NSA- National Security (Strategic) Adviser

It took a long for me to update my blog. The major part of last year was spent in preparing and appearing for the Civil Services (Mains) Exam. And then along with my research work, I have also taken up a teaching assignment- so all this leaves much less time for the blog. But no more excuses, I have got a quite a few articles from various journals to review and summarise for the blog, and some other posts also…… Hopefully, I will not disappoint, the readers of this blog henceforth…

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The Indian security establishment is abuzz with the possible appointment of Shiv Shankar Menon as the National Security Adviser (NSA). The other contender is Shyam Saran. It is significant that career diplomats (ex-IFS) are the main contenders. The current shift in NSA has to be seen in the larger context of the structural changes being introduced in the Home Ministry.
India currently faces grave threats to its security both internally and externally. Though related, these two are distinct areas and require the concerned expertise. Over the last two years, internal security has dominated the NSA’s efforts.

The institution of NSA, since its inception under the NDA regime, has emerged as an extremely powerful centre. Under its purview came both- internal security and external security. Adding to its power was the personality of the individual NSAs, especially Brajesh Mishra and the later ones.
But since the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, it became clear that the NSA was burdened with too much of tasks. The current proposal of making internal security solely the mandate of Home Ministry is a welcome step. This will help in better coordination of various agencies involved in maintaining the internal security.

The NSA now should mainly focus on the external dimension of India’s security. The new profile of the NSA should be more concerned with securing India’s strategic interests in the neighbourhood and the larger external environment. At present, India’s neighbourhood is in a fluid state. Afghanistan is yet to stabilise, and with the proposed Obama’s plan of withdrawal, India will have to rethink its strategic role in vis-à-vis Afghanistan. Related hotbed is Pakistan, where India has too cautiously deal with the multiple power centres. Similarly the changing political scenario in Nepal has to be dealt delicately. And the most important strategic challenge is how to deal with the rising Chinese might. All these questions of the immediate neighbourhood have be interlaced with our relations with the other major players, especially the US. As K. Subhramanyam in his article in the Indian Express (dated 18 Jan, 2010) has argued that the NSA should function like a think-tank providing a long term strategic vision. This could be an apt profile for the new NSA. The NSA’s office should while looking at the immediate security concern, should mainly coordinate with various agencies-internal and external- to evolve a coherent and comprehensive strategic policy for India. Also important to new NSA's agenda would be the challenge of redefining India's Nuclear Doctrine.

The proposed changes in the profile of the NSA are welcome, but a lot will depend the ability of the National Security Council to think in long term strategic interests of the country.