STRATEGIC SECURITY IMPERATIVES:INDIAN OCEAN REGION -- Gp Capt TP Srivastava

Date:05 May 2026

" Ongoing US-Israel offensive has opened an entirely new dimension of control of water ways in proximity.

I wrote above article on 23rd March, 2015 emphasising the need for India to demonstrate controlling capability over STRAITS OF MALACCA. I sent the article to our valued THINK TANKS viz IDSA, USI. None deemed it fit to publish. Original unedited article is pasted below for your kind perusal." -- Gp Capt TP Srivastava 

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Introduction

A look at the globe or the world map shows Indian subcontinent as a small entity embedded by huge water bodies in the east, west and south and pressed by a huge land mass in the north. Coincidentally, almost all projections used for drawing the world maps were invented by Europeans. There is, perhaps, not a single projection that was invented by an Indian. This has always intrigued me as to why the Indian intelligencia never thought of drawing the world map I could be wrong in my assumption. Sometimes I wonder as to why persons of eminence like Mercator never realized that the projection that he invented showed 3.2 million square kilometer of Indian subcontinent at least four to five times smaller than Alaska, when  he knew that facts were otherwise. Merely to pass it off as aberration due to their relative location on globe does not appear to be convincing. Was it then a deliberate attempt to show Indian subcontinent as some thing inconspicuous and insignificant? The answer may never be known. In two dimensional projection the size of the subcontinent shrinks even more.

A closer look at the map would reveal a totally different picture. Our obsession with the north-west is so overpowering even today that whenever an Indian talks about external threat to Indian security, one invariably starts with Pakistan .Nothing could be farther from truth. Recorded history reveals that although lot of invaders came from north-west, but essentially they were plunderers .Only the Moghul empire entrenched their feet firmly. But those, who came from south via the sea route came as rulers. Be it the Dutch, French or British .In my opinion every Indian including policy makers suffer from a disease, which I term as North-West Centricity. Trauma of partition, three full fledged war with Pakistan and of course the Chinese invasion of 1962 have only acted as the cementing adhesive on the psyche of every Indian alive that he/she refuses to look elsewhere. Unfortunately military is no exception,   except perhaps the Indian Navy. But their way of looking south is more comical than strategic. To make an extremely valid point that India should look southwards, the map of India is invariably projected with the peninsula projecting upwards during presentations by the Navy. I hope my naval friends do not take my observation as anything but in a lighter vain.

Indian apathy towards south and east needs no elaboration. Eastern region that is being referred to is what lies east of chicken neck i.e. Siliguri corridor.  .Few facts listed below shall exemplify the facts:-

land forces deployed in the east are relatively lesser equipped. In fact the eastern army was called ‘FORGOTTEN ARMY’ by my army friends  in the Higher Command course and they were not joking.

All three strike corps of Indian Army are western border oriented, perhaps more due to terrain than strategic military considerations.

The IAF deploys her most modern resources decidedly west of around 85 degrees east. Had we chosen to use the then existing IAF resources in 1962, we could have played havoc with Chinese. This fact is being stated because the IAF aircraft would have operated in an environment of total AIR SUPREMACY. We, perhaps, are the only country that chose not to use existing military resources when attacked by a neighbouring country Little Coco island was taken over by Myanmar. We learnt about it only after a bulletin was issued. Myanmar has now allowed Chinese to set up a listening post and a radar station, barely 65 km north of Andamans.

There is hardly any radar or air defence cover existing either in the east or south, island territories in particular.

We still do not have a fighter wing based in the island territory, strategic importance of which needs no emphasis.

Our lack of concern towards our island territories have resulted in various claims by other nations eg New Moore island by Bangladesh, Nicobar Island by Indonesia and Narcondam island by Myanmar.

Regional Geography

Indian ocean is the third largest amongst the oceans behind Pacific and Atlantic and is the only ocean named after a country. Southward jutting Indian peninsula gives Indian ocean a characteristic “M” shape. Some of the most strategic waterways of the world connect Indian ocean with the rest of the world in the east, west and south. These waterways are:-

Malacca, Sunda and Lombok Strait in the east.

Straits of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb in the west.

Cape of Good Hope in the south.

The geography is far from being favourable to India as a nation. Andaman and Nicobar island stretch for nearly 680 km from north to south and are nearly 1300 km from Indian mainland. In fact the island territories are closer to Indonesia and Thailand. Little Coco island which is now an alien territory is merely 45 km from Landfall island.

More than 70% of world oil trade passes through the Indian ocean. This figure is likely to go up in foreseeable future, if it has  not risen already. Briefly the Indian Ocean Region can be represented statistically in the following manner:-

Area                                            73.4  Million Sq Km

Population                                   2 Billion(1/3^rd of World)

Water  Area                                1/5^th of the World

Cargo Movement                         35% of bulk cargo

                                                              54%of container cargo

                                                              70% of oil cargo

The ocean is surrounded by land on three sides and links Atlantic and Pacific oceans and most importantly provides economical routes for shipping. The three most important parameters that drive the world economy are available in abundance in the IOR viz strategic minerals in Southern Africa, oil in the middle east and cheap labour in ASEAN countries and neighbourhood. Let us now look at the presence of military in the IOR

Military Deployment in IOR

If we look at the map and move northwards from southern tip of IOR,following facts emerge:-

Reunion,Mayotte and Tromelin island chain is controlled by France.

