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India.com
17 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
The Third Eye: Envisioning India's National Security Policy
When Prime Minister Modi briefly addressed the nation in the wake of Operation Sindoor, on May 12, he laid down some postulates that could be deemed to be a part of the country's national security policy. Many strategic analysts had been advocating for a formal declaration of National Security Policy (NSP) little realising that the release of any of its details in public domain could benefit the opponent and also that such a policy might require revisiting because of the changes in geopolitical scenario affecting the international spectrum of friends and adversaries. Prime Minister Modi's statement that any further terror attack from Pakistan will be considered as an 'act of war' and responded to by our defence forces accordingly, certainly was an immutable part of our security doctrine that matched with India's call for 'zero tolerance towards terrorism of all kinds', made from all international platforms. We may attempt to visualise the lasting paradigms of foreign and internal policies that would constitute our NSP even when we choose not to release any such formal document. When the Cold War ended at the beginning of the 90s, countries -big and small -sensed relief from the tension that existed between the two superpowers and felt free to assert their place under the sun. It is no wonder therefore, that the post-Cold War era became an era of 'proxy wars' marked by a sudden rise in insurgencies, separatist movements and cross-border militancy- their number touching the figure of 200 according to some estimates. Meanwhile, Pakistan was given full credit by the US for the success of the anti-Soviet armed campaign- run on the war cry of Jehad- which caused the dismemberment of the USSR and ended the Cold War. What Pakistan did however, was to immediately think of replicating the success of Afghan Jehad in Kashmir and sent in the dreaded Harkat- ul -Ansar (HUA)-a mix of radical Islamic militants including elements of Taliban, to make what turned out to be a failed attempt to 'liberate' the valley. Faith-based terrorism is now a prime threat to the democratic world as a whole and it is good that both the US and Russia are against Islamic terror- the latter witnessed a terror attack on a concert hall in Moscow by ISIS-K, the competitor of Al Qaeda originating from Iraq-Syria region during the US-led 'war on terror'. The attack carried out in March 2024 by a group of four terrorists armed with automatic rifles resulted in the killing of 145 persons including many children and injuries to 500 others. Terrorism will remain a prime threat to India and our NSP rightly puts it on top of the security agenda. India's experience with Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War years was a mixed bag. India apparently tilted towards one side in the combative ideological battle of the two superpowers- between International Communism propounded by the Soviet Union and Capitalism with free market practised by the US leading the West. Post-Cold War, India has come on its own on the basis of 'mixed economy' and shown the way for geopolitically remaining aligned only with friends across the international community on the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship. That India is against all military conflicts and is committed to world peace, has been clearly stated by Prime Minister Modi as a policy approach and this should serve India well in the long term. This stand goes with a conscious effort to make India economically strong and self-sufficient in defence and it is a matter of great satisfaction that Prime Minister Modi was personally taking initiatives on both fronts. The policy of inviting foreign investment in the defence sector on the condition that technology will be shared and production in India will be encouraged, is to be treated as a part of our security mandate. Foreign policy of India favours bilateral friendships in a multipolar world order and this has enabled the country to appropriately respond to military conflicts witnessed in many parts of the world. India has to be prepared to deal with the two adversaries on its borders acting in concert against this country. India's national security policy has to reckon with the threat posed by the Sino-Pak axis- particularly in Kashmir as was evident during the post-Pahalgam military confrontation between India and Pakistan. Indo-US friendship can be sustained by the shared opposition to 'Islamic terrorism' and also by the American firm support to India against any hostile acts of China. It should be indicated by India that its active participation in the Quad needed to be reciprocated by the US in preventing any Chinese aggressiveness in the Indian Ocean. Trump administration must look upon the Pak-Afghan belt as a festering ground for Islamic terrorism and India must continue to educate the former on the situation there, Biden administration seemed to have been somewhat negligent towards this region. The US needs to be constantly reminded that Pakistan had cleverly tried to be in the good books of America while harbouring radical terrorist groups on its soil, despite the fact that Islamic radicals regarded US as their prime enemy. At the same time Pakistan had brought about a settlement between the Taliban Emirate and China. American policymakers should take notice of this. The evolution of national security policy of India should be regarded as a work in progress with continuity on some fundamental points of strategic interest of India and scope for tactical adjustments depending upon geopolitical shifts and the world's economic trends. The national security policy of India would not be complete without defining the nation's approach to safeguarding its internal security, integrity and unity. A vast diverse country like India has been vulnerable to conflicts rooted in caste, creed and region and needed a set of policies that upheld fundamental rights, freedom of citizens to visit and settle down in any part of the state and access to justice. Maintenance of law and order should be strong across the length and breadth of the country and since this was a state subject the Centre's right to take note of any gross failure of a state on that front, should be further strengthened. This has become even more important in these times when the adversary can remotely instigate internal trouble by activating its 'sleeper cells' through digital media. It is heartening to note that the Union Home Minister is already working for better coordination between the central agencies and state Police forces as part of the national security policy.
