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India: Necessity of jointsmanship

发布时间:2017-04-18
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CHAPTER II

NECESSITY OF JOINTMANSHIP

28.Analysis of India’s performance in 1971, Indo Pak war reveals, that, with the three Services working closely together, Indian Armed Forces were strong and decisive in their actions. Inter Service cooperation was indeed the most important lesson of that war. Sinking Service differences, assisting one another to do the best of which each was capable, the three Services acted as one while each retained its own particular character and capabilities.[1] This example could be taken as a template for all future military operations that are expected to be short, intense and fiercely fought. It has been proved time and again that, even an inferior force that can exploit all dimensions of warfare can overcome a superior force operating in fewer dimensions. Israel has amply proved this in its engagements with the Arabs. Lack of cooperation and integration in war could actually be damaging to each Service. Improved jointmanship has the capability to enhance combat power in greater proportion than the resources used and hence needs to be harnessed to benefit from its ‘force multiplier effect’

29. Any organization is structured to achieve its vision and goals. The Indian Armed Forces have also evolved to the present state and are still in the process of restructuring to suit the nations requirements. What are the nation’s requirements ? What vision does it hold for the people of India? Are the defence forces structured to help the country to achieve its vision? To ascertain this, there is a requirement to briefly study the country’s vision and analyse if the defence forces are organized and structured to help in achieving this mission when seen in relation to the present security environment.

India’s Vision

30. India is rapidly transforming from an agrarian economy into a modern multi dimensional economic enterprise. It is inevitable that such a rapid social, economic, technological and political development of a billion people should generate turbulence. Yet it is essential that this turbulence be managed and confined within limits that preserve the social fabric and permit the nations transformation to continue. Underlying all our plans and hopes for a better future , underpinning all our efforts to evolve into a prosperous nation is the shared aspiration of all Indian people for peace.

31. The challenges to peace are numerous and these come from all directions – from outside our borders and within. Our capacity to preserve and build a lasting peace will depend on the strength of our Armed Forces to defend our borders thereby ensuring external security and the strength of our economy.

Security

32. External security depends on national power. It requires a continuous enhancement of the country’s capacity to use its tangible and intangible resources in such a manner as to affect the behavior of other states. A vibrant economy and an important role in international affairs may be as necessary as a strong military for preservation and development of national power.

33. Objective and reasonably accurate assessments of security threats are not easily achieved. The balancing of priorities between external and internal dimensions of security poses a great dilemma and challenge. An underestimation of the external threat with a correspondingly lower military preparedness to permit diversion of funds for development could lead to erosion of national security. On the other hand, exaggeration of external threat and correspondingly higher military preparedness could , at one level , lead to countermeasures by the adversary thus escalating the threat environment to a higher plane , and at another, diversion of excessive resources eroding the developmental processes. The answer lies in viewing defence and development as concurrent goals to be sought in an objective balance rather than in a mutually exclusive paradigm.

National Security Objectives

34. There are some factors that have consistently influenced our security environment in the past and which are likely to remain active for years to come. These are :-

(a) The twin revolutions of rising expectations and information- communications.

(b) The conflict between India and Pakistan is unlikely to be resolved.

(c) Territorial disputes with the neighbours.

(d) Religious extremism and radical politics will continue to have an adverse impact on our core values.

(e) Rising dependence on energy imports will make us increasingly vulnerable economically as well as diplomatically.

(f) The international order is likely to evolve into a polycentric configuration with its centre of gravity shifting to Asia, which will include seven out of the ten largest economies and six out of the eight nuclear weapon states.

(g) The increasing economic and military strength of China poses a serious challenge to India’s security unless adequate measures are taken to fortify our own strengths.

35. Keeping in view the above, the security objectives are as under :-

(a) Defending the country’s borders.

(b) Protecting the lives and property of its citizens against war, terrorism and militant activities.

(c) Protecting the country from instability and religious radicalism emanating from neighbouring states.

(d) Development of material , equipment and technologies that have a bearing on India’s security, particularly its defence preparedness through indigenous research and development.

(e) Promoting peace and understanding with neighbouring countries.

(f) Pursuing security and strategic dialogues with major powers and key allies.

Compulsions Necessitating Jointmanship

36. Battlefield Milieu. The battlefield milieu of tomorrow will be characterised by nuclear ambiguity and fielding of high technology systems. It will be non-linear in nature, with real time surveillance, integrated Command, Control, Communication & Intelligence (C3I) systems for decision-making and increasingly lethal weapon systems. Enhanced night fighting capability will reduce the disadvantage of night operations. Battles will be fluid in nature and there is likelihood of simultaneity of engagement, with contact, deep, and rear area battles being fought simultaneously. The capacity to project force rapidly will significantly contribute to either deterrence, or quick resolution of conflict, or war. “Commanders could exploit windows of opportunity to apply overwhelming force from different dimensions and directions to shock, disrupt and defeat opponents. The impact of high technology and the capabilities that it will afford will be best synergised by joint and integrated application of such resources and forces. Thus joint operations will predominate and advantage will go to the side which can effectively integrate all forces.

