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 Kapil Kak,
Defence Expert
Air Marshal ( Retired) Kapil Kak, currently Joint Director, Centre for Air Power Studies, Delhi-based thinktank, formerly joint director, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis and Air Adviser to the Chief of Air Staff.
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| Does the India army have all the modern weapons, security and communication system to defend our borders. Are our borders safe? |
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-Shailini (shailini@moralfibre-fabrics.com) |
| Modernisation is a phased, ongoing process, and our armed forces today have the requisite military capabilities to defend India's long borders against any conventional attacks by either China or Pakistan. The Kargil conflict (1999), in which India successfully countered Pakistani army intrusions, is proof enough. The problem, however, lies in the fact that the best of conventional military hardware could prove problematic against sneak intrusions by highly-indoctrinated and suicidal terrorist groups determined to breach multi-layered border defences. This is where vigilant in-land internal security structures - State police, dedicated counter-terrorism forces crisis-management teams and disaster-mitigation mechanisms assume great salience. Mumbai's 26/11 demonstrated some of our critical weakness in this regard. |
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| Other Q&As |
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Shouldn’t the state governments in India support the Centre to make the NIA effective enough to combat terror?
-Manoj (rmanoj@gmail.com)
- Yes, the State Governments must support the Centre with regard to the NIA without any reservations. But the problem is a complex one. Our federal polity invests the State Governments and Centre with the responsibilities to combat security threats like terrorism, which have both internal and external security dimensions. Kautalya had alluded to this in his book Arthashastra. But the problem of inadequate Centre-State interface arises when counter terrorism investigative processes get 'politicised' and are misused. Also, given the increasing scale, magnitude and technological sophistication of contemporary terrorism, an objective and unpoliticised mutually supported Centre-State framework alone can enable the NIA to fly.
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Q: Don’t you think the government has ignored the security measures at the maritime borders of the country?
-Rakesh Jha (jharakesh12rediffmail.com)
- It would not be fair to assert that the Government has ignored security measures to safeguard maritime borders of the country. India has a 7,500 Km long coast line. Ensuring security against terrorist intrusion for every inch of this coast line is indeed a daunting proposition. Yet, as Mumbai 26/11 palpably indicated, we have a long way to go before intelligence / situational awareness, command and control and 'responder' forces can be effectively coordinated and synergized to bring to bear military capabilities against criminals and terrorist intruders, who are out to wreck India's societal tranquility and security.
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Q: Who should be blamed for the terror attacks that took place in Mumbai? Shouldn’t the navy chief resign for the security failure?
-Rahul Dhingra(dhingra.r@sify.com)
- SThis crucial time in India's security challenges and their management is not one for blame games. The Naval Chief's resignation would be both uncalled for and counter productive. As the media have widely reported, where successive Governments have failed over last two or three decades is in not having in place focused and actionable intelligence generation on likely terrorist intrusions or their activities internally. The inputs must, then go the forces who would need it most. The third step, is that of effective coordination between various agencies involved viz State police, State marine policing wings, revenue agencies, fisheries departments, customs, coast guard, central intelligence, state intelligence and finally the, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy and NSG who may be required to respond either at sea or inland, depending on the locale. These critical interfaces have invariably proven hopelessly inadequate, and are now sought to be meaningfully addressed post 26/11.
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Q: Which country is strong on paper, if you compare the quality of weapons both India and Pakistan have in the armoury?
-Sadhna(sadhna.m@sify.com)
- I feel it is time we stopped drawing a comparison between the military capacities and capabilities between a near great power like India and an almost failing state like Pakistan. You should, however, feel reassured that India is streets ahead in every aspect and the gap in favour of India would increasingly wideni in the years ahead, whether in terms of combat aircraft, tanks, warships, submarines or force multipliers.
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| Join the War on Terror today |
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| You can also |
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SMS ‘WAR’ to52424
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| In case you come across any suspicious activity or have any information to tell the Anti-Terror Squad, |
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| Dial All India Toll-Free
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| Terror Helpline No.1090
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| The identity of the caller will be kept a secret.
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Here's a list of emergency numbers and addresses in 6 important cities.
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We bring together stories, videos and pictures on terror attacks across the nation.
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India Reacts
The prime purpose of the terrorists is to shatter the peace and unity of the country. The only way to defeat them is by defeating their mindless purpose-- stand with determined resilience with the people of the country irrespective of communal, linguistic and regional barriersn.
Swarnima Bhattacharya
, Lucknow
Much has been spoken by the leaders, but no concrete work has been done so far. The ministry should not be headed by any politician but by some retired police or preferably some military official.
Shailendra Vikrant , Chandigarh
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Headlines Today anchors pledge to fight terror
Are we safe anywhere?
