A careful look at this architecture would lead us to the conclusion that there are gaping holes in it which need to be repaired with all the instruments at our disposal — diplomatic, economic and military. In Afghanistan, we have shown a high degree of reticence in supplying military equipment despite their repeated requests. China also gave enough indications that it can extend its strategy of testing Indian nerves in other areas along the LAC at the time of its choosing. The declarations of the government that no aggression will be tolerated are also well taken. The first concentric circle, to be called the “Arc of Hostility”, includes two of our neighbours, China and Pakistan. We tend to take Iran’s support for granted because of civilisational ties but we don’t realise that Iran has many wooers despite US hostility, as is obvious from the fiasco pertaining to Farzad B gas field. The writer is editor, India’s National Security Annual Review, and former professor of diplomacy at JNU, New Delhi. Russia’s decision to supply arms to Pakistan and Taliban in Afghanistan is nothing less than horrendous to India. Its objections to India’s permanent membership of the Security Council and of NSG, and declaring Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist will continue

.This may be done by having a closer look at the external security architecture of India. The third circle can be called the “Arc of Security”. This includes major powers, our net security providers in terms of defence cooperation, technology transfer, trade, aid and investment. Surgical strikes of 29 September 2016 made no difference to Pakistani behaviour because Uri type attacks continued for many months after that. Talking of the United States, President Trump’s South Asia policy announced on August 21 has China non woven fabric for face mask pleased some Indian hearts. The second circle, consisting of countries from the Persian Gulf to the Malacca Straits would be called the “Arc of Stability”., which are supposed to provide equal security and development opportunities to all nations of the world. China’s comprehensive support to Pakistan has emboldened the latter to sharpen its hostility against India. Sri Lanka which struggles to maintain a tough balance between China and India requires a very diligent mix of diplomatic, economic and military instruments on our part to safeguard our strategic interests. India needs to change its strategy in this respect, and resort to a more vigorous and persistent diplomacy, perhaps through the appointment of a special envoy. Because of ethnic overlap, economic interdependence and geographical location, their stability and security is important to us, and our support is important to them. But his hard line against Pakistan is meant to prevent Pakistan from sending militants into Afghanistan, not India.

This includes global institutions like the UN Security Council, the World Bank, the IMF, the WTO, the NSG etc. The formation of Milli Muslim League by Hafiz Saeed with the encouragement of the establishment has altered the internal dynamics of Pakistan severely against India. Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina repatriated terrorist and insurgent leaders and strengthened its own secular fabric. India has already emerged as one of the six or seven most powerful countries of the world, going by the combined index of economic and military power and other variables. If we look at the Arc of Hostility, we find that the graph of hostility of both China and Pakistan has moved upward by 60 to 70 per cent in the last one year. Unfortunately, India did little to heal the frayed nerves of Russia. The fourth circle could be called the “Arc of Global Governance”. However, hostile Hindutva elements in neighbouring Indian states have pushed Bangladesh to feel more secure about its relations with China. In the Arc of Security, the most important countries that come to my mind are the United States and Russia, even though some others like France, Britain, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia play significant role in promoting India’s security.Russia has been antagonised by India’s emerging closeness with the United States since the nuclear deal. For the sake of analysis, this architecture can be said to consist of four concentric circles, borrowing the concept from Kautilya’s “Mandala” theory, but modifying it to conform to the Indian reality. China has strengthened its strategic alliance with Pakistan through CPEC. In Myanmar, we need to work much harder to counter China’s increasing influence in internal politics in the form of addressing insurgencies.