The term national security in broad
terms, including military and non-military dimensions of security. It must also
clearly state the objectives of the strategy. These might be: protecting and
defending the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the country;
protecting the core values of the nation as enshrined in the Indian
Constitution; and ensuring the socio-economic development of the country.
India’s goal should be to play a positive and effective role in global and
regional affairs.
Let me first make some very brief
comments about the concept of ‘Security’. The traditional view of security
focussed on the application of force at the state level and was therefore a
fairly narrow view, hinging on military security. It is now widely acknowledged
that there is more to security than purely military factors. Today’s definition
of security acknowledges political, economic, environmental, social and human
among other strands that impact the concept of security. In the most basic
terms, the concern for security of the lowest common denominator of every
society, namely the ‘human being’, has resulted in the development of the
concept of ‘human security’, which focuses on the individual.
Therefore, the definition of security is
defnitely broad – and is related to the ability of the state to perform the
function of protecting the wellbeing of its people. This formulation hark back
to the days of Ancient Civilizations. In a democracy, it is for the elected government
to provide this priority and focus, as only after this, a coherent National
Security Strategy can be articulated.
Four types, internal threats should be
taken care of immediately, for internal troubles these are internal, external,
externally-aided internal, and internally-aided external.
Destabilising a country through internal
disturbances is more economical and less objectionable, particularly when
direct warfare is not an option and international borders cannot be violated.
External adversaries, particularly the weaker ones, find it easier to create
and aid forces which cause internal unrest and instability. India’s history is
full of such experiences. Since Independence, we have faced many such
situations, initiated by China, Pakistan and others in the Northeast and even
in the western sectors of the country since the mid-60s.
Presently, almost all the countries
of Asia and Africa are experiencing internal security problems,
due to insurgency movements, ethnic conflicts, religious fundamentalism, or
just cussed political polarisation.
India has a unique centrality in the
South Asian security zone. It has special ties with each of its neighbours:
ties of ethnicity, religion, language, culture, common historical experience,
and of shared access to vital natural resources. However, apart from the
advantages that these special ties offer, they often make it easier for
external forces to exploit any internal dissent. Within the country, these
special ties also tend to encourage Indian secessionist groups in establishing
safe sanctuaries across the borders in neighbouring states; trans-border
illegal migration, gun-running and drug-trafficking. Situated as we are between
the ‘Golden Crescent’ and the ‘Golden Triangle’, secessionist groups taking to
violence find little difficultyin indulging in drug trade and obtaining small
arms within the country.
The people of the country speak 16 major
languages, in over 200 dialects. There are about one dozen ethnic groups, seven
major religion communities with several sects and sub-sects, and 68 socio-cultural
subregions. When a socio-political and socioeconomic equilibrium is maintained
in such a scenario, there is unity in diversity. But if there is even the
slightest imbalance, we have more diversity and less unity.
Some specific issues that we are faced
with, which have an impact on our internal security are:
Problems of national assimilation and
integration,particularly of the border areas in the North and Northeast.
Porous borders with Nepal, Bhutan,
Myanmar,Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which enable illegal trans-border movements
and smuggling of weapons and drugs. It is presumed that erecting fences on the
international borders can stop all illegal trans-border movements. That is not
so. First, it is not possible to guard or police every metre of the land, sea
and air borders. Second, the construction of a fence along land borders is
expensive and requires a tremendous amount of manpower for effective
surveillance. Border fencing can assist in checking infiltration to an extent,
but it does not and cannot eliminate it.
Weak governance including an ineffective
law and order machinery and large-scale corruption. An ever-increasing section
of the population is getting disenchanted with social justice, or the lack
thereof. There is a continuous decay of the political, administrative, and
security institutions of the country. Efforts to stem the rot have failed so
far. Declining political and public values have led to consistent and
persistent political interference.
Nexus between crime, insurgency and
politics.
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