Defence seminar throws light on Indias security

HYDERABAD: Dialogue, dissuasion and defence dominated the discussion at the College of Defence Management, Sainikpuri which hosted a one-day seminar on ‘India’s strategic perspectives in a dynamic global environment’ here on Wednesday.Expert panelists debated the contentious issue of India’s policies with regard to its neighbours and West Asia. Government strategists, media personalities, defence strategists and academicians from different parts of the country participated in the discussion.The challenge posed by China was debated in the backdrop of challenges to India’s security, given the uncertainty in the equation between the two countries.“The three areas of concern for India are maritime, cyber and space. Developments in these areas can pose a fitting challenge to threats posed by China,” said Commodore Uday Bhaskar, director of National Maritime Foundation.Economic challenges posed by the country by dumping cheap goods and China’s move to dam the Brahmaputra were also topics that were raised. The country’s relations with Central and West Asia also was scrutinised and the common point raised was the need for the country to engage in a dialogue with Iran. The increase in piracy in the high seas was also discussed.The final session on US strategy on Afghanistan-Pakistan (AF-PAK) captured the audience with the engaging discussion and diverse opinions generated. Dr. Vidya Shankar Aiyar, media personality and panelist, opined, “India has no vital interests in Afghanistan and most of its military initiatives have been for one-upmanship with Pakistan.India should concentrate on winning hearts and minds in Afghanistan post-2014.”  Furthering the thought, Dr. Y. Jyotsna, professor at department of political science at Osmania University, stressed the need for India to choose the path of development by building infrastructure in Afghanistan as a possible method of winning friends.The importance of India’s strategy after withdrawal of US troops from the country was widely discussed as was the possibility of Afghan National Army falling prey to factionalism.  “Afghanistan has been a lost state and post-2014 it runs the risk of there being a free-for-all in the country,” said V. Sudarshan, executive editor, The New Indian Express.The sessions saw heated debate among panelists and questions raised by students and faculty of CDM carried the discussion forward.