forms an
interaction covered a broad important part of Chinas foreign
spectrum of bilateral issues, policy calculus, underlined by
including, among others, the development imperatives and
regional cooperation on terrorism peaceful co-existence among the
and Afghanistan, and the evolving neighbours. He listed out big
security situation internationally. power relationship, relationship
General (Retd) NC Vij, Director with peripheral countries,
VIF, welcomed the delegation and development imperatives, and
briefed them about the outcome of multilateralism as among the core
his recent delegation level visit to principles of Chinas foreign policy
China for a trilateral conference under the leadership of President
on Afghanistans future. In his Xi Jingping, adding further that
opening remarks, the Director said India fits well into all of these
that improvement in bilateral ties categories. He also stated that
between China and India, while China has retained
particularly their economic continuity in its foreign policy, it is
cooperation, is crucial for the also trying to adapt itself to the
economic well being of the two changing dynamics of
countries as also for the regions international situation. China
peace and security. He flagged would want to evolve its
unresolved border dispute between relationship with India in a
manner that can be emulated by
71
other countries as well. Chinas interests. The same also
Responding to Indias sensitivities holds true for China-Pakistan
vis--vis the lingering border relations, the VIF experts argued.
tension, the Chinese General said There was near consensus across
preparations are underway to the table that both China and
resolve the border dispute. He, India need to remain sensitive to
however, suggested that India and each others concerns.
China move forward in their
relationship while keeping the Adding to the list of potential
border issue at bay, a suggestion CBMs between China and India,
that was questioned by the VIF the Indian analysts suggested that
experts. The latter argued that both countries jointly undertake
economic cooperation between environmental assessments of
China and India can not building large dams in the
substantially progress unless the ecologically fragile Tibetan region.
border dispute reaches an In so far as regional cooperation
amicable settlement. They also between the two countries is
expressed their amazement as to concerned, it was mutually agreed
how PLA (Peoples Liberation that China and India need to team
Army) managed to embarrass up their efforts in stabilizing
their own President during his Afghanistan, a prerequisite for
recent visit to India by creating achieving peace and security in
unnecessary tension along the the region. Harping on the flawed
borders with India. strategy of distinguishing between
good and bad terrorists, they also
The interaction witnessed a whole stressed on the need for China to
lot of prickly issues between China remain alive to potential terrorist
and India being thrown up for threats arising out of Pakistans
discussion, including the Indo-US FATA (Federally Administered
strategic partnership and China- Tribal Areas) region. It was also
Pakistan nuclear collaboration. As mutually agreed upon by the two
regards the deepening strategic sides that ensuring peace and
engagements between India and stability is a precondition to
US, the visiting delegates said economic development in the
China has no problem with India region as such it is incumbent
pursuing relationship with any upon both China and India to
other country. However, such maintain good neighbourly
relations should not impact relations. With Gen Vij
72
moderating the discussion, others R Rajagopalan, Amb Rajiv Sikri
who actively participated in the and Dr. Harinder Sekhon.
interaction from the VIF side
included Amb. TCA Rangachari,
Lt Gen (Retd) Ravi Sawhney, Amb
Back to Contents
73
EVENTS
French Defence Minister at VIF
A
t the invitation of the are receiving in Paris. He dwelt
Vivekananda International the strategic relations between
Foundation, the French India and France, and the
Defence Minister, Mr. Jean-Yves continuity in their political ties
Le Drian, delivered a talk on 1 since many years. He concentrated
December 2014. Welcoming the his discourse on the issue of
Guest, VIF Director Gen (Retd) N terrorism that is being tackled by
C Vij briefed the visiting France and how his country is
delegation about the current state fighting this dreaded phenomenon.
of affairs between the two According to him, the issue of
countries in the field of defence; terrorism is not at all a new
nuclear cooperation, phenomenon in France, and it had
counterterrorism and space begun since the 1970s and 1980s.
cooperation. The importance of The emergence of left-wing
France as one of Indias most extremists groups in his country
important source for arms import was highlighted during his talk.
was acknowledged by the director He also talked about the change in
apart from highlighting the the tactics of the terror groups
ongoing defence and security after the ill-fated September 11
cooperation between the two attack in New York in 2001. This
countries. He, however, said the incident had ushered in, what the
low-profile economic ties between minister termed as hyper
the two countries need to be given terrorism. There is a major
equal importance as other aspects concern about the proliferation of
of the bilateral ties. Emphasising weapons systems into the hands of
the need to tackle, with collective the terrorist groups. The role of
efforts, extremism and terrorism, French troops inside Afghanistan
he said, the rising force of the to fight al Qaeda since October
Islamic State in West Asia is a 2001 was also mentioned.
major challenge to global peace
and stability. Pointing out that a large number
of foreign jihadists were fighting
The French Defence minister for the IS, the visiting dignitary
thanked the VIF and mentioned said this was a serious matter
