By: Baber Ali Bhatti
The term “Net Security Provider” in the context of India was coined by the US Secretary of Defense at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2009. Robert Gates expressed that “we look to India to be a partner and net provider of security in the Indian Ocean and beyond.” This statement was repeated in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review “as its military capabilities grow, India will contribute to Asia as a net provider of security in the Indian Ocean and beyond”. From that onwards, Indian officials began to build the vision along these lines and invoke this term frequently in their policy making paradigm. Many key officials have made a number of references accordingly in last few years. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asseverated that “India has sought to assume our responsibility for stability in the Indian Ocean Region. We are well positioned, therefore, to become a net provider of security in our immediate region and beyond.” For the most part, the term net security provider is usually meant as enhancing mutual security of more than one country by addressing common security concerns, including dealing with transnational piracy, or responding to disasters, etc. Moreover, it also includes various other central activities such as capacity building, military diplomacy, military assistance and direct deployment of military forces to aid or stabilise a situation. Theoretically India has been vocal of this claim on different forums and endeavouring to translate his claim into leadership. However, India’s claims of net security provider in the Indian Ocean and maritime power & naval capabilities are appears to be paradoxical and can be questioned as well. This article briefly argues the position of India, operational capacity and a hoax of India’s self-perception as ‘net security provider’.
India’s naval capabilities and maritime operational deficiencies are contrary to India’s claim given the requirements of capacity building and military assistance to littoral states of Indian Ocean. There are various incidents which were reported in India media that imply that Indian navy lacks operational capacity and professional skills. For example, INS Sindhurakshak, a Kiloclass submarine, exploded inside the Mumbai naval dockyard on August 14, 2013, killing all 18 on board and later sank. On Feb 26, 2014 a fire incident in the submerged INS Sindhuratna, a Russian-origin diesel-electric submarine commissioned in 1988, ended in the death of two officers and an emergency airlift of seven affected sailors. Indian Naval Chief resigned over this incident. On March 7, 2014 malfunction on board INS Kolkata led to a toxic gas leak killing Commander Kuntal Wadhwa instantly. These incidents are manifestation of the fact that India’s naval modernization is facing the technical and professional complications at home. Without overcoming these deficiencies, India cannot provide capacity building and military assistance to Indian Ocean Region states.
Moreover, Indian Navy’s claim of Net Security Provider in Indian Ocean Region stood busted in last year too when as it abruptly called off its much touted Maritime Security Operation, Operation Sankalp. Operation Sanklap was launched by Indian navy to support its claim of net security provider in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. After the maritime security incidents of attacks on oil tankers in Persian Gulf in last year, Indian navy did not joined US led force. Instead, India deployed two of its surface combatants in the area to provide support for Indian-flagged vessels operating and transiting through Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Thereafter, the Indian navy ships escorting Indian oil tankers have silently left the Gulf of Oman. The ignominious and sudden end of the much publicized Operation Sankalp questions the capability and capacity of the Indian Navy to become a ‘net security provider’ in the Indian Ocean Region. Efforts undertaken by the Indian Navy as part of the Operation Sankalp were projected as mega event indicating Indian wherewithal to secure its sea lanes of communication from the Persian Gulf. The ignominious closure of Operation Sankalp appears to have more to do with deficiencies of Indian naval capabilities than external factors. Contrary to Indian claims of a blue water navy capable to perform net security provider role in the Indian Ocean, its capability falls far short of any such title. Indian navy, instead of making such hoax claim, should acknowledge structural, institutional, operational, technical and professional deficiencies and overcome them to streamline itself with international navies.
-Research Fellow at Maritime Study Forum and an Advocate of Islamabad High Court