Need for constant vigil

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar was candid in admitting that lethargy has set in. He senses a kind of relaxation in Army troops which are supposed to be on an eternal vigil and he could be right since the less intense atmosphere of camps seems to make for a drop in the level of extreme vigil needed in posts along the border. In at least two attacks, in Uri and Nagrota, camps of troops have been found to be vulnerable, with ingress made somewhat easily by intruding terrorists. There is a clear need to look at the security of sensitive bases close to the border. If India can carry out surgical strikes across the LoC, it stands to reason that Pakistan would attempt them too, even if they are carried out by non-state actors. The loss of at least 20 officers and men to terror attacks since India’s surgical strike points to a need for smart technologies for perimeter protection, the employment of which the minister admits has been delayed.

The atmosphere is such India has to be the one on eternal vigil and not only on land. It is in this connection that the Indian Navy’s unsentimental decision to not have the Tejas on its aircraft carriers makes sense. It is a matter of pride that the light combat aircraft is indigenously built, but it is too heavy for operational efficiency on the sharp takeoff requirements off a flight deck and the Navy will look elsewhere. The blue water force also has plans to beef up its submarine strength to a strategic high in the next six years to cope with China’s increasing fleet, some of which will also be placed close to India to protect the Gwadar Port in Balochistan. Such is the geopolitics of the region that preparedness is a watchword from which there can be no let-up for India.