Security environment around and within India remains highly uncertain The Indian rulers have been shaken by the recent developments in Afghanistan. However efforts are being made to minimize the impact Differences within militant ranks in Afghanistan are proving a God-send for India Delhi is trying to have a toe-hold in Kabul and its intelligence agency R.A.W. could be expected to be doing a lot of home work to drive a wedge among the various militant groups. The Afghan government is well advised to be vigilant against Delhi’s designs. President Mojadidi has done well to make his country’s position vis-a-vis Kashmir clear. He wants Kashmir’s destiny to be settled by the people of Kashmir themselves. That amounts to nothing but plebiscite a welcome stand But the Afghan government could not remain averse to the plight of other minorities in India such as Sikhs of Punjab and Christians of northeastern states.

On the Pakistan front India has suddenly taken a so-called political “initiative” of inviting the Pak army chief General Asif Nawaz Janjua. What could be the meaning of this invitation? Indian defence minister says the Pak army chief will see for himself that India has nothing to hide. Pakistan should know that the Indian Brahman says what he does not mean and does what he does not say. One must look for some other reasons Is India reshuffling its internal and external security arrangements and wants time to consolidate its positions? Does it want Pakistan not to notice the strategy and its military leaders to while away time? Or is the aim to impress the Japanese and public opinion on the eve of Indian prime minister’s visit to that country about Delhi’s good intentions in south East Asia?

The Indian President Venkataraman is currently in China. The head of State of India has gone there for the first time. Later defence minister Sharad Pawar will visit Beijing. Although the Chinese have effected a cut of a million soldiers in their vast army power India has refused to follow suit. India is not moving in the direction of a political detente with China and Indias defence minister has ruled out military cooperation with that country. It is however different with the U.S.A. with which Delhi has been slowly but surely developing a politico-military alliance. This is possible only if Delhi views China as a potential military threat.

Within India the peoples movements in Kashmir Punjab and Assam have taken further roots Indian authorities have been alleging “foreign interference.” The countries accused include not only Pakistan but also Bangladesh Burma and even Nepal. There are allegations that Sikh militants in the Terai region of U.P. have been getting arms from across Nepal. There are reports of a fresh spurt in armed dissidence in the north-eastern states. India is therefore pressing its Border Security Force to these regions to guard against the so-called infiltration. If India is trying to buy temporary peace with China and Pakistan it must be a wary of the renewed flare-up in the internal unrest with peasantry in Punjab Haryana and western U.P. refusing to part with wheat at the officially controlled rates.

Instead of politically resolving most of the internal and external problems the Indian Brahman rulers are busy strengthening the armed forces. India is likely to acquire Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft for Rs 3000 crore. Efforts are still on to clinch the rocket deal with Russia despite opposition from the U.S.A. and other western countries. Within the country the B.S.F is being inducted to the Indo-Nepal Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Burma border while more and more of the C.R.P.F. is being recruited Indian newspapers are full of advertisements inviting applications from candidates to join one or the other armed forces

Against this scenario any help to India by the U.S.A. Japan and the U.K. will amount to conniving with its militarization of that country and not helping the economic growth. But evidently these countries are not over-much worried so long as India provides a ready domestic market for western goods and services. But if the U.S.A. wants to keep India as one piece to serve as its business preserve it is sadly mistaken. The security environment within and outside is too hot to help the attainment of these aims.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 29, 1992