Increased military spending in south Asia is worsening security and rendering poor more poor. This well stated fact, but increasingly ignored by the ruling elites all over the world, is haunting the people.
South Asia is one of the poorest and most misgoverned regions of the world after sub-Saharan Africa. It is home to over 1.50 billion people. Peace has eluded the region for decades. There had been frequent wars between neighbours like India and Pakistan, India and China and frequent clashes keep the borders hot. Tensions mount for no reasons and there is more hatred and animosity than understanding and friendship.
China’s military budget would rise this year by 17.8 per cent to roughly $45 billion. China’s argument is that it must have strong defence in view of tough American support to Taiwan, its arch enemy. On the other hand, America and its western allies are responsible for keeping south Asia on the boil. They make billions of rupees by selling arms, war planes and ammunition. America has had a direct hand in India-Pakistan tensions for the last five decades at least.
Military analysts emphasise that China’s public military budget actually reflects only a fraction of its overall defence spending. Real spending could be two to four times higher. The new technological advances reflect China’s intense focus on scientific and technological development, and are the result of more than a decade of increased military spending.
There is an apprehension in South Asia that increasing defence spending will not only aggravate the countries’ internal and external disputes, but also exacerbate human security in the region and increase poverty.
Military structures of India and Pakistan are the most cumbersome and huge, both in terms of men and material. Fear instead of trust fuels this heavy spending. India sees China and Pakistan as threat and a measure for ever increasing spending on arms and ammunition.
A report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) says Afghanistan has 50,000 troops besides the International Security Assistance Force personnel, Bangladesh 1,26,500, India 1,316,000, Nepal 69,000, Pakistan 6,19,000, and Sri Lanka 1,50,900. About defence expenditure, it says that Bangladesh spends $840 million, India $21.7 billion, Nepal $139 million, Pakistan $4.14 billion and Sri Lanka $686 million per year. All these countries are plagued by internal unrest, insurgency and malfunctioning of the polity.
Pakistan and India continue defence shopping, this report noted. “India’s arms procurement programme continues to gather pace, with the decision to purchase the Trenton, an amphibious transport dock-class ship, along with four landing craft, from the US for $48.23 million in August 2006, its second major arms deal with the US since 2003.”
Pakistan is also purchasing arms for its forces, including a $1.15 billion order in June 2006 for six Swedish SAAB 2000 turboprop AWACS aircraft with radars from Ericsson Microwave Systems.
Pakistan signed a major $5 billion arms deal with the US on September 30, 2006, to purchase 18 new F-16C/D fighter aircraft equipped with AMRAAM — beyond visual range air-to-air-missiles — with the option to buy 18 additional new aircraft and upgrade its existing 34 F-16 aircraft. It is also planning to acquire up to 150 JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft worth $2 billion and an estimated 36 J-10 fighter aircraft worth $1.2 billion both from China.
India also ordered three modified Krivak III frigates on July 6, 2006, from Russia for $1.1 billion. In view of the Indian Air Force chief’s concern over the reduction of fighter squadrons from the current 32 to 28 by 2012, there could be an interim order for additional Mirage fighters from France. The air force is also seeking 126 multi-role combat aircraft, 80 new helicopters and light combat aircraft.
There have been, of late, efforts to resolve India- Pakistan disputes. Though bilateral security environment has improved between the two countries through expansion of transportation links, people to-people exchanges and constant meetings between their leaders, there has been only limited progress in their composite dialogue. Current unstable political situation in Pakistan is discouraging for any serious engagement with Pakistan by Indians.
According to an Indian official report that 76 of 299 districts in nine provinces — Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — are “badly affected” by Maoists violence.
The report also highlights Pakistan’s problems in Waziristan and Balochistan where militancy has been going on despite military operations. There is no writ of the Pakistan government in large areas of NWPF and Waziristan despite heavy bombing by the American and Pakistan forces.
An ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has claimed over 60,000 lives. Another 13,000 lives have been lost in the rugged and poor Nepal over the last decade.
Even if a fraction of this money is spent to provide drinking water, elementary education and health care, it would add to the happiness of millions of the deprived people. In turn it would also help build peace.
