India needs ‘whole-of-govt approach’ for ‘strategic uncertainties’: Army Chief

The time has come for India to undertake a “whole-of-government approach” in decisively confronting the “strategic uncertainties” looming on its horizon in addition to non-traditional threats like pandemics, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane has stated, strongly pitching for broadening the nation’s nationwide safety doctrine.

Talking about complicated geo-political energy play in India’s neighbourhood, Gen Naravane stated the Indian armed forces are decided to “cement” the nation’s repute as a web safety supplier within the area.

“There is an entire spectrum of strategic uncertainties that looms on the horizon and a whole-of-government approach is the need of the hour to deal with them,” the Army Chief instructed PTI.

Though Gen Naravane didn’t elaborate, his feedback got here within the backdrop of Pakistan-supported Taliban’s intention for a job in energy construction in Afghanistan and China’s persistent efforts to increase navy ties with nations like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and the Maldives.

“In dealing with issues of global nature, the armed forces with their inherent capabilities and capacities will cement India’s reputation as a net security provider in the region, taking security as a holistic concept,” Gen Naravane stated.

India is learnt to have been fearful over the extraordinarily fragile and dynamic state of affairs in Afghanistan after the US sealed a historic take care of the Taliban offering for withdrawal of American troops from the war-ravaged nation.

The Army Chief additional stated that India must broaden its understanding of nationwide safety and should study non-traditional threats like pandemics “de-novo” as they’ve the potential to inflict extreme injury on the nation. “We need to act and prepare ourselves accordingly.” He stated the “traditional threats” going through India remained “unabated” and the armed forces are absolutely geared as much as take care of them.

Gen Naravane stated that there was no let up in Indian Army’s “posture” whereas guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China due to the coronavirus pandemic. The LAC is the de-facto border between the 2 nations.

“Along the LAC, patrolling continues as before though we have put the ceremonial border personnel meetings on hold. There is also greater reliance on hotlines,” he stated.

The Chief of Army Staff stated the trouble has been to stick to the directives issued by each the governments following two casual summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“As far as our deployment along the border with China is concerned, the focus is on mutual understanding and respect for the sanctity of LAC and ensuring that no untoward incident takes place due to our differing perceptions of the LAC,” he stated.

“Our focus has been to ensure all misunderstandings are mitigated amicably through discussions and existing mechanisms,” Gen Naravane stated.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as a part of southern Tibet whereas India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the ultimate decision of the boundary challenge, it’s mandatory to keep up peace and tranquillity within the border areas.

Gen Naravane stated troops deployed alongside borders in distant and excessive altitude areas are at minimal danger of getting contaminated by the coronavirus because the areas are inaccessible to atypical folks.

He stated solely troops who’re medically validated as being coronavirus-free are being allowed to exchange the personnel deployed in key formations and frontiers.

“You have to keep in mind that in most of these places, due to the nature of deployment and living arrangements, social distancing is not feasible. However, wherever possible, social distancing and hygiene measures are being strictly enforced,” he stated.

Gen Naravane stated guaranteeing security of his power from the pandemic is his foremost precedence because the Army will be capable to help the nation in coping with the problem if the troops are combating match.

“The need for maintaining social distancing and hygiene norms assumes significant importance in the forces because of the higher density of personnel living inside barracks and the increased attendant possibility of the virus spreading within the forces,” he stated.

He stated all of the models and formations have been issued complete directions to keep up social distancing wherever possible and cling to highest hygiene requirements.