about the kind of responses the which needs to be tackled on
publications from the Foundation priority. He said Frances role in
74
the military intervention in West The minister acknowledged the
Asia is mainly to preserve the issue of terrorism faced by India,
safety of the region, and that of its particularly from outfits such
allies. A detailed explanation Laskkar-e-Taiba, and how this
about the evolution of the IS was threat emanated from the
given by Mr. Le Drian, and it gave neighbourhood. The minister said
a clear picture as to how this Pakistans role in the fight against
terror group came into terrorism was not helpful. He
prominence. The anti-West and expressed willingness to fight
anti-Shia stance were also against terrorism with any
explained. Other issues discussed, partners, including India. He also
with regard to IS, included its said that France would remain in
source of funding; influx of foreign Sahel as long as its partners need
jihadists, and the roles played by it, and his country would continue
France, namely, airstrikes, to fight the IS. Towards the end of
training of troops, and logistical his talk, the minister reminded
support. Its role in training the audience that the issue of
Kurdish Peshmerga troops and terrorism, be it anywhere, has to
related military advises given be solved through a political
were highlighted. According to the solution, including the ongoing
minister, military operations are crisis in Syria under the rule of
not adequate to tackle the crisis Bashar al-Assad. Local forces
but there is the need to must be included to fight the
reconstruct the national identities terror groups. Keeping in mind
in Iraq. One of the most important these developments, according to
challenges while fighting the the minister, it should be in the
Islamic State is its trans-frontier interest of India and France to
nature. cooperate further in military-
security affairs and uniting their
The latter part of the ministers efforts in fighting terrorism
talk focused on the role of French provides one of the best incentives
troops in fighting terrorism inside to carry forward the ties.
the tiny African country, Mali.
While doing this, he focused amply
on the counterterrorism measures
in the Sahel region. Back to Contents
75
EVENTS
Joint VIF-RUSI-CICIR Seminar on
Afghanistan at Beijing
A
trilateral conference officials concerned briefed the
China, India, the UK and visitors on Chinas efforts in
Afghanistan- A Partnership restoring peace and stability in
for Stability was held in Beijing Afghanistan. On the final day, an
from 24 to 26 November 2014 interaction with representatives of
under the auspices of VIF, Royal international media was also
United Services Institute of UK organized to spread the message of
(RUSI) and China Institute for cooperative efforts being made to
Contemporary International improve the situation in
Relations (CICIR). A four member Afghanistan.
VIF delegation led by Gen. NC Vij
took part in the deliberations that Introductory remarks were made
were in continuation of a series of by Gen. NC Vij, Director VIF, Mr.
discussions held on the same Raffaello Pantucci, Director,
subject between the three think International Security Studies,
tanks with the objective of RUSI and Dr. Hu Shisheng,
exploring ways to bring peace and Director, Institute for South Asian
prosperity to Afghanistan through Studies, CICIR. They reviewed the
cooperative efforts between China, progress of the trilateral project
India and the UK. Participants and gave out their very broad
from Afghanistan and Pakistan perspectives on the emerging
were also invited to broaden the situation in Afghanistan after the
discussions as also to elicit their installation of the new political
views. dispensation of President Ashraf
Ghani and CEO Abdullah
Broadly, the sessions of the Abdullah.
conference were divided into
political, security and economic The first session was devoted to
issues, interests of the regional security issues. Lt. Gen. Ravi
powers and mechanisms for Sawhney stressed on the nature of
cooperation and future of threat to Afghanistan which was
Afghanistan. A visit to the amply highlighted in the Pentagon
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Report of October 2014. Threat
China was also organized where emanating from safe havens
76
across the Durand Line was an capabilities of ANSF were
existential threat to the Afghan concerned. He also stressed that
State and the present regime Pakistans stance on Afghanistan
appeared to be speaking in two would have impact on the
different voices indicating some emerging situation. He was
differences between the two critical of Americas new anti-
factions of the new Government of terror strategy and implored the
national unity. Inclusive decision international community to make
making was lacking and there was further commitment of funds. Dr.
a need to bring everybody Amrullah Saleh, formerly the head
together. Gen Sawhney brought of National Directorate of Security
out that Afghan National Security under Karzai government made a
Forces (ANSF) were performing very insightful presentation on the
very bravely despite the many security situation in Afghanistan.
deficiencies they have in terms of He said that bulk of operations
lack of logistics capabilities, were being conducted by ANA, the
armor, artillery and other Bilateral Strategic Agreement
supporting elements. Even though with the US has been approved by
ANA is incurring large number of both Upper and the Lower Houses
causalities, it is still finding fresh with Loya Jirga supporting it in
recruits. Lack of air support and 2013. However, the core of threat
Intelligence, Surveillance and has not gone away. He also
Reconnaissance (ISR) cover stressed that it is a wrong notion
especially after it is withdrawn that only Pakistan can facilitate
towards the end of 2015 would be the process of reconciliation. It
a big blow to the ANSF was unprecedented that President
capabilities. There is a continued Ashraf Ghani went to Pakistan