Hans India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
The Third Eye: Envisioning India's national security policy
New Delhi: When Prime Minister Modi briefly addressed the nation in the wake of Operation Sindoor, on May 12, he laid down some postulates that could be deemed to be a part of the country's national security policy. Many strategic analysts had been advocating for a formal declaration of National Security Policy (NSP) little realising that the release of any of its details in public domain could benefit the opponent and also that such a policy might require revisiting because of the changes in geopolitical scenario affecting the international spectrum of friends and adversaries. Prime Minister Modi's statement that any further terror attack from Pakistan will be considered as an 'act of war' and responded to by our defence forces accordingly, certainly was an immutable part of our security doctrine that matched with India's call for 'zero tolerance towards terrorism of all kinds', made from all international platforms. We may attempt to visualise the lasting paradigms of foreign and internal policies that would constitute our NSP even when we choose not to release any such formal document. When the Cold War ended at the beginning of the 90s, countries -big and small -sensed relief from the tension that existed between the two superpowers and felt free to assert their place under the sun. It is no wonder therefore, that the post-Cold War era became an era of 'proxy wars' marked by a sudden rise in insurgencies, separatist movements and cross-border militancy- their number touching the figure of 200 according to some estimates. Meanwhile, Pakistan was given full credit by the US for the success of the anti-Soviet armed campaign- run on the war cry of Jehad- which caused the dismemberment of the USSR and ended the Cold War. What Pakistan did however, was to immediately think of replicating the success of Afghan Jehad in Kashmir and sent in the dreaded Harkat- ul -Ansar (HUA)-a mix of radical Islamic militants including elements of Taliban, to make what turned out to be a failed attempt to 'liberate' the valley. Faith-based terrorism is now a prime threat to the democratic world as a whole and it is good that both the US and Russia are against Islamic terror- the latter witnessed a terror attack on a concert hall in Moscow by ISIS-K, the competitor of Al Qaeda originating from Iraq-Syria region during the US-led 'war on terror'. The attack carried out in March 2024 by a group of four terrorists armed with automatic rifles resulted in the killing of 145 persons including many children and injuries to 500 others. Terrorism will remain a prime threat to India and our NSP rightly puts it on top of the security agenda. India's experience with Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War years was a mixed bag. India apparently tilted towards one side in the combative ideological battle of the two superpowers- between International Communism propounded by the Soviet Union and Capitalism with free market practised by the US leading the West. Post-Cold War, India has come on its own on the basis of 'mixed economy' and shown the way for geopolitically remaining aligned only with friends across the international community on the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship. That India is against all military conflicts and is committed to world peace, has been clearly stated by Prime Minister Modi as a policy approach and this should serve India well in the long term. This stand goes with a conscious effort to make India economically strong and self-sufficient in defence and it is a matter of great satisfaction that Prime Minister Modi was personally taking initiatives on both fronts. The policy of inviting foreign investment in the defence sector on the condition that technology will be shared and production in India will be encouraged, is to be treated as a part of our security mandate. Foreign policy of India favours bilateral friendships in a multipolar world order and this has enabled the country to appropriately respond to military conflicts witnessed in many parts of the world. India has to be prepared to deal with the two adversaries on its borders acting in concert against this country. India's national security policy has to reckon with the threat posed by the Sino-Pak axis- particularly in Kashmir as was evident during the post-Pahalgam military confrontation between India and Pakistan. Indo-US friendship can be sustained by the shared opposition to 'Islamic terrorism' and also by the American firm support to India against any hostile acts of China. It should be indicated by India that its active participation in the Quad needed to be reciprocated by the US in preventing any Chinese aggressiveness in the Indian Ocean. Trump administration must look upon the Pak-Afghan belt as a festering ground for Islamic terrorism and India must continue to educate the former on the situation there, Biden administration seemed to have been somewhat negligent towards this region. The US needs to be constantly reminded that Pakistan had cleverly tried to be in the good books of America while harbouring radical terrorist groups on its soil, despite the fact that Islamic radicals regarded US as their prime enemy. At the same time Pakistan had brought about a settlement between the Taliban Emirate and China. American policymakers should take notice of this. The evolution of national security policy of India should be regarded as a work in progress with continuity on some fundamental points of strategic interest of India and scope for tactical adjustments depending upon geopolitical shifts and the world's economic trends. The national security policy of India would not be complete without defining the nation's approach to safeguarding its internal security, integrity and unity. A vast diverse country like India has been vulnerable to conflicts rooted in caste, creed and region and needed a set of policies that upheld fundamental rights, freedom of citizens to visit and settle down in any part of the state and access to justice. Maintenance of law and order should be strong across the length and breadth of the country and since this was a state subject the Centre's right to take note of any gross failure of a state on that front, should be further strengthened. This has become even more important in these times when the adversary can remotely instigate internal trouble by activating its 'sleeper cells' through digital media. It is heartening to note that the Union Home Minister is already working for better coordination between the central agencies and state Police forces as part of the national security policy. (The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau)
