Looking at the Indian scenario, what type of security has been given priority in India, traditional or non-traditional? What examples could you cite to substantiate the argument?
Looking at India’s strategic location, it is the only country that borders others. India has faced both traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Owing to its porous borders, it has faced threats from its neighbours as well as from the insurgent groups operating within the country. It is in these contexts that we identify the following components of India’s security strategy:
a. Strengthening its military capabilities - India has faced four major wars with Pakistan, one in 1948, in 1965, in 1971 and in 1999. Also, it was involved in a military conflict with China in the year 1962. Therefore, India cannot afford to remain idealist in its approach; hence, it was required to enhance both its offensive and defensive capabilities. Being surrounded by nuclear powers, India is compelled to develop its own nuclear arsenals in order to serve as a necessary deterrent. Thus, the country has worked in its own national security interests.
b. Strengthening international organisations and norms - India has worked towards strengthening the international organisations in consonance with its national security interests.
c. India has always considered anti-imperialism and anti-racism as the kernels of its foreign policy. It has always stood for decolonisation and disarmament and has sought international commitment and cooperation on these issues.
d. It has also worked towards the universal non-discriminatory strategy where all the countries would have similar obligation towards the weapons of mass destruction. In this way, India has supported the call for bringing about genuine disarmament and promoting non-proliferation regime.
e. India has supported the cause of developing countries by demanding better and fairer economic deals for them. The New International Economic Order (NIEO) can be seen in this regard.
f. India also tried to mitigate international tensions during the Cold War era by initiating the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
g. India actively helped the UN Peace-keeping forces in all theatres of conflict in the countries like Korea, Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon and Somalia.
h. It has also ratified and signed the Kyoto Protocol that provides for reduction in the emission of green house gases.
i. Strategy towards internal threat - India has faced challenges emanating from its own soil. Insurgency activities in Jammu and Kashmir, secessionist movements in the North Eastern states and Naxalite movements in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have compelled India to respond to such challenges by adopting both carrot and stick policy. Though the country has accommodated diverse interests, by adopting a democratic political system, India has also used its own military to quell such challenges. For example, India invoked the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir and in the North Eastern states, and also deployed army permanently in some insurgency infested regions.
j. Strategy towards non-traditional security threat – Presently, India faces the challenges of terrorism. It has rather been the most vulnerable victim of terrorism with all its major cities being soft targets to terrorist activities, thereby generating fear and terror within the minds of the citizens. It has deployed Internal Security Forces (ISFs), invoked POTA, etc. to deal with such threats.
k. Economic and social development - India also faces the challenge of poverty, which is hampering the country’s progress and growth. States like Odisha has the highest poverty ratio and remains one of the most underdeveloped areas in terms of health and education. Other states like Tripura, Bihar and UP continues to remain poor. India has framed a number of anti-poverty programmes and strategies, has encouraged investments in human resources, provided better job opportunities, education, health and sanitation and made investments in backward rural areas. But despite of the anti-poverty programmes, the country continues to face this challenge, primarily due to the lack of political will on part of the states, due to the lack of machinery to effectively implement the policies, due to corruption and lack of periodical checks and regulations.
l. India has also faced another non-traditional security threat in terms of the illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and has worked towards providing relief and rehabilitation to them. It has also faced the challenge of internally displaced people like the Kashmiri Pandits who fled during the violence in the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s.
Thus, India’s security strategy has worked towards preserving its national interests and to promote peace and harmony in the region. Also, the strategy has been to bring about development and accommodate diverse interests so as to maintain stability in the region.
Looking at India’s strategic location, it is the only country that borders others. India has faced both traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Owing to its porous borders, it has faced threats from its neighbours as well as from the insurgent groups operating within the country. It is in these contexts that we identify the following components of India’s security strategy:
a. Strengthening its military capabilities - India has faced four major wars with Pakistan, one in 1948, in 1965, in 1971 and in 1999. Also, it was involved in a military conflict with China in the year 1962. Therefore, India cannot afford to remain idealist in its approach; hence, it was required to enhance both its offensive and defensive capabilities. Being surrounded by nuclear powers, India is compelled to develop its own nuclear arsenals in order to serve as a necessary deterrent. Thus, the country has worked in its own national security interests.
b. Strengthening international organisations and norms - India has worked towards strengthening the international organisations in consonance with its national security interests.
c. India has always considered anti-imperialism and anti-racism as the kernels of its foreign policy. It has always stood for decolonisation and disarmament and has sought international commitment and cooperation on these issues.
d. It has also worked towards the universal non-discriminatory strategy where all the countries would have similar obligation towards the weapons of mass destruction. In this way, India has supported the call for bringing about genuine disarmament and promoting non-proliferation regime.
e. India has supported the cause of developing countries by demanding better and fairer economic deals for them. The New International Economic Order (NIEO) can be seen in this regard.
f. India also tried to mitigate international tensions during the Cold War era by initiating the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
g. India actively helped the UN Peace-keeping forces in all theatres of conflict in the countries like Korea, Congo, Cyprus, Lebanon and Somalia.
h. It has also ratified and signed the Kyoto Protocol that provides for reduction in the emission of green house gases.
i. Strategy towards internal threat - India has faced challenges emanating from its own soil. Insurgency activities in Jammu and Kashmir, secessionist movements in the North Eastern states and Naxalite movements in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have compelled India to respond to such challenges by adopting both carrot and stick policy. Though the country has accommodated diverse interests, by adopting a democratic political system, India has also used its own military to quell such challenges. For example, India invoked the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir and in the North Eastern states, and also deployed army permanently in some insurgency infested regions.
j. Strategy towards non-traditional security threat – Presently, India faces the challenges of terrorism. It has rather been the most vulnerable victim of terrorism with all its major cities being soft targets to terrorist activities, thereby generating fear and terror within the minds of the citizens. It has deployed Internal Security Forces (ISFs), invoked POTA, etc. to deal with such threats.
k. Economic and social development - India also faces the challenge of poverty, which is hampering the country’s progress and growth. States like Odisha has the highest poverty ratio and remains one of the most underdeveloped areas in terms of health and education. Other states like Tripura, Bihar and UP continues to remain poor. India has framed a number of anti-poverty programmes and strategies, has encouraged investments in human resources, provided better job opportunities, education, health and sanitation and made investments in backward rural areas. But despite of the anti-poverty programmes, the country continues to face this challenge, primarily due to the lack of political will on part of the states, due to the lack of machinery to effectively implement the policies, due to corruption and lack of periodical checks and regulations.
l. India has also faced another non-traditional security threat in terms of the illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and has worked towards providing relief and rehabilitation to them. It has also faced the challenge of internally displaced people like the Kashmiri Pandits who fled during the violence in the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s.
Thus, India’s security strategy has worked towards preserving its national interests and to promote peace and harmony in the region. Also, the strategy has been to bring about development and accommodate diverse interests so as to maintain stability in the region.