requirement of training of ANSF and met their Army Chief in GHQ
at all levels. Though Pakistan has and not PM Nawaz Sharif. The
offered to train a brigade worth of latest outreach by Afghanistan, in
ANA, yet it will depend upon his view, had not given any
whether the same is acceptable to substantial return from Pakistan.
Afghans. Funding the ANSF was He also placed a lot of hope on
another important issue; if the China for providing aid and
funds dry up after a time, the developmental assistance to
ANSF would be more like a mob. Afghanistan especially after the
Dr. Hu Shisheng largely echoed recent visit of Ashraf Ghani to
the same problems in so far as Beijing.
77
The second session was devoted to of representatives from Chinese
Afghan economy and prosperity State Owned Enterprises
and focussed on what India and explained their difficulties about
China could do to develop the investment in Afghanistan. Brig
countrys economy. Prof. Ye Vinod Anand discussed Indias
Hailin, Dr. Qu Fengjie, National approach to encouraging
Development and Reform investments in diverse sectors of
Commission gave out the Chinese Afghanistans economy and
perspective while Raffaello possibilities of cooperation with
Pantuci analysed the Chinese China in this regard.
efforts in the shape of One Road,
One Economic Belt and how they The first session on the second day
might be of benefit to Afghanistan. was devoted to how China, India
The question of security first and and Pakistan might cooperate in
development later was uppermost Afghanistan especially through
in the minds of entrepreneurs regional mechanism like SCO or
while investing in Afghanistan. any such other mechanism. Dr
The next session also looked at Wang Xu dwelt on lack of trust
economy related issues and between the regional countries
especially addressed the aspects of that might prevent some
conflict sensitive investment in accommodation on each others
Central Asia and Afghanistan. interests. There was a need for
While Amb. TCA Rangachari, Dr. CBMs; whether SCO and Heart of
Jenny Jiang , Vice President of Asia process can result in a
New century Academy on successful outcome is difficult to
Transnational Corporations, say but China would support all
China Association of international such efforts. Dr. Vishal Chandra,
Trade and Economic Cooperation IDSA spoke about hope and
and Amb. Baheen Sultan Ahmed despair and the need for
Afghanistan presented their international community to give a
respective views, no clear and long term commitment to
sustainable answers could be Afghanistan. The following session
found to the complicated issue of concentrated on the future of
conflict sensitive investments even Afghanistan where Lt. Gen Ravi
though some ad hoc measures had Sawhney again stressed on
been undertaken to address this funding issues for ANSF and
issue. The next session moderated budgetary support to the
by Dr. Jenny Jiang with a number government, containing
78
sanctuaries across the Durand consensus because of objection
Line and continued engagement from some other countries. The
by the international community in delegates raised many questions
the absence of which an Iraq like about the likelihood of success of
situation might emerge. Lastly, such a process and why should
the delegates to the conference Taliban be given legitimacy with
were taken to MOFA where n the start of such a process.
official from the office of Special
Representative on Afghanistan The last half day was devoted to
explained Chinas Afghanistan interaction with international
Policy. He explained how media where the participants
Afghanistan might be included in answered a number of insightful
Silk Road Economic Belt initiative questions on the roles of their
of China. He mentioned about the respective countries in
recent success of the Heart of Asia Afghanistan and joint efforts being
Conference held in Beijing and suggested to encourage
how China was extending cooperation at both bilateral and
economic and security aid to multilateral levels.
Afghanistan. Chinas proposal of
reinvigorating the reconciliation
process under regional Back to Contents
arrangements could not get
79
EVENTS
Visit by Bangladeshi Parliamentary
Delegation
O
n 25 Nov 2014, a ten- development indicators,
member Parliamentary democracy, secularism,
delegation from contribution to UN peacekeeping
Bangladesh held wide ranging etc. He also spoke of the rising
interaction with the VIF faculty on trends of terrorism in Bangladesh.
India-Bangladesh relations and Khan significantly remarked that
the way forward. The interaction Bangladesh would have been
kicked off on a positive note, with another Afghanistan, but for
former Ambassador Satish Sheikh Hasinas tough stand
Chandra highlighting the upward against terrorism. In so far as
spiral in India-Bangladesh Bangladesh-India cooperation is
relations in recent years. He concerned, the two countries have
complimented Prime Minister shown tremendous maturity in
Sheikh Hasina for taking the resolving their maritime dispute
momentum forward, appreciating, in the Bay of Bengal, an example
in particular, the extremely for other countries in Asia. Indias
supportive stance adopted by her no objection to an international
government in tackling terrorism. arbitration favouring Bangladesh
His introductory remarks also saw overcoming a 40-year old
underscored the important role maritime dispute between the two
played by VIF in improving the countries. Khan also thanked
bilateral relationship through India for extending support to
Bangladeshs High Commission in Bangladesh in getting leadership
India, especially during the of two international parliamentary
previous Prime Ministers visit to forums - Commonwealth
Bangladesh in September 2011. Parliament Association (CPA) and
Satish Chandra, however, stressed Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU),
the need for further improvement another testimony to the level of
in bilateral relationship. improved bilateral cooperation
between India and Bangladesh.
