National Security Doctrine for Global Reach continues...

Thus drawing on the theory of games, a national security doctrine must define strategic issues, determine the relevant players in each issue, identify each player’s strategic goals, determine the potential actions for each player, and decide the likely structure of the power game such as whether actions will be sequential, simultaneous, one-shot or escalated etc.

But we cannot play this ‘game’ unless we acquire an effective power that will make the other powers feel the consequences of that power. One way for example, to make such power felt, is to develop the Indian navy in a big way, to control the sea lanes between our Nicobar islands and Sumatra in Indonesia. Over 90 per cent of the economic world powers’ commercial sea-traffic passes through the
narrow (90 miles) Malacca Strait. If we can develop naval power to the point where we can police this strait, it will give India enormous power and leverage to influence international events. This has diplomatic implications. It is obvious, for example, that we cannot control the Malacca strait without the active cooperation of Indonesia. However through proper diplomatic moves we can obtain Indonesia’s cooperation and forge a strategic relationship with that country because we have long historical links with these islands through our cultural links of the past.

India’s national security goal thus is clearly to deploy power optimally for: (1) the maintenance of Hindustan’s unity and integrity, and recovery of lost territories, (2) the preservation and sustenance of the core values of the nation state of Hindustan which are enshrined in our Constitution, such as democracy, an enlightened secular society, a federal polity, an egalitarian order, and moral Hindu cultural values, (3) safeguarding peace on our borders, (4) ensuring internal security for economic growth and (5) defending all people of Indian origin anywhere in the world, who are denied basic human rights.

to be continued...

( This is published by Har Anand Publication)