A force to reckon with

Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd)
Former Northern Army Command Chief

Today, as we celebrate the 71st Army Day, the Indian Army can be justifiably proud of its past record of having served the nation with distinction and honour, while retaining its secular and apolitical character. However, it is also an opportune time to consider the many challenges that face the Army as it looks at the year ahead. 

The Army’s primary responsibility is to guard the borders, and these borders remain troubled. The LOC with Pakistan is extremely hostile. As per reports, 2018 witnessed 2,936 ceasefire violation cases, the highest in 15 years. The latest martyrdom of Major Nair and another soldier in an IED attack is a grim reminder of the dangers that our soldiers are exposed to on a daily basis.

In the absence of any diplomatic engagement, only the guns will do the talking. Unfortunately, this is the bloody reality of the LOC in the foreseeable future. Faced with this, the Army will have to move urgently to minimise casualties by better individual protective gear, modern counter-IED equipment, advanced surveillance systems and an effective ‘smart’ fence that detects infiltration. Each death on the LOC raises high emotions among the citizens that further restrict political and diplomatic space. Some way has to be found around this vicious cycle of death and retribution.

After Doklam, there has been relative calm on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. However, this should not lull us into a sense of complacency. Two neighbouring rising powers cannot have a completely harmonious relationship. As John Mearsheimer reminds us in The Tragedy of Great Power Politics: ‘Even when a great power achieves a distinct military advantage over its rivals, it continues looking for chances to gain more power. The pursuit of power stops only when hegemony is achieved.’

An outbreak of conflict with China is unlikely, but Chumar and Doklam-type incidents are very real, and fuelled by nationalistic fervour, such incidents can take on a larger dimension. With superior Chinese infrastructure along the LAC, our Army remains at a disadvantage in many areas, particularly Arunachal Pradesh. The present government has given a push to the building of roads along the LAC but the pace remains unsatisfactory. According to the Border Roads Organisation website, by January 20, 2017, the East Directorate had achieved only about 30 per cent of its road construction targets for the financial year 2016-17. There is a need for a comprehensive plan for speeding up infrastructure development.

In internal security, J&K remains the biggest challenge. The situation is worrying, and we should not quote selective data to support claims that things are on the mend. The Army often states that its job is restricted to bringing the security situation under control so that political steps can be initiated for conflict resolution. While this statement is not incorrect, this compartmentalisation of strategy has not proved helpful. In the past, on many occasions, the Army has brought the situation to near normalcy, but the opportunity was squandered as corresponding political and governance issues were not addressed. 

The Army leadership must insist on the framing of a coherent government strategy for J&K that combines the security, economic, political and information domains. In the preparation of this strategy, the Army must be a major stakeholder. The political leadership ultimately has the final word, but Army leaders, with their vast experience in the state, must offer frank, unbiased and professional advice. 

Internally, the Army is considering an ambitious plan to reduce its manpower. In the time of stressed military budgets, revenue costs are prohibiting modernisation plans, leaving the Army with a majority of vintage equipment. The raising of the Mountain Strike Corps has put added pressure, as in the absence of a dedicated budget for the raising, the War Wastage Reserve was depleted to equip the new corps. 

There is no option but to trade off manpower for modernisation. The Army should seize this opportunity for restructuring and reforming itself to fight future wars. This requires a deeper look at emerging threats, and a review of the Army’s current doctrine, strategy, and tactics. The government must support this transformation by not viewing it merely as a money-saving exercise but one that will enhance national security. This will require a comprehensive long-term plan and not one that promotes ideas like selling off cantonment lands.

The Army must also renew its focus on people. The men and women are our greatest asset and must remain highly motivated. Some current trends are worrying. More and more of our officers and men are approaching the civil courts. Dissatisfied officers from certain corps appealed against what they considered to be an unfair distribution of Colonel’s vacancies as recommended by the AV Singh Committee. The arguments in the SC took on a somewhat Arms vs Services tenor that left a bad taste. 

Last year, over 300 officers and soldiers approached the SC over the dilution of AFSPA. The court rejected their contention, but their worries cannot be wished away. There is obviously no ban on the rights of soldiers to appeal before courts and tribunals, but if such cases increase, it could chip away at the faith in the military organisation. Officers and soldiers must feel that they will get justice from their Army. This is squarely a priority task for the Army’s leadership.

Finally, issues like women in combat role, and decriminalisation of same-sex relations and adultery are some of the matters that the Army will have to grapple with. The Indian Army has its own unique ethos and culture, but these sensitive concerns cannot be casually dismissed without a serious internal debate. Dealing with challenges defines the true mettle of an organisation.