A lot of attention is being paid to the fact that India will be spending around $40 billion on military modernisation in the next five years and is buying hardware useful for projecting power beyond its shores, such as C-130 transport planes, airborne refuelling tankers, and aircraft carriers. But such purchases in and of themselves do not imply a clear sense of purpose. The armed forces are today operating in a strategic void and under weak leadership, unable to fully comprehend the changing strategic and operational milieu. At a time when Indian interests are becoming global in nature, India must update its approach. It is up to the civilian leadership to come up with a credible policy on the use of armed forces and it is up to the military leadership to provide them with sound guidance. India has always been a nation of great ambition. But it is not clear if the Indian elites understand the implications of their nation’s rise. India can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines of unfolding global events that impinge directly on vital Indian interests. What is the point of building muscle, if we shy away from a fight.

The writer teaches at King’s College, London

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