Lt. Col. Faruk Khan, who led the
delegation, highlighted The visiting delegates from
Bangladeshs achievements, Bangladesh however pointed out
especially in terms of human that India needs to prioritise its
80
relationship with Bangladesh. hiccups in the relationship can be
While underscoring Bangladeshs overcome with both sides showing
centrality in Indias Look East pragmatism and the will to move
Policy, the Indian analysts said forward.
Modis invitation to SAARC
leaders for his swearing in as the India-Bangladesh cooperation in
Prime Minister was a clear pointer the regional context was another
to the direction of Indias foreign significant aspect of the two-hour
policy. The interaction, however, long interaction, highlighted both
took note of the role of media in in terms of evolving a joint
shaping peoples perception of approach to Chinas dam
national security issues and construction activities over
foreign policies in both the Brahmaputra in Tibet and Dhaka
countries. taking a lead for improving
connectivity among BIMSTEC
While the interaction took note of countries. Other major take-away
the upward trajectory in India- from the interaction included
Bangladesh relations, issues of suggestions for evolving policies
concern such as illegal migration, towards joint management of
land boundary, river water water bodies, introduction of work-
sharing etc were also permits for illegal migrants and
comprehensively discussed. With the creation of joint forums for the
land boundary agreement and the parliamentarians and
Teesta water sharing treaty academicians to think of ways and
between the two countries still means for furthering the
awaiting final resolution, problems relationship. Amb Veena Sikri,
and obstacles in the relationship Amb Sanjay Singh, Lt. Gen (Retd)
were identified and discussed in a Ata Hasnain, Rana Banerjee and
frank and candid atmosphere. Amitabh Mathur were among
Illegal migration from Bangladesh others who interacted with the
was identified as an issue with Bangladeshi delegation.
huge security implications for both
the countries. However, it was Back to Contents
generally agreed that minor
81
EVENTS
Interaction on One Road, One Belt with
Chinese Delegation
A
five-member delegation gradually develop a network of
from China Institute of land-based economic corridors to
International Studies, led cover most parts of Asia, including
by Dr. Guo Xiangang, Senior East Asia, the Middle East and
Research Fellow, called on the VIF the subcontinent. In all, plans are
faculty on Nov 24, 2014 as part of afoot to develop six economic
a larger deliberative process corridors China-Russia-Mongolia
initiated by Chinese think tanks (North to South), New Eurasia
across the Asian region to garner Bridge, China to Central Asia to
support for Chinas proposed one the West Asia, Bangladesh-China-
road, one economic belt, an India-Myanmar Corridor, China-
initiative that seeks to integrate Pakistan Economic Corridor, and
the vast Eurasian landmass Maritime Corridor in the South.
through various sea and land- The visiting scholars, however,
based economic corridors. said while China expects regional
Announced by Chinas President countries to study the proposal in-
Xi Jingping during his visit to depth, it is ultimately for them to
Central Asia in September last decide whether to join the
year, the proposed economic initiative or not. China, however,
corridors are expected to cost expects India, an important
china a whopping $40 billion. The country on the Eurasian bridge, to
Chinese scholars, while briefing be on board for the proposal to
the VIF faculty about the finer realise its full potential. They also
points of the proposal, said the indicated that Chinas future
initiative is basically aimed at Asian strategy would potentially
developing Chinas western region revolve around one road, one
as also other countries that lie economic belt. Allaying Indias
along the route. apprehensions, they said one
road, one belt would not impact
As part of its envisaged trans- Indias economic interests. On the
national land and maritime contrary, it would accrue a whole
transport policy, China plans to lot of benefits to the participating
develop transport corridors from countries.
the Pacific to the Baltic Sea and
82
The Indian interlocutors said other on other fronts. While
while they supported BCIM raising questions about the
(Bangladesh-China-India- technical and economical viability
Myanmar), they had certain of the project, the Indian analysts
reservations about the rest. India also sensed a great deal of political
supports inter-connectivity in judgment in the Chinese proposal
principle but there remain as South Korea and Japan,
security related issues which Chinas two most important
cannot be wished away. The trading partners, were not
proposed economic corridors, included in the proposed one road
passing through some of the most initiative. The session came to an
volatile regions, entail huge end with the Chinese analysts
security risks, especially in terms insisting that India should mull
of economic investment. Also, over the proposal before reaching
there exists perceptible trust any final conclusion. Ambassador
deficit between China and India Kanwal Sibal, Dean Centre for
emanating mainly from their International Relations and
unresolved borders, a major Diplomacy, VIF, moderated the
impediment in the way of session and made important
enhanced economic cooperation interventions along with Mr.
between China and India. While Jayadeva Ranade to present the
the Indian side argued that an Indian perspective, while Amb R
early settlement of the border Rajagopalan, Amb Rajiv Sikri, Lt
dispute would pave the way for Gen (Retd) Sanjiv Chachra, among
better economic cooperation others, contributed significantly to
between China and India, the the brainstorming session.
Chinese counterparts said India
needed to look beyond the border
issue and cooperate with each
Back to Contents
83
EVENTS
Vimarsha: Article 370 and Resolution of

