Apr 4, 2010

Indian Defence Ministry Perception of Year Gone By 2009 – 2010

The Ministry ofDefence Report Annual Report covers the period from April 2009 to March 2010.Apart from covering Indo Pakistanand Indo Chinarelations the current report has lauded cooperation with Bangladeshthus, “Relations with Bangladeshhave been strengthened since the restoration of multiparty democracy in thatcountry. Indiais appreciative of the increasing cooperation with Bangladeshin security matters, especially vis-à-vis Indian insurgent groups operatingfrom its territory”. Going further East, the report says that cooperation with Myanmarin security matters is being enhanced, while Indiacontinues developmental activities in the country which lies at thetri-junction of South and South-East Asia. On SriLanka, the report says, there lies “ahistoric opportunity” to find lasting political settlement in NorthernSri Lanka after the conclusion of operations against the LTTE.

            Focusing on the situation in Afghanistan,the report observes that “the security and stability of Afghanistanis critical to India’sown security concerns. The report takes note of the deployment of additional30,000 UStroops in the Af-Pak region by May this year and President Barack Obama’s July2011 timeframe for troop’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

            On Iran’scontroversial Nuclear Programme, the report says that “Indiacontinued to support a peaceful resolution of the issue which would be in theinterest of peace and stability in West Asia. The reportalso takes note of the worldwide economic slowdown, saying that the challengesconfronting the global financial system created strains in the global securityenvironment.

            On the internal security challenges,the focus has shifted from the proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir to the leftwing extremism and insurgency in North-Eastern States. The report says thearrest of the top leadership of ULFA including its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowahas been a major breakthrough. On Jammu & Kashmir, the report says “allparameters of proxy war are at an all time low and the current situationindicated a shift towards normalcy and peace… the ceasefire on the borders /LoC is holding out with a few minor aberrations”. Despite improving securitysituation in the State, infiltration attempts continued. During the period April 01, 2009 to February 28, 2010, 33 infiltration bids werefoiled with 50 terrorists killed in the process. During the same period, 213terrorists were also killed and 68 apprehended in encounters with the ArmedForces.

            On developments within the threeArmed Forces, the report mentions that the setting up of the Integrated SpaceCell (ISC) under the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations),Headquarter IDS as the nodal point for all space related activities of thetri-services was a significant step forward towards modernization. The ISC hasworked out the overall satellite communication requirements of the threeservices till 2020 in coordination with the ISRO. A contract was signed thismonth to equip two regiments of the Indian Army with the BrahMos SupersonicCruise Missile System.

            OnIndia’sindigenous missile programme, the report says that the DRDO plans to conductshortly the 4th Flight Test of Long Range Agni – III missile, capable ofcarrying a 1500 kg war head. The DRDO is also toying with the indigenousAirborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System, based on the Embraer –145 aircraft platform. The first modified aircraft is expected in mid – 2011.[Based on MOD India Press Release].

APRIL 2010