Pranab calls for integrated approach to country's security

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asked the Armed Forces top brass to adopt an integrated view while considering national security needs in order to encompass contemporary changes in policies for optimum utilisation of resources.

Addressing the Unified Commanders' Conference here, Mr Mukherjee said it was imperative to undertake at regular intervals an integrated review of the path being followed by the defence forces based upon a pragmatic threat analysis of the environment to evolve force capability.

''In the prevalent operational environment, defence services are required to provide a full spectrum security as well as response.

Warfare today encompasses spheres such as political, economic, social, diplomatic, and many more. Wars have become costlier and there is a shift to asymmetric warfare. The response, therefore, towards such myriad challenges has to be integrated, flexible, innovative and in real time,'' the Defence Minister said.

Appreciative of the process of integration of the Indian Armed Forces during the last four years, the Minister said one could learn from the example of the Andaman and Nicobar Command which was functioning well. He, however, called for setting tangible goals to ensure that the required pace of restructuring and transformation was maintained pointing to ''a need to evolve a road map towards furthering the process of joint commands so as to make resources available for modernisation''.

The Defence Minister dwelt at length on the security environment -- in the neighbourhood in particular and the world in general.

Talking about Pakistan, Mr Mukherjee said there was a window of opportunity towards peace.

''Though terrorism from across the border continues to strike at regular intervals, and across the length and breadth of the country, the overall situation is more positive than a year ago.

India-Pakistan relations have witnessed notable progress in the two rounds of composite dialogue and third round currently underway. It is significant that people to people exchanges are taking place in large numbers,'' he added.

He, however, reiterated that attempts at infiltration and sneaking in of militants from across the border were continuing.

Also, the instruments and camps used for supporting terrorism were still in place.

''The decline in terrorism in the Valley is on account of sustained efforts by the Indian Army and paramilitary forces. No evidence is available to suggest that Pakistan has taken measures to completely dismantle the terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan and Pak-Occupied Kashmir. Therefore, while it is necessary that we continue our dialogue process with all sincerity, we cannot afford to become complacent in this regard,'' he said.

Turning to China, The Defence Minister said developing friendly co-operation with Beijing was one of the priorities of India's foreign policy. ''We seek friendly, co-operative, good neighbourly and mutually beneficial relations with China. At the same time, we are also seeking to address our differences, including the border issue, through peaceful dialogue, without allowing them to affect the comprehensive development of our relationship,'' he pointed out.

The Defence Minister said security concerns of Indians working in Afghanistan were being addressed in consultation with the Government there. India had pledged 650 million Dollars towards the reconstruction and capacity building in Afghanistan and ''we will remain vigorously engaged with the newest member of SAARC,'' he asserted.

Moving on to Nepal, the Minister said the situation there had shown ''a positive turn'' after a long time with the return of democracy. India remained committed to the resolution of the political situation through a process of constructive dialogue and was ready to assist in the reconstruction efforts in Nepal, he observed.

Further, Mr Mukherjee underlined the need to constantly monitor the situation in Bangladesh and Myanmar to deter terrorist activities that had easy access into India through these neighbouring countries.

On Sri Lanka, the Minister said the situation there continued to draw international attention with increasing levels of conflict between LTTE and the government security forces. ''We have urged for a return of peace and for the peaceful resolution of all issues while maintaining the integrity of the nation,'' Mr Mukherjee told the Conference.

On the occasion, the Defence Minister released the Joint Doctrine prepared by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

The promulgation of a Joint Doctrine is seen as a landmark event on the path to developing a truly 'joint' capability for the Indian Armed forces. This doctrine contains the fundamental principles by which to conduct future joint operations with the aim of enhancing the joint war fighting capability of the Armed Forces. It will complement the single Service doctrines -- which have already been promulgated -- and lead to a better understanding of the application of military power in a variety of situations.

The document is intended to be dynamic in nature and subject to regular review to keep pace with the evolving concepts and technology and ensure its contemporary relevance.

The inadequacies experienced in the wake of the Kargil Conflict were the spur for greater jointness in the Indian Armed Forces. The review of the higher management of defence by the Kargil Review Committee and the consequent establishment of the joint structures that exist today were major necessary steps to align the Indian Armed Forces to the realities of 21st century warfare.

However, the challenges inherent in co-ordinating different military forces towards a common objective required a clear set of principles and guidelines which would facilitate this jointness.

In the history of contemporary military operations the world over, it is a truism that no single Service has been able to achieve military objectives individually. In today's world, lethality of weapons and advances in communications necessitate effective and rapid decision-making, and synergy and inter-operability of forces is inescapable if we have to respond effectively to a wide spectrum of conflict situations and operations other than war.

Indeed, it has been practically seen -- and empirically proved worldwide -- that integration of the three Armed Forces is an index of not just operational effectiveness but is also a force multiplier and, above all, a measure of economy and efficiency.

The doctrine is also a signal to potential adversaries that India is militarily well prepared and, by doing so, contributes to deterrence in the broadest sense.

UNI