24 January 2014

Defence Cooperation with Afghanistan

23/01/2014

Strategic Perspective

Afghanistan is of immense strategic importance to India in view of its unique geo-strategic location and being in an area that forms a critical part of India's strategic neighbourhood. Afghanistan has an important bearing on India's national security concerns and can serve as a crucial link for furtherance of India's national interests in the Central Asian Republics Region. The fact that needs to be noted is that there will always be clash of interests over Afghanistan between Pakistan and India as Pakistan, since its inception, considers Afghanistan as part of its legitimate strategic depth in any Indo-Pak conflict scenario. Therefore, as a strategic compulsion, there will always be an endeavour on the part of Pakistan to exercise influence and seek a friendly government/ruling dispensation in Afghanistan. Thus, the inherent limitation that such Pak perspective imposes upon India in pursuance of her national interests and exercising influence in Afghanistan is the denial of direct land and air access to India by Pakistan. These are fundamental factors and hard ground realities which must be considered in any policy formulation for Afghanistan.

The prevailing scenario in Afghanistan has grave security implications for India, as the situation is bound to deteriorate with the withdrawal of the ISAF and drawdown of the US forces from Afghanistan by end 2014. Thus, the need of the hour for India is to foresee as to how to favourably position herself in the post US/ISAF scenario, fill the strategic vacuum and counter Pakistan in asserting its influence. It is imperative that India's Afghanistan Policy must encompass the political, economic, diplomatic and military dimensions. This entails a synergetic approach both in letter and spirit between the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministries of External Affairs, Defence and Finance so as to drive policy initiatives in the most cost effective manner to achieve the best possible pay offs .

Brief Overall Policy Review

India's political support and commitment to the Afghan Government has consistently been very strong and has recently been formalised by the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement of October 2011 with a view to achieving India's core interests of security, peace and stability in Afghanistan. India, however, needs to enhance its aid of $2 billion for under taking further development and reconstruction/ rebuilding projects. Due to the non-availability of direct access to Afghanistan through Pakistan, the access through Iran via Chabahar and Bandar Abbas Ports is to be developed. In view of the recent nuclear agreement between US and Iran underway, India should be in a position to leverage with Iran the opening of the land route to Afghanistan. However, India must expedite development of Chabahar Port, which has been delayed inordinately. This will remain one of India's most vital national interests for a very long time.

Enhancement of Defence Cooperation

The next aspect is the military dimension of the policy, which presently is limited in scope. India has no presence in terms of military training teams, military advisors and repair & maintenance facilities. India is already providing pre-commissioning training to Afghan cadets in Indian Military Academy, training Afghan National Army (ANA) officers and soldiers on specialised military courses and conducting short capsules on counter insurgency (CI) operations. Non-lethal military equipment like trucks, light vehicles and ambulances have been provided. However, the Afghan request for lethal military equipment for the ANA remains unfulfilled, despite Mr Karzai asking for the same. These include T-72 tanks, 105 mm artillery guns, 82 mm mortars, an AN 32 medium lift transport aircraft, two squadrons each of M-17 and attack helicopters and heavy vehicles. Afghanistan does not require small arms since these have been provided by NATO but is desperate for heavy weapon platforms as it is wary of Pakistan military threat from across the 2500 km long Durand Line and sees India as one of the possible sources to meet this requirement.

India, in its long-term national interest needs to reconsider its policy on this issue; the sensitivity of Pakistan should not be the limiting factor in this regard. India has the indigenous manufacturing capability for tanks, artillery guns and mortars required by Afghanistan and should provide them in a phased manner over a period of say two years. Immediately a consignment of a small quantity must be sent so as show our commitment. AN 32 aircraft can be given from the existing Indian Air Force fleet. A few overhauled /refitted M-17 helicopters could also be given.

Training & operational effectiveness is an imperative for capacity/capability building of ANA. Following assistance can be offered by India:-
  • Locating a large Indian Military Training Team headed by a 3/2 Star General and organised to also undertake advisory and mentoring role.
  • Conducting at least 4-5 battalion level counter insurgency oriented joint exercises annually with ANA. These could be conducted initially in India. ANA participating troops should be air lifted in strategic lift air crafts (C-17, C-130J) of the IAF.
  • Conducting specialised courses for ANA Intelligence Corps Officers and NCOs. This will enable ANA to build up its intelligence capabilities which is vital in a CI/CT scenario.
  • Setting up of maintenance and repair facilities for military equipment.
  • Setting up of ordnance factory for production of small arms ammunition. As part of defence cooperation India should also utilise its amphibious and strategic lift capabilities available with Indian Navy and IAF. This will give India the opportunity to validate its expeditionary operations capability for power projection.
Maj Gen Rajesh Singh (Retd) is a NOIDA based defence analyst.

Views expressed are personal

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