A ‘Galle-ing’ experience

By Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of Indian Navy

"Instead of merely moaning about China’s ‘string of pearls’ and ‘maritime silk route’ strategies, India needs to craft creative, dynamic and long-term maritime alternatives.”

December 26, 2004, Sunday morning, saw the calm in Naval Headquarters (NHQ) being shattered by ominous reports of powerful seismic shocks and giant tidal surges in our Bay of Bengal islands and coastal areas. As the first Indian Navy (IN) warships and aircraft were being despatched on relief missions, appeals for assistance started coming from Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Having assigned resources to cope with the domestic emergency, NHQ considered it equally imperative to rush aid to stricken neighbours.

Galle in the year 2014

Given the languid functioning of our bureaucracy, a proposal of this nature could have taken weeks or months to be processed by the ministries of defence, external affairs and finance. To one’s utter amazement, the national security adviser (NSA) accorded instant approval on the phone, with the words, “We will sort out the paperwork on Monday”. Eighteen hours later, citizens of Galle on the southern tip of Sri Lanka awoke to see Indian warships, laden with relief material, anchored off the devastated harbour.

Fast-forward to December 1, 2014 — a decade. I arrive in this picturesque port town for the Galle Dialogue, to be told by a Sri Lankan admiral, “People in Galle remember the tsunami. If you tell shopkeepers that you are from the IN (Indian Navy), they will not let you pay.”

Initiated by the Sri Lankan ministry of defence in 2010, the annual Galle Dialogue has gained in significance and momentum with 38 nations, spanning the full alphabet from Australia to Zambia, represented at its fifth edition. India was given due prominence and the printed programme showed Dr Ajit Doval, India’s NSA, as guest of honour and keynote speaker, with the first two sessions being chaired by Indians; one of them being the vice chief of naval staff (VCNS).

The NSA’s oration on regional maritime security issues was heard with rapt attention and drew applause as he, tactfully, mentioned the early contributions of Sri Lankan statesmen towards creating an Indian Ocean zone of peace. The anti-climax came when it was discovered that the Indian VCNS (Vice Chief of Naval Staff) had not arrived on the expected flight. The hosts, too polite to pose awkward questions, quietly found a substitute to chair the session. The Galle Dialogue 2014, thus, saw participation by the commander of the Pakistan Fleet, the deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Navy (PLAN) and a dozen other flag officers, but the IN invitee was absent; leaving many questions hanging in the air.

The whispered explanation, when it came, was on entirely predictable lines; apparently, an MoD (Ministry of Defence) functionary had turned down, at the last minute and for reasons unknown, the participation of the VCNS. One felt a sense of déjà vu because the all-powerful and non-accountable MoD bureaucracy has a known penchant for sitting on files till the 11th hour, and then whimsically approving or, more often, rejecting the proposal. It is in the latter context that a recent Indo-Sri Lankan diplomatic spat assumes significance.

During September-October 2014, Chinese submarines, accompanied by support vessels, docked in Colombo Port on two occasions. This peacetime transit and replenishment of a submarine was described, both by the Chinese and the Sri Lankan governments, as “common practice”. According to media reports, India took umbrage and told Colombo that its actions were of “serious concern to India’s national security.”

However, a look at the past would show that the episode called for quiet diplomacy rather than public display of indignation. While Sri Lanka’s victory over the LTTE owes much to many nations, including India, it was China’s military support that stood out for scale and constancy. China maintained bonded warehouses in Galle which supplied arms and ammunition to Sri Lankan forces on demand. Beijing also provided heavy weaponry and fighters; either directly or through a willing Pakistan. 

In comparison, India’s military aid to Sri Lanka was slow and sporadic. South Block remained hostage, not only to blackmail by Chennai but also to its own timidity, myopic vision and inertia. A saving grace was the camaraderie, at senior levels, of the Indian and Sri Lankan navies, which enabled them to reach out across Palk Strait in times of need. The IN tsunami-relief operation helped strengthen bonds.

Today, China’s role in transforming this island nation, through massive loans and creation of impressive infrastructure is undeniable. India, on the other hand, has been laggard in assisting Sri Lanka’s development on a significant scale.

In the face of China’s advance into the Indian Ocean, all that India has had to offer, so far, is the vapid nostrum of ‘strategic restraint’. Moreover, the dissonance between MEA, MoD and NHQ has often thwarted the navy’s endeavours to create strong bonds with maritime neighbours. A peripatetic PM Modi is, now, giving strong indications that India’s foreign policy may be acquiring a badly needed grand-strategic underpinning. 

A practitioner of realpolitik, Sri Lanka is not above playing one neighbour against the other. But given its client status vis-à-vis China, it may not have had the option of denying entry to PLAN submarines. However, Sri Lanka must not allow itself to become China’s pawn, in total disregard of neighbouring India’s strategic interests. 

The nothern-most tip of Sri Lanka in Jaffna.India is saddled just across the narrow Palk Strait.

Countries in our immediate neighbourhood, many of them island nations, seek maritime security; sometimes through direct naval presence, but more often through urgent requests for material aid, training assistance and advice. In this context, rushing supplies of water to the Maldives was a fine gesture, but setting up a de-salination plant will win us far more goodwill. 

