FAUJI INDIA - January 2018

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Another year has passed by and it has had its highs and lows for the Faujis: with a new and a pro-active Army Chief, a new and first ever lady as Defence Minister, Sino-Indian tensions over the Dokalam stand-off at China, Pakistan's shabby handling of Cdr Jadhav's case, Lt Col Purohit getting bail and the MCOCA being dropped, and of course, the governmental apathy towards protesting Veterans who were pushed out from Jantar Mantar.
But our cover story looks at the multiple threats India faces, as with Pakistan's use of terrorists and non-state actors from across the LoC and the growing Chinese threats of incursions from across our disputed borders. It has started a new debate in Indian security circles – 'Prepare for Multi-front Threats'. A scenario though distant but can become a reality, it is certainly a threat that can destabilise India. We examine at length this theory in the ensuing pages by defence experts. It would be prudent on the part of our government to draw useful lessons from this study for our national security establishment.
With the region, one new initiative was the 'big idea' that would reset the strategic calculations in the future; that of the Indo-Pacific as a theatre of cooperation amongst the 'Quad' of four countries: the US, Japan, Australia and India. Though still in its nascent stage, it has begun to make Beijing uneasy. For the moment, China is hoping that its OBOR initiative will provide it the counter, with Pakistan as its lynchpin. And the half-hearted US announcements for Pakistan to mend its ways, only strengthens the China-Pak nexus. And even as US remains stuck in the quagmire of Afghanistan, China has emerged as the peacemaker, as Beijing moves to a plan, while others only flounder. And India's best bet could be a stronger and effective naval presence in the Indian Ocean.