Kashmir Problem
O
n Nov 20th, 2014, VIF while it is important to preserve
organised a talk by General Kashmirs diversity, tackling
(Retd) SK Sinha, former issues such as unemployment,
Governor, Assam and J&K on education, health, infrastructure
Article 370 and Resolution of etc. should be the Governments
Kashmir Problem under its top most priority in the state. He,
Vimarsha series of public however, underlined the need to
discourse. With Shri Vijai Kapoor, remain watchful about Pakistans
former Governor, Delhi in the continued efforts to destabilise the
Chair, General (Retd) NC Vij, state.
Director VIF, set the ball rolling
elucidating the nature of festering General SK Sinha, who as in
controversy around Article 370 of charge of logistics and Airlift had
the Constitution granting special played a major role in throwing
autonomous status to Jammu and out Pakistani raiders from
Kashmir. The controversy, which Kashmir in 1947, recounted his
has continued to simmer for over personal experience of fighting
six decades, has been further militancy in the Valley from the
exacerbated in recent times due to start. He gave a detailed
upcoming Assembly elections in exposition of the prevailing
the state. General Vij said while politico-military environment
over the years, Article 370 has leading to accession of J&K with
become an emotive issue for people the rest of India and subsequent
across India, any attempt to tinker adoption of Article 370. He
with it at this stage, especially thought it unfortunate that
when elections are round the Kashmir should remain the only
corner, would only lead to flaring state whose accession to India is
up of communal passions. His not complete. Recalling the
views on Article 370 and Kashmir unanimously passed resolution of
also found resonance with the the Indian Parliament asking
other two speakers, both Pakistan to vacate its illegal
advocating the need to maintain occupation of parts of the states
status quo for the time being as territories, General Sinha rued the
regards Article 370. Kapoor said fact that we never made efforts to
84
reclaim those territories. Part of General Sinha said the strong
the blame for the messy state of Modi wave currently sweeping
affairs in J&K rests with Nehru, across India is unprecedented in
soft-pedaling the communal and history. He also expected BJP to
divisive politics of Sheikh fare better in the upcoming
Abdullah. After the Tibetan Assembly elections in J&K, boding
uprising in 1959, a large number well for an amenable political
of Tibetan Muslims were settled in solution to the issue. A lasting
Kashmir and granted voting rights peaceful solution to the vexed
by Sheikh Abdullah while he Kashmir problem can be found
denied the same rights to Hindu only through dialogue and
refugees from West Pakistan. consensus. The session concluded
Worse, India did not even provide with an interesting question and
moral support to the people of answer session.
Gilgit Baltistan during their
uprising against Pakistans illegal Back to Contents
occupation in 1947.
85
EVENTS
Interaction on US-Pakistan Relations
D
aniel S. Markey, a Senior historical perspective,
Fellow at the Council on underpinning inherent
Foreign Relations (C.F.R.) inconsistencies as well as
and the author of No Exit from underlying irritants in the
Pakistan: America's Tortured relationship. He commented that
Relationship with Islamabad held while in the past, the US policies
an intense and wide ranging towards Pakistan were largely
interaction with the VIF faculty dictated by cold war
on19 Nov 2014. While the considerations, particularly the
interaction intended to focus on need to counter balance the Soviet
the future trajectory of US- Union, the changing regional
Pakistan relations, Asias broader dynamics will determine the
strategic contours, defined future trajectory of US-Pakistan
increasingly by the growing relations. To a large extent, the
expanse of terrorist networks, the rise of China will be instrumental
US rebalancing in Asia-Pacific, in shaping US foreign policies in
and the counter measures by this region in future. The cold war
China attempting to expand its polices pursued by the US in this
own sphere of influence across the region resulted in countervailing
region with slew of sea and land- effects for the bilateral
based economic corridors, relationship between India and
comprising New Maritime Silk the United States. Post Cold War,
Route and Silk Road Economic the US however is pursuing more
Belt, among others, crisscrossing independently its polices towards
large parts of Asia, formed the India. It has not only de-
