Tribune News Service
Ajay Banerjee
March 22, 2016
In a sign of diplomatic dexterity to signal a thaw in India’s relations with Pakistan and China, the Ministry of Defence has not directly named the two neighbours in an assessment about threats faced by the country.The assessment titled “security environment” is part of the ministry’s annual report released today. Other than small-clubbed references with Afghanistan, the word “Pakistan” is not mentioned in the assessment of security in the 238-page report that details out various activities of the ministry.It says: “The Af-Pak region in India’s neighbourhood continues to be the epicentre of international terrorism. There is continuing concern over terrorist threats emanating from India’s neighbourhood.”In another reference to Pakistan without naming it, the report says “…Challenges to internal security includes cross-border terrorism. The developments in J&K and Punjab have been a cause of concern, especially cross-border terror attacks and trafficking of arms and narcotics.”The report also does not name China but in an obvious reference to the dispute of navigation through the South China Sea and India’s interests, it says “India has major strategic interests as well as economic and commercial stakes in the Asia Pacific region…India supports freedom of navigation in international waters”.In the last year’s annual report, Pakistan and China had been named directly and even threats from these two countries had been elaborated upon. New Delhi’s military doctrine and war preparedness are geared at a collusive two-front war waged simultaneously by Pakistan to the west and China to the north.The last year’s report devoted ample references on Pakistan and China.