Instead of merely moaning about China’s “string of pearls” and “maritime silk route” strategies, India needs to craft creative, dynamic and long-term maritime alternatives, like employing its Navy as the potent “instrument of state policy” that it is meant to be.
(The writer is a former Chief of Naval Staff)

India to provide another helicopter to Maldives

Photos courtesy Ministry of Defence

In his first visit to Maldives after the regime change in the island nation earlier this year, Defence Minister AK Antony on Sunday assured India’s help in countering the menace of piracy in the maritime region around the country and also agreed to give another Advanced Light Helicopter to it. 

Antony’s visit to the country has come at a time when the Chinese establishment has welcomed the new government in Maldives, located south of Lakshadweep Islands. A strong foothold for China in the country’s backyard does not augur well for India strategically.

Antony met his Maldivian counterpart and Col (Retd) Mohamed Nazim in Male and the two countries decided to ‘maintain close cooperation in unitedly fighting against challenges of terrorists and non- state actors’. Indian Naval warships and one Dornier aircraft have been conducting regular anti-piracy patrolling for Maldives in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). India also agreed that the tenure of ALH Dhruv given to Maldives in 2010 will be increased for another two years. The helicopter has already been had been upgraded with night flying capabilities during the recent overhaul at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Bangalore. 

Moreover a team of Qualified Flying Instructors will now be deputed to train Maldivian Air Wing personnel. In addition, India will also provide simulator training to Maldivian helicopter pilots at HAL, Bangalore. “To a request from Maldives for an additional ALH for deployment in the Northern Province for Medical evacuation purposes, the Defence Minister assured him that he would try to fulfill this request at the earliest,” spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said from Male.

Moreover, on a request from the Male’, India has decided to position an Indian Navy Afloat Support Team at Maldives for a period of one year to help in smooth functioning and operations of the latter’s fleet and help in training their personnel for future maintenance operations.

Antony was accompanied by a high-level defence delegation including Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, Western Naval Command Chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Director General Military Training Lt Gen SP Tanwar and DG AFMS Air Marshal DP Joshi.

Piracy down from 38 % in 2008 to 11 % in 2011: Navy Chief

This is what Admiral Nirmal Verma had to say about piracy during his last press conference as  Navy Chief 

"Getting back to the challenges of the changing operating environment; with respect to piracy, we have to a significant extent, arrested this plague.  We have had at least one ship continuously deployed, off the Gulf of Aden, since October 2008.  Over 2100 merchantmen have been escorted by Indian Navy ships and 40 piracy attempts have been averted. Along with the sustained efforts of various navies and the shipping community, the success rate of piracy has dropped from 38% in 2008 to approx 11% till 2011 and even further in 2012.   It may surprise some to know that our anti-piracy operations have thus far been coordinated tri-laterally with the Chinese and Japanese and in the near future this initiative could include the South Korean navy. Such are the opportunities in the maritime environment.

  

In 2009-10 the scourge of piracy had spread to the East Arabian Sea at times beyond 1000 nautical miles from the Horn of Africa and closer to our waters. The Indian Navy has had a somewhat different and I dare say rather proactive approach towards combating piracy.  Proactive and effective action by Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships and aircraft resulted in the neutralization of all pirate ships operating in the region. I am happy to state that over the past year, there has not been a single incident of piracy within 300 nautical miles of our island territories on the West coast. The maritime environment is complex and  this proactive action has had some unintended consequences. As a result of the relative safety of our waters from piracy, there has consequently been a discernible shift in the International Shipping Lines (ISLs).  International shipping is now passing closer to the Indian coast due to the protection provided by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. This has resulted in an unfortunate incident of mistaken identity which resulted in the loss of innocent lives of our fishermen, such are the dangers and challenges which require to be addressed." 

Navy on stand-by as Maldives simmers

New Delhi, Feb 9, 2012: As Maldives archipelago remained on an edge Thursday, India has kept its navy and air force on a stand-by should the situation demand any intervention or evacuation of Indians from the country.

 

India has so far played as a neutral party in the developments in its neighbouring island nation but it is closely monitoring the situation as Indians form a large part of the Maldives inhabitants and the responsibility of the defence of the country falls within the jurisdiction of India.  Maldives, a chain of 1,200 islands, is located in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) around 400 nautical miles from the Indian shoreline and 60 nautical miles from the last island in the Lakshdweep Islands chain.

According to sources, “The Western Naval Fleet, especially the security forces in Kochi and Lakshwdweep islands, is on alert and it will be on a move when the government gives it a go ahead.”

Within hours after the resignation of Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed, India’s Defence Crisis Management Group (DCMG) was activated. The highest decision making body of the in times of crisis outside India includes officials from the Ministry of Defence and the three armed forces.

India and Maldives relation have always been good. When the country got its independence from Britain in 1965, India was the first country to recognize it. In 1988, New Delhi had extended a quick assistance under Operation Cactus when the island nation faced the threat of a coup.

In November 1988 the Indian armed forces went into the archipelago nation after then President Maumoom Abdul Gayoom faced a coup by mercenaries of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam. Within 12 hours of receiving the SOS, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered an armed forces’ intervention. 

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft had flown 2,000 km non-stop from the Agra airbase carrying a batallion of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment and landed at Male International Airport on Hulule Island.

In 2004, India was the first to send relief when it was hit by a tsunami. In 2006, India gifted a fast attack craft to the Maldives.