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| 2008: The return of ‘military options’ | | | India considered using its military might against terrorists operating from Pakistani soil as the year, which also saw the Navy flexing its muscles in the international waters to check piracy, came to a close.
Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh categorically stated that India did not want a war with Pakistan, the government had looked at the military option in the wake of the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks.
As the armed forces geared up along the western borders and the Line of Control, the Navy projected its strength when it went pro-active against the audacious pirates off Somali coast in November.
The Navy's sinking of a pirate vessel sent out a strong message to the world of India's resolve to root out the menace that has threatened sea lanes vital for global trade.
A government decision on October 23 gave powers to the Navy to act against the sea bandits, who had hijacked over 100 ships this year, and in the two months since then, the warships have successfully repulsed three attacks on merchant vessels and nabbed 23 pirates.
The IAF, on its part, showcased it strategic reach by flying Su-30 MKI air superiority fighter jets and IL-78 air-to-air refuellers to NATO air exercise 'Red Flag' in the US to pit its pilots and machines against air forces of the US, France and South Korea in September, and came out with flying colours.
The Army successfully validated its "Cold Start" war doctrine during 'Exercise Brazen Chariots' using firepower and superior tactics in the Pokhran range in the Rajasthan desert in March, as defence attaches from foreign missions watched in awe.
The only blot in the text-book execution of the exercise objective was the loss of lives of three jawans in a freak mishap during the live fire-power demonstration.
In the wake of the Mumbai terror strikes that claimed over 183 lives, armed forces commandos joined the security personnel in eliminating the terrorists in the western megapolis.
Just after this operation, India came close to trying the "Cold Start" doctrine, developed from experiences in troop mobilisation during Operation 'Parakram' after 2001 December Parliament terror attack.
"Cold Start" refers to the military doctrine under which a smaller formation in the borders carry out a short, but quick offensive at the enemy's vital installation, in coordination with the IAF.
The Navy's plans to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia in 2010 for testing India's submarine launched ballistic missile was hit after an Akula-II class vessel, 'Nerpa', encountered a mishap during sea trials in Russia in November.
The 1.5-million-strong defence forces of the country also had their own moments of despair, when "anomalies" remained to be addressed by the Sixth Central Pay Commission report that was implemented in September.
The pay-related issues led to a series of unsavoury developments and heart-burn among the armed forces and the bureaucracy when the three service chiefs took an unprecedented stand refusing to accept the new pay scales approved by the government.
Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, along with Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major and Army chief General Deepak Kapoor appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene. The PM formed a ministerial committee under External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to address the issues. This committee has given its final report on the forces' demands. But a decision is awaited.
The government in October approved the implementation of the Phase-II of the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee report providing for 1,896 new posts of colonels, brigadiers, major generals and lieutenant general, aimed at career progression.
In July, it created the Armed Forces Tribunal at Delhi with eight regional benches to hear the service-related grievances of the personnel.
The government also approved permanent commission for future women officers in the three armed forces, but restricted it to certain non-combat services such as the Judge Advocate General branch and Education Corps.
In August, government released the fresh Defence Procurement Procedure, 2008, which aimed at rationalising licensing condition, introducing offset banking, listing defence products and exempting offsets of acquisitions under fast track procedures.
The document, which became operational in September, also aimed at giving a boost to indigenous defence industry, encouraging competition by broadening the vendor base.
India, in fact, plans to spend over USD 100 billion in the next five years for defence procurement, both from the domestic and foreign markets. |
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