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Defeating Pakistan's nefarious design to isolate Kashmiris from the mainstream through the Pahalgam terror attack
Dr. Prashant Prabhakar Deshpande has post-graduated in Economics with a Gold Medal in 1976 and was awarded a Ph.D in Social Sciences from Nagpur University in 2007. Introduction Way back in 1995, 6 western tourists and their two guides were presumed to have been killed by a terrorist group, Al Faraan, in the meadows, an open habitat or field, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non-woody plants of Pahalgam. They were kidnapped in the Lidderwat area of Pahalgam in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on 4th of July 1995 by 40 terrorists from the Kashmiri Islamist militant organisation Harkat-ul-Ansar under the pseudonym of Al-Faran to secure the release of Harkat leader Masood Azhar and other terrorists. Those killings aimed at: 1. Putting the Kashmir issue on the global map; 2. Destroying tourism, and; 3. Unleashing an atmosphere of unrest. Although the terrorists succeeded in 2 of the 3 over the years, the armed forces in the valley however ensured that Pakistan's efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue did not succeed. Recent Pahalgam attack 30 years later, with Pahalgam and Gulmarg having grown as hubs for tourism, the terrorists struck on April 22, 2025, killing 26 tourists, mostly Hindus. The place and targets were the same, Pahalgam and the tourists. This time, the terrorists aimed to: 1. Put Kashmir back on the boil, 2. Hurt the revival of the state's economy, and; 3. Strike deep fear. However, this time instead of foreign tourists, they targeted Hindu tourists. This was deliberately done to unleash divisive forces that would spin out of control in a fragile society and eventually whip up a narrative against the united fabric of India. Tacit motive behind the attack A higher voting turnout in the recently held elections indicated that Kashmiris, tired of insurgency now want to be a part of the mainstream. Pakistan which has been sponsoring terrorist activity in India thus felt that the ground beneath their feet was slipping away. Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir's anti-Hindu speech referring to Kashmir as a jugular vein of Pakistan was seen as a sign of his desperation in whipping up a frenzy, rattling India, and the world. Many believe this to have triggered the launch of the Pahalgam strike by the Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked TRF (The Resistance Front). Kashmir before the recent dastardly act In Kashmir, tourism is the biggest industry contributing to its economic growth. The tourism industry is focussed on the Srinagar-Gulmarg axis towards the west of Srinagar and towards the southeast along the Anantnag-Pahalgam axis leading further to Chandanwari and onwards to the Amarnath Cave. In this sector, tourism in Pahalgam and its adjoining areas coupled with the annual Amarnath Yatra are major contributors to the local economy. Two years ago, Srinagar, Gulmarg and Gurez were buzzing with visitors with the locals expecting tourism to grow. The Dal Lake wore a busy look with eager locals peddling wares and markets looking forward to hosting tourists. The air of confidence was a far cry from the despondency two decades ago, when militancy was a dominant presence in the lives of locals. Despite challenges, the security forces with the help of locals had created a sense of normalcy. In the last 5-7 years, militancy had been wiped out with overall terror incidents decreasing from 228 in 2018 to 46 in 2023 giving a boost to the tourism industry. 2025 being an overbooked season, the economy in Kashmir thus looked brighter than ever with tourism helping in assimilating the Kashmiri economy into the larger Indian mainstream. Besides tourism, apple trade in Sopore had seen a rise with a thousand active traders making it the 2nd largest fruit market after Delhi's Azadpur. A promising economy was returning youth to the mainstream, as earning opportunities rose quickly. A terror strike of this nature however threatens to set back a fledgling economy like Kashmir which is new and not yet developed. This was demonstrated by the fact that within 48 hours of the strike, Kashmir had been vacated. Impact on the local ecosystem Pakistan wants Crackdowns on the local backers of the insurgents subsequent to the attack are bound to include elaborate combing and search operations followed by the security forces stepping up the vigil in the area, leading to restrictions on citizens and collateral arrests and detentions. Clamping down on regular lives in Kashmir owing to indispensable security curbs is a natural outcome of this attack that can wreck the state's return towards normalcy which Pakistan wishes to see. Pakistan believes that in the event of reduced economic opportunities and restricted conditions of living, the youth, which had been a part of the emerging economic restructuring in the valley, can be lured back into militancy. Specific Pakistani design By disowning their part in the attack, the Pakistani army intends to convey that the attack was an outcome of internal dissent in Kashmir. They expect this to fuel the fumes of communal hatred. It intended to convey that Hindus were not welcome in Kashmir, a proposition which however seems to have been rejected by local Kashmiris. The Pakistani ploy thus seems to have backfired with unprecedented protests by locals witnessed in Pahalgam, unlike earlier times. Epilogue Through the attack Pakistan desired to whip up a feeling of utter disgust amongst the Hindus towards the valley's Muslims. Pahalgam was meant to exploit the vulnerable social fabric in India and cause a communal divide. Pakistan by this wanted Indians to generate hatred towards each other and cause social disengagement leading to isolation of the Kashmiris. To thwart the nefarious design of Pakistan, there is a need to provide a healing touch to the Kashmiri youth. Kashmir has lost two earlier generations to militancy. The healing touch of economic opportunities and social embrace therefore must continue alongside pinning down militant sympathisers, as the absorption of a generation into the mainstream reduces the probability of the subsequent generation picking up arms again, as a youth used to financial independence is less willing to turn to militancy. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
