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Transnational crime has been increasing in
scope and intensity across the globe. The maritime
threats today have dimensions ranging from maritime
terrorism, asymmetric threats, piracy , gun running to
name a few to a full scale war. The 26/11 Mumbai
terrorist attack is indicative of our neighbour’s modus
operandi of use of sea-route to disrupt the very social
fabric of our nation’s integrity, peace and harmony.
As the varied dimensions of India’s maritime
security – economic, political, military, scientific,
technological, and environmental – are becoming
increasingly important for the development and
stability of the country, it is imperative to deal with them
in a comprehensive manner. Today, there is no single
government ministry or agency exclusively
responsible for India’s maritime activities and interests.
As many as fourteen Ministries of the central
government, in addition to the departments and
organizations of both central and state governments,
are currently involved in various aspects of the country’s
maritime affairs, leading to considerable confusion
and overlapping of jurisdiction . Even co-ordination
among these agencies is beset with difficulties at the
best of times.
AIM
The aim of this paper is to examine the role of
the Indian Navy for the next decade against the
backdrop of the prevailing maritime security
environment post 26/11 Mumbai attack.
EXISTING ROLES OF THE INDIAN NAVY
The roles of the Navies are formulated based on
the missions envisaged for it. Let us therefore begin
by examining the existing roles of the Indian Navy. As
per Indian Maritime Doctrine (INBR 8), the existing roles
of Indian navy are as enumerated in the succeeding
paragraphs.
Military Role. Some of the Indian Navy’s
Military roles include Sea Control, Sea Denial, Sea
Based Deterrence, Operations in support of Land
Battle, Interdiction of the Enemy’s Maritime Forces,
Blockade of Enemy’s Ports and Harbours etc.
Diplomatic Role. Military forces at sea
contribute to what has traditionally been known as
‘Naval Diplomacy’. Indian Naval ships today are
deployed overseas for demonstrating to local
populations India’s interests and involvement in the
region as also for show casing India’s industrial
capability which becomes evident when our
indigenously built ships are seen around the world.
Naval diplomacy also takes the form of assistance to
foreign countries as seen during Op Cactus in Nov
1988, assistance to Sri Lanka during floods in May 2003
as well as seaward security provided by two IN Ships
to the African Union Summit in Maputo, Mozambique
in Jul 2003.
Maritime forces can also be used symbolically to
send calibrated messages to a government by
incrementally increasing the offensive capability . This
in turn can be used to influence events, particularly in
the early stages of a crisis, resulting in a potential
aggressor backing down or defusing the situation. At
the higher end, naval diplomacy takes the form of
power projection forces, with the ultimate being the
submarine nuclear deterrent – universally
acknowledged as the most survivable leg of the
nuclear triad.
Constabulary Role. In this, forces are
employed to enforce law or to implement some
regime established by an international mandate.
Violence is only employed for self-defence or as a last
resort in execution of the task. The incidents of the
pirated ship Alondra Rainbow captured in Nov 99 and
the interdiction of the armed pirate ship off Somalia in
Nov 2008 are examples where the international
community has taken note of the Indian Navy’s positive
contribution towards this role. With the establishment
of the Coast Guard, the law enforcement aspects of
the constabulary role within the MZI have been
transferred to it. Thus whilst the Navy continues to look
after all constabulary functions connected with the
defence and security of the country, both within and
outside the MZI, the Coast Guard looks after all law
enforcement activities within the MZI.
Benign Role. Benign tasks are those such as
humanitarian aid, disaster relief, Search and Rescue
(SAR), ordinance disposal, pollution control, diving
assistance, salvage operations, hydrography etc. The
role is termed as benign because violence has no part
to play in its execution, nor is the potential to apply
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