Former Indian National Security Advisor Advocates for National Security Policy and Defense White Paper

India needs a national security policy, and former national security advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon said on Wednesday that the government should release a white paper on defense to clarify its position on key matters, even if it could take some time.

NN Vohra, the former governor of Jammu and Kashmir, compiled the book "India's National Security Challenges," which Menon launched. Menon also said that "deterrence has broken down on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China."

Menon emphasized that defense reforms are necessary and that at least three efforts to create a national security policy have been attempted in the past.

"I am aware of at least three prior efforts to develop a national security plan. In all cases, political level hesitancy was the cause rather than that of experts. He said, "I feel, but I cannot prove, that they do not want their hands chained.

"You must provide the means in a national plan if you agree on the aims. The former NSA said, "I believe this is where the resistance is coming from."

Menon brought out instances of ambiguity, saying that the chief of staff's (CDS) operational responsibilities are not entirely apparent.

According to the CDS's mandate today, he serves as the department's senior military counselor, is tasked with spearheading military reform, and is akin to the Secretary of Military Affairs. His operational function is not obvious, and we need much more information on that front. The relationship between many institutions that have been established throughout time is another, more significant problem, he said.

If we are to react to the security position we find ourselves in, we must have a clear line of command. To be honest, ambiguity in this area hinders our efforts to dissuade our enemies," he said.

Menon suggested that the government provide a white paper on defense even though it could be challenging to implement a comprehensive national security strategy at this time.

He said, "It's time for a white paper on defense that lays out the government's position on all of these issues and the next steps." In addition, he addressed the first CDS, Gen. Bipin Rawat, who passed away in an aircraft accident in January 2020, and said that he was "very committed" to creating theater command and promoting "jointness".

He said, "We hear much less about it today."

Menon continued by saying that in nations that have embraced theaterization and jointness, there was a lack of agreement among interested parties and that what was required was a "political decision at the top."

Menon said, "Deterrence has broken down on LAC with China," in reference to the border situation between China and India. People may obtain satellite images that show what transpired in the western sector in 2020 and the changes that followed, including the disengagement in certain places. These don't imply that deterrence has been restored. Both a military standoff and a political deadlock exist. Nothing indicates that we are moving forward, and the LAC is operational. Either the border with China is being stabilized, or we are stopping China from threatening to take action," he said.

He said that a number of changes that were initiated during Gen. Rawat's administration remain unfinished.

"Inadequate reform leads to new weaknesses without addressing previous ones. Many of the improvements that the prior CDS started are still unfinished as of right now. In addition, he said, "As I previously stated, the operational role needs to be clear at every level, from NSA, CDS downward," using the Agnipath plan as an example of how it affected ties between India and Nepal.