Gen Deepak Kapoor (retd)

Former Chief of Army Staff

The Chinese attempt at expansionism in east Ladakh has kept the attention of the nation riveted on national security for more than two months now. Hopefully, their policy of ‘creeping aggression’ would not ultimately be allowed to succeed in creating a new status quo which may then become the take-off point for future expansionism.

Trust has been the biggest casualty in dealing with the Chinese. Repeatedly, there have been attempts to gain undue advantage by subverting, misinterpreting and obfuscating decisions arrived at the negotiating table. Now that we are wiser to it, implementation of every agreement would need verification and continued monitoring. A sense of complacency is best avoided if we are able to extract any concessions.

The media has discussed threadbare the likely motivation that propelled the Chinese to engineer a Sino-Indian face-off. While that speculation continues, we need to look at various national security aspects from the Indian perspective and decide what needs to be done to make the nation secure from future predatory actions.

A nation cannot depend on others for its national security, especially if it wants to follow an independent and autonomous foreign policy. National interest overrides all other considerations in the current global geopolitical environment. Even for the all-powerful US, it is ‘America First’. Self-sufficiency in national security is an essential step for guarding India’s national interest if push comes to shove.

The anti-India nexus between China and Pakistan is well known. Since the 1960s, they have followed a coordinated and synchronised approach against India in all spheres. History has shown that while India was busy dealing with Pakistan in 1948, 1965, 1971 and 1999, China did not start a war along the Sino-Indian border, possibly because Pakistan was firmly in the US camp. However, an assertive and expansionist China today is vying for global dominance. In case a major Sino-Indian confrontation occurs, the possibility of an opportunistic Pakistan trying to settle old scores by starting hostilities against India is strong.

India cannot ignore this threat. In fact, outlines of such an occurrence were visible during the Sino-Indian face-off in June with increased Pakistani ceasefire violations all along the Line of Control and attempts at pushing in a large number of jihadis into J&K. The reality of a two-front threat cannot be wished away. Should it materialise, we can adopt a defensive approach, which is likely to result in salami slicing of our territory from time to time. Conversely, we can adopt the better option of becoming strong enough to defend ourselves against any eventuality.

In a developing country like India, there would invariably be competing priorities for limited resources available. Poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, healthcare and infrastructure need major allocations for alleviation. However, the two-front threat has highlighted the primacy of national security even if it means going marginally slower in other sectors. In fact, the Chinese action in the last two months has already forced us to enhance allocation to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to Rs 11,800 crore for 2020-21 from Rs 8,050 crore in 2019-20 for the development of border infrastructure. Our rush to the US, France and Russia for quick delivery of contracted for as well as additional weaponry is indicative of crisis management which would not have occurred if we had allocated adequate resources ab initio.

As percentage of GDP, India’s defence budget has seen a continuously downward trend for over ten years now. Currently, it stands at approximately 1.49% of the GDP for this financial year. The then vice-chief of Army Staff, while deposing before the Defence Parliamentary Standing Committee in March 2018, had brought out that 68% of the Army equipment is reaching vintage levels, only 24% is current and just 7% is futuristic. The Air Force and Navy are not much better off. For the last two decades, the Chinese annual defence budget has been three to four times more than ours every year. Pakistan military too has ensured a lavish defence budget through the years. We need to enhance our budget to 3% of the GDP gradually to defend against a two-front threat.

Atmanirbhar Bharat is indeed an excellent initiative, which should in fact have been launched on gaining independence. It would ensure self-sufficiency in the sphere of national security, reduce dependence on costly imports, and provide greater bang for the limited bucks available. However, defence projects take 15-20 years to fructify. Make in India projects, commenced in 2014, are nowhere near completion so far. Until self-sufficiency is achieved, we have no choice but to import hardware to defend ourselves against the emerging threats.

The state of infrastructure in our border areas is poor which places us at a disadvantage and limits our options. Coupled with lack of state-of-the-art weaponry, it encourages a defensive mindset. While both these aspects are now receiving attention, there is a need to considerably hasten the entire process.

The incident at Galwan on June 15 has already highlighted two facts. First, the training and motivation of the Indian soldier vis-à-vis his opponent is far superior. Secondly, it is the language of firmness and strength which carries weight with our adversaries. We need to empower our soldiers to meet the challenge of the threats that lie ahead.

