Andaman and Nicobar Command: From an Experiment to an Inspiration

The Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands are India’s gateways to the east and their significance in its national security calculus is increasingly being realised, as they fit perfectly in the jigsaw puzzle of India’s ‘Look East Policy’. They allow India to project its benign power and influence in consonance with its emerging status and role in the region. They also provide an ideal springboard for India to play a far more effective role in the area. Proximity to unstable littorals, coupled with the eventuality of extra-regional players extending their influence in the region, make them vulnerable to both conventional as well as sub-conventional threats. This translates into challenges and opportunities for India.