bulk of interaction. hyphenated India and Pakistan
but also tried to insulate its policy
General (Retd) N C Vij, Director with a civil nuclear deal.
VIF, while introducing the subject
to the panel, expressed his In so far as the US rebalancing in
enthusiasm about the upswing in AsiaPacific is concerned, the
the bilateral ties between India strategy need not necessarily be
and the United States. Daniel viewed through the prism of China
Markeys in-depth analysis containment policy. On the
covered the broad spectrum of US- contrary, the strategy per se is
Pakistan relations from a directed towards structuring rule-
86
based international system, a The futility of continued US
further imperative to improve ties economic and military assistance
with India. To that extent, the US to Pakistan was highlighted,
welcomes Indias growing ties with especially in light of the fact that a
major US allies in the region, fragile economy on the cusp of
especially Japan with whom China becoming a failed state was
has a running maritime dispute in squandering away its meager
the East China Sea. economic resources by supporting
terrorist networks in the region
From Indias standpoint, the US and building military capabilities
wanting India to play an active against an imagined enemy, India.
role in East Asia while itself Beside, Pakistan has effectively
remaining apathetic to Indias leveraged terrorism as a state
concerns in the West is somewhat policy to extract more and more
disconcerting. It was also economic and military aid from
highlighted during the session the United States. The US feels
that US policies towards the extremely frustrated for not being
region have considerably reduced able to change Pakistans strategic
Indias strategic options, behavior despite all the assistance
particularly in places like it has given to that country.
Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle
East, while leaving her even more Pakistans post-2014 strategy in
vulnerable to face the threats of Afghanistan, growing China-
terrorism from across the borders. Pakistan collaboration in Pakistan
It is imperative for the US to Occupied Kashmir (POK) as also
accommodate Indias concerns for in nuclear and other strategic
the strategic partnership to really affairs were amongst issues
succeed. In this context, the discussed prominently during the
growing Jihadist challenge in session which lasted a little over
Pakistan, especially the countrys two hours. The Director concluded
potential of turning in to a radical the session saying India wants to
Sunni Islamic state and posing improve ties with the US, but
even greater threat to the world remains skeptical about Pakistan-
also came up for pointed US relations.
discussion during the session.
Back to Contents
87
EVENTS
VIF Visit to Vietnam
A
VIF delegation led by its two sides on the following
Director, Gen (Retd) N C subjects:-
Vij, visited Hanoi and Ho
Chi Minh city from 02 to 05 Nov (a) Emerging Strategic
2014. The delegation included Vice Environment in the Asia Pacific
Admiral (Retd) KK Nayyar, Region and its Implications
Chairman, Board of Trustees, VIF, (b) Politico-Strategic and
Lt Gen (Retd) R K Sawhney, Economic Cooperation between
Ambassador TCA Rangachari and India and Vietnam: Issues and
Vice Admiral (Retd) Anup Singh. Prospects
(c) Indo-Vietnam Defence and
In Hanoi, the delegation Security Cooperation and the Way
interacted with several academic Forward
institutions and think tanks (d) Security and stability in the
including Diplomatic Academy of South China Sea
Vietnam, Institute of Indian and
South West Asian Studies, Discussions with all other
Vietnam Academy of Social organisations flowed from the
Sciences, Institute for Defence above interaction, and some
International Relations (IDIR) and interesting new perspectives
Vietnam Centre for Economic and emerged from their side.
Policy Research.
On Strategic Partnership
At Ho Chi Minh City, they
exchanged ideas on India-Vietnam It was agreed that India and
Strategic Partnership with Vietnam have centuries of
Fulbright Economics Teaching friendship and mutual respect,
Program and the Department of and have embarked upon a
External Relations, Ho Chi Minh strategic partnership for taking
City. forward avenues of cooperation,
and to neutralize common security
During interaction with the challenges. Indias shift from
Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Look East to Act East is being
on 03 Nov, reciprocal complimented by Vietnams
presentations, giving respective initiative in its Look West policy
points of view, were made by the towards India.
88
The commonality of our interests, the rest of ASEAN,