Panchkula: A 46-year-old retired Army professional is struggling for his life at the PGI after he shot himself in the head on Friday morning. The man has been identified as Surjit Singh, a resident of Bhainsa Tibba, Mansa Devi Complex. He works as a security guard in a bank. According to the police, he shot himself with his service revolver. However, the reason behind the step is not known yet. He was taken to the Civil Hospital, Sector 6, from where doctors referred him to the PGI. TNS

Bikers snatch woman’s purse

Chandigarh: Two motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched a purse from a woman in Sector 34 here on Thursday. According to the police, the purse contained Rs1,000, a mobile phone, an ATM card and some documents. The victim failed to note down the registration number of the motorcycle. The police have registered a case. TNS

Sector 52 man duped of Rs5.85L

Chandigarh: A resident of Sector 52 here was duped on the pretext of providing maturity claim of an insurance policy. The complainant, Mukesh Kumar of Kajheri, alleged that Rahul Sharma, Rahu Virender, JPS Rawat and Rajeev Nagpal called up on his mobile phone and cheated him of Rs5.85 lakh on the pretext of proving him maturity amount of his Bharti AXA Life Insurance. The police have registered a case. TNS

Probe marked into harassment case

Chandigarh: The UT Police Department marked an inquiry into an anonymous complaint reportedly filed by a woman constable alleging harassment by two senior constables posted at the Operation Cell. The woman cop alleged that the two constables had been harassing her by luring her of giving favourable timings and duty assigned. The complaint went viral after which an inquiry was marked, which will be conducted by a woman DSP. In the complaint, the cop also alleged that the two cops in question started consuming liquor in the office and used abusive language, making it difficult for the women cops to stay there. It was alleged that both cops had been posted at the Operation Cell for around 10 years. TNS

50th anniv of world tour

Chandigarh: The alumni association of DAV College (Lahore), Ambala, on Friday observed the 50th anniversary of the world tour by its students, Jagmohan Singh Kang and KK Gupta. A webinar to share their experiences was also organised. On July 17, 1970, two lads of the college had covered the country onto the global map and ended their tour in December. During their six-month tour, they visited Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland, France, England, Belgium, Germany and Austria besides other countries. TNS

PGI shopkeepers’ issue discussed

Chandigarh: Former city BJP president Sanjay Tandon took up the grievances of the shopkeepers at the PGIMER with Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan. The shopkeepers have been served notices by the PGI authorities to deposit rent during the curfew/lockdown and vacate their respective shops. Tandon had earlier discussed the matter with the PGI director, Jagat Ram, and deputy director Kumar Gaurav and made them aware of the problems of the shopkeepers during the lockdown. TNS

Badnore warns of curfew

Chandigarh: Expressing concern over the increasing number of Covid cases, UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore has appealed to the residents to strictly follow the guidelines issued for containing the spread of the infection, else weekend curfew may be imposed in the city. During the review meeting, the Administrator directed the residents to stay indoors, maintain social distancing and wear masks. TNS

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 18

Three militants were killed in a gunfight at Amshipora in Shopian district on Saturday, officials said.

The gunfight ensued when security forces were cordoning off an orchard following an input about the militants’ presence.

“The security forces were fired upon from the cowshed of the lone house in the orchard. In the firefight, three militants were killed and the operation is in progress,” the Army said in Srinagar.

This is the second gunfight in south Kashmir since Friday. Three militants were killed in a gunfight in Kulgam on Friday.

Windsor (England), July 17

Queen Elizabeth knighted Captain Tom Moore on Friday, recognising the 100-year-old for lifting Britain’s spirits during the gloom of the coronavirus pandemic by raising millions of pounds for health workers.

The World War Two veteran raised a record 33 million pounds ($41 million) by walking 100 laps of his garden with the aid of a walking frame in April in the run-up to his landmark birthday.

At an open-air investiture at Windsor Castle, the 94-year-old Queen smiled as she dubbed Moore on both shoulders with her knighting sword, which previously belonged to her father, George VI.

Moore, in a dark suit, stood holding onto a wheeled walking frame.

“Thank you very much,” Moore told the Queen.

“Wonderful,” the Queen said, before greeting Moore’s family.

“What an amazing amount of money you have raised.” The Yorkshireman became a symbol of British endurance in the face of the adversity of the coronavirus crisis and cheered many with his promise that “the sun will shine again”.

“I could never have imagined this would happen to me,” Moore said in a message posted on Twitter before received the ancient accolade.

“It is such a huge honour and I am very much looking forward to meeting Her Majesty The Queen. It is going to be the most special of days for me.”

Moore, who served in India, Burma and Sumatra during World War Two, quipped earlier this year that having a knighthood would be funny because he would be Sir Thomas Moore — a reference to the Tudor statesman Sir Thomas More.

The monarch has been sheltering at Windsor Castle, the oldest permanently inhabited castle in the world, since March.

Other investitures have been postponed because of the coronavirus and Moore’s knighthood was one of the first official duties the Queen has carried out since the coronavirus lockdown. Reuters