A Heavy Load

Surely, a country with a 15,106-kmlong border with testy neighbours needs to spend more than a mere 1.58% of its GDP on defence?

- Manish Kumar Jha

IMAGINE ANOTHER DOKLAM-LIKE CRISIS at the border. Could such an event perhaps even jeopardise the narrative on nuclear deterrence? India shares a border, often porous, with seven nations, of whom some are hostile. The two overtly hostile neighbours, China and Pakistan, together share a border with India that is 6,811 km long, of which 3,488 km lie along China and 3,323 km along Pakistan.

Statistics with the Indian Army show 1,684 casualties in combatting terrorists infiltrating the Indian borders between 2005 and 2017. These brave soldiers laid down their lives fighting during the frequent ceasefire violations, in counter-insurgency operations and in thwarting terrorist plots that targeted parts of India beyond the borders. General Ved Prakash Malik, who was India’s 19th Chief of Army Staff, rues that territorial defence would be India’s primary concern in the light of the prevailing challenges. “India has to be a strategic stabiliser,” says General Malik. “We are in the middle. We have so many nations around. I believe our stability is most important for the subcontinent,” he says emphatically.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says in a report that the “overall capability of the (Indian) Army is limited by inadequate logistics, and shortages of ammunition and spare parts”. In a few months a new government will take on the mantle. Will it respond to the challenges the Indian Armed Forces face in their call of duty? Will it modernise the defence forces and add to their firepower? BW Businessworld attempts to read the cards on the table.