A fresh security strategy is overdue
inputs for policy formulation to the government. The university could also be utilised to organise presentations to the parliamentarians, leadership of various departments of the government and advisors on critical security issues from time to time. The fourth estate, which plays an important role in the functioning of democracy, can also be empowered through education at the university on matters of higher defence management. In the long run, INDU will certainly help strengthen our strategic culture, which is vital for the well being and growth of a nation. Being a set of time-tested and shared beliefs, values, and norms, strategic culture guides the behaviour of national leadership and strategic community in making pragmatic policy choices.
It’s about time that we also go in for an empowered Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as recommended by the GOM to efficiently manage military affairs. Perhaps the strengthening of the strategic culture will help decision makers to understand the import of this recommendation. Large organisations, like the military, consist of intricate networks of staff, functional and operating components. Its management requires special expertise and a full-time commitment. Moreover, because war fighting is a specialised field, it requires an in-depth understanding of the science, art and dynamics of war. Strategic military leaders acquire the necessary skills and competencies over decades. Multi-agency mechanisms can never compensate for a CDS. The military domain must be left to the military leadership. Multi-agency mechanisms should be suitably utilised for the implementation and monitoring of national strategy. An empowered CDS will be able to develop a pragmatic architecture for the integrated tri-service theatre commands. In addition, he will be able to provide singlepoint military advice to the government, administer the strategic forces and streamline the joint planning and acquisition processes.
As an emerging great power, we as a nation cannot allow the status quo mindset to creep back in to our security system. The recommendations of the GOM must be consciously taken to their logical conclusion with an enhanced sense of urgency.
General Bikram Singh is the former Chief of Army Staff. The views expressed are personal