The Kargil War and India’s Security Environment

The Kargil conflict presented an opportunity for a relook at India’s national security environment in terms of defence preparedness. The Kargil Review Committee report pointed to the deficiencies in India’s security management system and gave a call for course correction especially in terms of integration of the armed forces, defence modernisation, and optimum defence budgeting and expenditure. Against this backdrop, the article undertakes a discussion of India’s national security environment by examining its long-term foreign policy and security goals as well as its possible strategic behaviour in the future. A prescriptive angle is provided by discussing the strategic options available to India in the short to medium term. The article also stresses on a greater push to domestic defence industry and manufacturing, renewed focus on maritime affairs, and the need to integrate and restructure the defence ecosystem.