37.Economic Compulsions. Economy dictates national interests and policy. Resources are never unlimited. Even a resource rich country like the United States has to find a fine balance between reducing military strength, consequently expenditure, and the enormous requirements to meet the assessed threats. A leaner but better integrated force was found to be the answer, which is the gist of the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. India can ill-afford wasteful expenditure. Enhanced jointmanship can contribute to better utilisation of meagre resources. Smaller forces would need better synergy to produce comparable results.

38.International Scenario. With the end of the Cold War, it is more likely that conflicts will be regional. South Asia abounds with potential flashpoints like Sri Lanka and Maldives. India therefore needs a potent and synergised force with credible rapid reaction capability both to lend weight to diplomacy as also is capable of resolving the conflict by exercising the military option, if necessary. This would also be in sync with India’s rising economic status and the activism being displayed by the United Nations.

39.Technological Developments. Previously warfare was compartmentalised within dimensions of land, sea and air. Developments in critical technologies like navigation, metallurgy and missiles has enabled improvements in range, precision and lethality. Therefore, such a compartmentalization does not exist even in the subcontinent. The resultant overlap requires tremendous coordination and jointmanship to maximize combat potential.

40.New Dimensions of War. Electronic, information and space-based warfare are the new dimensions of war. They transcend the traditional land, sea and air mediums; infact, their all pervasiveness and impact cuts across all the mediums and clearly establishes the seamlessness of modern warfare.

41.Multilayered Threats. Future conflicts are likely to be fought under a multitude of threats to include political, economic, nuclear and other weapons as also with low intensity conflict and terrorism. Infact the scenario will be very complex with numerous imponderables. An integrated response in such a scenario is only possible through increased jointmanship. This jointness is not only required between the three services but all the elements of national power including the various branches of the government.

42.The Asymmetric warfare. A brief overview of the security situation would help to sensitize the reader to the situation which would alarm the citizens of any other country, but one which Indians have come to accept with customary resignation. Let us first dwell on matters relating to internal security.Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) obviously plans 10-15 years ahead, and what we have been facing for some years now, and will continue to face, is best termed as “asymmetric war”; waged by a ruthless and imaginative adversary with no holds barred. Its most obvious manifestation has been the cold-blooded orchestration of violence in our urban areas amidst the civilian population. This is done through a complex and well-organized network of agents and surrogates who are trained, equipped and financed to wreak havoc.This war has many other dimensions, of which we notice only a few.Aiding separatism and insurgency, encouraging demographic invasion,attacking our economy by pumping in fake currency, inciting communal India’s Higher Defence Organisation violence, and undermining the morale and cohesion of the armed forces (often through the instrumentality of the Indian media) are some other facets of this multi-pronged assault on the Indian state. By our benign neglect, and failure to appreciate its full scope and depth, we have probably aided and abetted this offensive. Most of India’s North-East has become a metaphor for mayhem, with the lines between administration and anarchy, and extortion and excise having been totally blurred. It is common knowledge that Central Government funds are continuously siphoned off, and eventually buy the insurgent, bullets which kill the jawans of the Indian Army (IA). But no one seems to worry or care.

43.The Naxalite movement has manifested itself with renewed vigour in 118 districts running in an almost continuous swathe through 12 states, from Kerala to Bihar (virtually half the country). For forty years this grave menace has been viewed with blasé complacency and handled in a most effete manner. Today the movement has expanded to a point that it obtains support and sustenance from the Nepalese Maoists on its northern flank and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the southern flank. The most remarkable aspect of the situation is the contrast between thought process of the perpetrators of the asymmetric war, and the Indian State. The calculus and planning of the ISI-Pakistan Army combine runs seamlessly from sub-conventional to conventional warfare, and then on to nuclear conflict; the whole paradigm working in tandem with clever diplomatic posturing. India, on the other hand, have kept the different aspects of these conflicts strictly compartmentalized, and hence our response to the asymmetric war is disjointed, fragmented and disorganized. The reasons for this are twofold; our national security establishment has encouraged turf distribution and creation of fiefdoms, and thereby deprived itself of the benefits of holistic thinking and synchronized action. And secondly, in a system that must be unique in the world, the Armed Forces are kept on the margins of national security management by a powerful bureaucracy, and rarely consulted or heard – even on issues in which they have exclusive expertise.

44.Imperatives of War. “The increased tempo of war has compressed time and space. It has thus enhanced the necessity to get inside the decision cycle of the enemy”[2]. Unless this is done, the initiative will be ceded to the enemy, which is a recipe for defeat. Hence the necessity of joint surveillance, joint planning and procedures to be able to match the compressed time and space.

45.Joint warfare is not a new concept but has come into sharp focus as it has been realised that future wars can be best fought by joint operations on land, sea and air. The views of Fleet Admiral Ernest J King expressed after World War II could not have been more relevant today, “as to the military side of the war, there is one lesson which stands out above all others, this is that modern warfare can be effectively conducted only by the close and effective integration of the three military arms, which make their primary contribution to the military power of the nation on the ground, at sea and from the air.”[3]


[1] Ibid.p.324.

[2] General Robert W RissCassi. ‘ Doctrine For Joint Operations in a Combined Environment - A Necessity.’ Military Review. Jun 1993. p. 28.

[3] Fleet Admiral Ernest J King. “US Navy at War 1941- 45: Official Report to the Secretary of the Navy. p. 3.

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