Threat is up,both global and regional: PM

“Broadly speaking,the international strategic and political environment has deteriorated from our point of view. The policies we adopt,whether internally or externally,must factor this in… Nuclear proliferation and nuclear security remain a serious threat in our neighbourhood,” the PM said,addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference of the three services here.

Warning that the nation faces a multitude of threats,including sub-conventional warfare and in cyber security,Singh said: “It is equally the responsibility of the government to equip our armed forces with all the necessary means to meet all threats to our nation,including those which go beyond conventional warfare.”

Singh said India is paying special attention to its immediate neighbourhood. “This is based on our conviction that the task of India’s socio-economic transformation will always be more difficult and less likely to succeed if we do not manage relations with our neighbours properly; more importantly,if we do not give them a substantial stake in India’s economic progress and stability,” Singh said.

The PM emphasised that with major global powers being occupied with their own domestic problems,making global response to international issues more difficult,India needs to be in a position to take action and maintain an independent line of thought.

“Most major powers today are preoccupied with their own domestic problems. This has made the task of effective and coordinated global response to international issues that much more difficult. While we must work with the international community to address global issues,we must also strengthen our own capabilities and be ready to stand on our own feet,whenever required. We must therefore consolidate our own strategic autonomy and independence of thought and action,” he said.

Singh also warned that the armed forces should be geared to respond to the threat of “highly networked,nimble footed and lethal” terror groups and said that cyber and information warfare were a major source of worry.

While maintaining that the fundamentals of the economy remain strong and India expects to achieve a growth rate of close to eight percent this year,Singh said that the armed forces need to optimally use resources for modernisation and equip themselves to meet emerging threats.

“We must focus much more on maritime security,and on securing our coastline,our exclusive economic zone,our island territories and the sea lanes of communication,” he said.

Singh also underlined the need for self-reliance in defence equipment and called for a national effort to reduce dependence on external sources. “We have succeeded in persuading many of the advanced countries to dismantle their export control regimes targeted at us which will give us access to high technology,but we need to gear up our own efforts. Modernisation of the armed forces should not be limited only to acquisition of foreign equipment or foreign technologies,” he said.