Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India was in a “difficult neighbourhood”, but the country’s responsibility on the security scene was no longer limited to its borders and coastline.
The prime minister was onboard warship
INS Vikramaditya, addressing the three service chiefs, and top
commanders of the armed forces at the Combined Commanders’ Conference.
“In a world of rapid changes, India
faces familiar threats and new ones. Our challenges cover land, sea and
air at the same time. It includes the full range, from terrorism to
conventional threat to a nuclear environment,” Modi said.
“Our responsibilities are no longer
confined to our borders and coastlines. They extend to our interests and
citizens, spread across a world of widespread and unpredictable risks,”
he said.
The prime minister also outlined how
India was establishing diplomatic relations across the globe, and trying
to have friendly relations in neighbourhood, which he described as
“difficult”.
“As the world seeks to deal with the
rising threat of terrorism and radicalism, countries across all regions,
including in the Islamic world, have reached out to seek cooperation
with India.
“Above all, it is our neighbourhood that
is most critical for our future and for our place in the world. But
ours is a difficult neighbourhood with the full spectrum of security
challenges,” he said.
Modi also expressed concern over the instability in West Asia.
The prime minister said “our region” was
marked by uncertain political transitions, weak institutions and
internal conflicts and “major powers” have increased their engagement in
India’s land and maritime neighbourhood.
On Pakistan, Modi highlighted the
beginning of new dialogue process, and added: “But, we will never drop
our guard on security and we will continue to judge progress on their
commitments on terrorism.”
“We are engaging Pakistan to try and
turn the course of history, bring an end to terrorism, build peaceful
relations, advance cooperation and promote stability and prosperity in
our region,” he said.
Modi also mentioned China and said India was pursuing “closer relations” to harness the full potential of economic partnership.
Stating that India’s transformation was
closely linked with international partnership, Modi mentioned both
Russia and the US as important partners.
“Russia has always been a source of
strength for us. It remains important for our future, too. With the
United States, we have advanced our partnership in a comprehensive
manner, including in defence. Our strategic partnerships in Europe have
deepened,” he said.
Modi also talked about the changing nature of wars, and the emergence of new “theatres” like cyberspace.
The prime minister said as the world gets transformed, the nature of conflicts and the objectives of war will also change.
“We know that old rivalries can play out
in new theatres such as space and cyber… So, we in India must be ready
for the present and prepare for the future.”
He said India was confident that its defence forces were “prepared to deter and defeat any misadventure”.
This was the first time the Combined Commanders Conference was held onboard an aircraft carrier.
Modi inspected a Tri-services Guard of
Honour in the morning at INS Garuda in Kochi, before arriving onboard
INS Vikramaditya, where he was received by the three service chiefs.
“This aircraft carrier is the instrument
of our maritime power and a symbol of our maritime responsibility,” the
prime minister said about the ship.
Source : IndianMediaBook - Current Affairs