demand a closer relationship. Bollywood had neglected
India stands for freedom of Vietnam. Introduction of
navigation, and Vietnam looks Indian cinema in Vietnam
forward to support in all spheres will spread greater
including defence cooperation, awareness amongst
maritime security, and Vietnamese, who will
maintenance of tranquility in the automatically get enthused
South China Sea. in visiting, and doing
business with India.
While defence and security Business. The Fulbright
cooperation is proceeding as Economics Centre gave an
planned, the pace of cooperation in interesting insight on why
fields of education and training of Vietnam does not diversify
Vietnamese Armed Forces needs its import of inputs/raw
to be expanded, and expedited materials away from China,
further. and shift to India. The
dynamics of business in this
Economy respect are left to the
principal MNCs who
Tourism. There was
themselves decide where to
consensus that much more
source material for the
needed to be done in terms of
supply chain. Therefore,
people-to-people contact
there may be a case for a
through promotion of
dialogue with all MNCs, and
tourism including religious
instilling confidence in them
tourism (the Indian
about the ease of doing
connection with the Cham
profitable business with
civilization/My Son
India. The Vietnam Centre
sanctuary; and Vietnamese
for Economic and Policy
interest in Bodh Gaya, were
Research pointed towards
cited as examples). Vietnam
the strength of Indian
receives 8 Million footfalls
Economy, and the impressive
annually, of which Indians
fundamentals of Indias soft
account for an insignificant
power which it must utilize
number. The same holds true
at a time that many Western
of Vietnamese visiting India.
business houses are moving
It was also felt that unlike
out of China; and India could
89
fill the void as an alternate the basket of trade between
supplier to those companies. the two. Similarly, more joint
(Many businesses are projects, and FDI from India
already relocating from is a possibility that should be
China to Vietnam). encouraged.
Connectivity. Energy Sector. Satisfaction
Commencement of direct was expressed on the joint
flights between Delhi and Ho exploration projects in
Chi Minh City by Jet progress between OVL and
Airways/Vietnam Airlines Petro Vietnam. There are
this month was the best avenues for greater
thing that should have participation, without
actually happened a long worrying about protests by
time ago. The next steps to third parties in the South
include Hanoi, and the China Sea.
proposed road connectivity
from Kolkata to Hanoi via Education and Training
Myanmar, Cambodia, and
Laos will make people focus There was a desire expressed by
more and more towards the two sides on expanding
India, and should be cooperation between academic
expedited to earn benefits for institutions, and inviting much
both sides. larger number of students in
Preferential Trade universities of both sides. Apart
Agreement. Removing trade from promoting people to people
barriers and eliminating contact, this initiative will also
tariffs by both sides will infuse awareness of the two
encourage and expand peoples and institutions about
bilateral trade. There was each others strengths and
consensus that the current avenues for cooperation in all
level of 8 Bn $ worth of trade fields.
is too low, and the target of
South China Sea Imbroglio
15 Bn $ by 2020, was far too
conservative for the two It was agreed that the security
rising economies who are situation in the South China Sea
strategic partners since is not conducive for peace and
2007. Therefore, much more tranquility in the region. China
needs to be done to diversify has expanded its repertoire of
90
claims from territorial disputes shared spirit of nationalism in the
with land neighbours to islands two countries, ancient
and a large maritime zone in the civilizational contacts, and
South China Sea. This scenario common goals in todays economic
has been compounded by military and security environment. It was
posturing, and positioning of oil agreed that the world is moving
rigs in the Exclusive Economic too fast and that there is an
Zone of others notably of urgent need to take our
Vietnam. It was felt that the US relationship to higher levels of
Rebalancing is a welcome sign, economic and security cooperation
and will help ease tensions in the through increased interaction.
semi enclosed sea. Indias support There is much expectation and we
to Vietnam, in its pursuit of justice must seize on the opportunities
and legitimate claims, was available.
assured.
The Indo-Vietnam strategic

