Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu, Jun 3: In the backdrop of targeted killings and fragile security situation in Kashmir, Army’s Northern Command hold a three-day long brainstorming ‘Strategic Conclave’ which discussed measures to deal with growing challenges.
The unique event saw participation of three former Army Commanders Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retired), Lieutenant General DS Hooda, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, bar to VSM (Retired), Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retired)], three former Corps Commanders [Lieutenant General SA Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, bar to VSM (Retired), Lieutenant General S L Narsimhan, PVSM, bar to AVSM, VSM (Retired), Lieutenant General Savneet Singh, YSM, SM, VSM (Retired)] and esteemed writers and senior specialists Nitin Gokhale, Jaydev Ranade, Claude Arpi and Vijay Gokhale (Ex Foreign Secy) and senior serving military officers.
The experts from defence, strategic and nation studies shared their insights on the salient aspects of ‘Gray Zone Warfare’ (very thin situation between peace and conflict).
The speakers maintained that Northern Command faces the unique challenge of the ‘Two and a Half Fronts’ with live phenomenon of Gray Zone Warfare.
While the recently concluded ‘North Tech Symposium’ was aimed at integrating niche technology into the Armed Forces under the ‘Raksha Atmanirbharta’ dominion, the Strategic Conclave strived to reinforce the strategic thinking culture and develop understanding on joint ‘Response Mechanism’ in the Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic (DIME) spheres through these deliberations.
The Northern Command remains to forge a force with the ability to address the ‘Gray Zone Conundrum’ and its relationship with various levels of war.
Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, AVSM General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command expressed gratitude to the eminent speakers, for having crafted their thoughts after detailed analysis.
He also thanked the speakers for their valuable recommendations for the ‘Whole of Nation Approach’ towards countering the current and future threats.
The Army Commander said that conclave intended to address the issues of civil military jointness in decision making, the lines of effort encompassing the entire construct of DIME and the interdisciplinary response to the threats.
The Army Commander emphasized that the ‘Gray Zone Warfare’ is ongoing for Northern Command in J&K and Ladakh the space between peace and war, also referred to as ‘No War No Peace’, and the military commanders have to discern the threats through thinly veiled indicators.
He stressed that there is a need to take a relook at the technologically enabled ‘Human Resource Management’ to meet these future challenges.
The Army Commander indicated to the participants that the future holds unique challenge for all of us; and strategic calculation, cooperation and understanding among all stakeholders should be the mantra to secure internal calm and external peace.