Diego Garcia is one of the largest military bases manned by UK/USA.In addition Chagos island is controlled byUK.

Australians occupy Cocos island.

Warships of US and Russian Navy patrol the waters in the IOR on a regular basis US forces in the gulf are at a stones throw from IOR.

To say that US forces dominate IOR would be an understatement. Figures given below speak for themselves:-

USA has been granted 50 year lease of Diego Garcia by UK, which is due to expire in 2016.

As on date USA has two Carrier Battle Groups and three  Amphibious Task Forces(ATF,s) with nearly 100 warships manned by approximately 40,000 personnel.

Diego Garcia has 12,000 feet long runway fit for the heaviest aircraft existing.

Anchorage facilities for Carrier size warships exist.

At least 250 US aircraft are deployed.

China factor too has to be taken into account. China has provided assistance to Myanmar and established Naval bases at Kyaukphu, Munaung and Haing Gyi. Similar assistance to Thailand has resulted in Mergui, Zadaikyi Katan  islands emerging as Naval bases. The issue is not their present size, issue is their existence from where the soft underbelly of Indian subcontinent can be endangered.

Limitations : A&N Islands

Large distance from Indian mainland is and would always remain a major drawback in as far as the security issues are concerned. It is this peculiar nature that demands an entirely different overview. Briefly the limitations can be stated to be:-

Dependence on Indian Mainland

Inadequate Protection rendering the island territories prone to subversion.

Piracy

Indian Options

Facts listed above lead us to following options:-

Maintain Status-quo.

Upgrade Infrastructure.

Provide incentives to people from mainland to settle in A&N Islands.

Increase Military Presence

If ever there was a need to be proactive with respect to future security needs, it is now. Let us utilize the island territories for what they are most suitable. That is to project power in the IOR. We need to learn the tenets of national security from USA and China. These two nations have repeatedly proved to the world that they shall, always and everytime take actions that are best suited to their national interests, world opinion not withstanding. China currently has two main preoccupations. Firstly to develop her economy, which is already on a trot. The Chinese leadership wants it to gallup. Secondly her interest in Taiwan. China shall not rest until she has annexed Taiwan, US interests notwithstanding. There shall be no third time that US forces shall move out of US mainland in such large numbers as may be required to prevent a direct Chinese invasion on Taiwan. Experience of Vietnam and now Iraq has made every American sit up and take notice of the fact that the Americans are dying on foreign soil fighting not necessarily in the best US interests. In foreseeable future no US president is likely to influence the US senate and more importantly US public, which shall permit large scale US troops deployed to fight elsewhere, Europe inclusive. China is merely waiting for that time. Once Taiwan is behind them entire Chinese attention shall shift to IOR. We still have the time and scenario suited to Indian requirement of militarizing A&N islands. We have everything for such action, provided we are able to remove the mindset in our decision makers be it political, bureaucratic or military. A quantum increase in Indian Military shall send the right signals to entire world. Work on other options may continue alongside.

Conclusion

It would be stating the obvious that we should shift our focus to south and east rather than remaining Pak and China centric looking northwest only.Let us not ignore an innocuous statement by a Chinese Defence Official-Indian Ocean is not India,s ocean.Let there be no ambiguity that China of tomorrow is not headed eastwards to the west coast of US. She is decidedly headed  westwards to IOR through Malacca Straits. The future of world economy lies with the seas. We are fortunate to have it in abundance. Let us not forfeit it to others almost entirely due to voluntary negligence of our Island territories over the last five decades. We have the military capability and assets. The desire and determination to employ these  is lacking. Let us not hide behind lame excuses for not doing enough so far inspite of the fact that a far more notorious factor has emerged in form of Tsunami. There shall be many who shall hide behind this natural enemy and suggest that basing valuable military assets that may be wiped out in one wave would be foolhardy. Yes indeed it would, as it has already happened. But National Security, always and everytime, takes precedence over loss of material assets, however expensive these may be.

Recommendations

Move and locate at least one division worth of the Army, suitably equipped with amphibious capability and integral air elements.

Move two twin engine strike fighter squadrons on a permanent basis. At a later date Su-30 with air to air refueling elements should move to Port Blair and Car-Nicobar.

IAF should examine the possibility of enhancing the radar cover in A&N island.

v Coastguard should be equipped with small but agile fast moving boats which should be armed to check piracy as well as illegal immigration.

Indian Navy should consider acquisition of one more carrier, exclusively deployed in the IOR near or in close proximity to A&N islands.