India’s National Security Annual Review 2016-17

The global security environment in the last five years has been characterised by a state of ?no war, no peace? among major powers, resulting in a state of uncertainty about their national security objectives. For instance, the US has been concerned about the attitudes of Iran, Russia, North Korea, China, and others, and yet did not expect a direct military conflict with them. On the other hand, China has expanded its naval strategy from a mere ?off-shore defence? to ?open seas protection? and has called for both ?defence and offence? instead of merely ?territorial air defence?, thereby indicating preparedness for the possibility of a military confrontation.

The major powers have been thus groping for suitable responses to their threat perceptions. It is in this kind of a complex and confusing international environment that India, as a rising power, has been called upon to wade through its strategic partnerships with major powers and nurture friendships with various Asian and African countries.

This sixteenth volume of India?s National Security Annual Review offers indispensable information and evaluation on matters pertaining to national security. It undertakesa thorough analysis of the trends to provide a backdrop to India?s engagement with various countries. The volume also discusses persisting threats from China and Pakistan.

With contributions from experts from the fields of diplomacy, academia, and civil and military services, the book will be one of the most dependable sources of analyses for scholars of international relations, foreign policy, defence and strategic studies, and political science, and practitioners alike.

Governing Board. Editorial Board. About the Editor. List of Illustrations. List of Tables. List of Contributors. Preface1. Introduction I. National Security Review2. National Security Environment (i) Global Security Trends (ii) External Security Situation – I (US, China, Russia, Europe, Japan, Pakistan) (iii) External Security Situation – II (Asia, Africa) (iv) Internal Security Developments (v) India’s Defence Initiatives II. India’s Security Zone3. India–Iran Relations: Potential and Challenges 4. India’s Gulf Agenda: From Strategic Diffidence to Active Equidistance 5. New Vistas in India–Myanmar Relations 6. Indian Ocean Strategy and Vulnerabilities III. Challenges for India7. ‘Make in India’ for Military Needs: A View from the Private Sector 8. Water Security: Need for Paradigm Shift 9. Islamic Radicalisation in South Asia 10. Strategic Motivations for India’s Cybersecurity: Risks, Capabilities and Promises IV. Assessing Internal Security11. Youth, Employment and National Security 12. Agricultural Productivity in National Security Planning 13. Border Management for National Security 14. Left-Wing Extremist Movement: Dynamics and Complexities V. Changing Security Environment 15. China’s Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) Strategy 16. India’s Strategic Landscape, Hybrid Threats and Likely OperationalScenarios 17. Global Governance Reforms: Prospects for India VI. National Security Assessment: Unmitigated Threats, Diffident Responses. Index

Satish Kumar is former Professor of Diplomacy at Jawaharlal Nehru University and currently Director at the Foundation for National Security Research, New Delhi, India. As an eminent scholar in the field of International Relations, he has held several distinguished positions, including Counselor of International Relations, Academy for World Watch, Shanghai; Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Peace and Conflicts Studies, New Delhi; MEA Chair, United Service Institution of India, New Delhi; India Chair, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent; Visiting Professor in International Relations, University of Turin, Italy; Visiting Fellow, Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley; Visiting Fellow, School of Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C.; and Director, Indian Foreign Service Probationers Training Course conducted by the School of International Studies, JNU. He participated in numerous international conferences and delivered special lectures at several universities and think-tanks across the world. Professor Kumar was also a columnist for the Hindustan Times (1971–78). Since 1991, he has been a member of the Indian delegation to the India–Pakistan Track II dialogue called the ‘Neemrana Initiative’. He has authored/edited over two dozen books and numerous research articles.