partnership is a result of the Back to Contents
91

Vivek Issues N Otions November December 2014 PDF

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Vivek Issues N Otions November December 2014 PDF

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

2014 A year of Instability in Southern Asia The Circle of Maoist Insurgency

Afghanistan: Possibilities of Sino-Indian Arihant: Lessons from Submarine Programme

and many more .

Published By : Vivekananda International Foundation

Looking Back: 2014 - A Year of Instability in DEFENCE

The Relevance of Police Custody of an Accused Vimarsha on Science of Economics 62

Hope that you find this issue interesting.

Looking Back: 2014 - A Year of

Other negative factors impacting Back to Contents

Message and Meaning of Mangalyaan

* Radhakrishna Rao, Visiting Fellow, VIF

The Relevance of Police Custody of an

Cyberterrorism and Information

whether he or she has anything to

do with any terrorist organisation

(2) Whoever commits or conspires to commit cyber terrorism shall be

and ridiculous but it is the truth.

The complete text of Section 66F

and by means of such conduct causes or is likely to cause death or injuries

(B) knowingly or intentionally penetrates or accesses a computer resource without

(2) Whoever commits or conspires to commit cyber terrorism shall be punishable

commits the offence of cyber terrorism. paragraphs.

The nature of cyberspace is such

Indias Foreign Policy in 21st Century:

*Abhinav Pandya, International Student Representative, 2013, CPAS Board

Round Table on India-Sri Lanka Relations

Interaction on India-Japan Relations

In so far as the Indian responses

French Defence Minister at VIF

Vimarsha: Article 370 and Resolution of

VIF Visit to Vietnam

The Indo-Vietnam strategic

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen