Indian Maritime Doctrine: Implications for Pakistan’s Security

Abstract

The Indian strategic mindset has traditionally remained preoccupied with continental defence owing to the exigencies on its land; hence, the Indian Navy received little attention beyond providing coastal defence. As its economy has improved and the international milieu has turned favourable towards India in face of a rising China; its maritime ambitions have also expanded. These will have far reaching implications for regional peace and security. In the short span of about a decade, the outlook of the Indian Navy has changed considerably, while holding steadfast to the basic tenets that determine its strategic priorities in the maritime domain. The Indian maritime strategy has come a long way since the first maritime doctrine was issued in 2004. Subsequently, the Indian maritime doctrines 2009 and 2015 highlight a significant role for the Navy in the Indian Ocean and also point towards India’s increased interest in the Western Pacific. This paper aims at analysing the salient features of these maritime doctrines and the corresponding roles that the Indian Navy has envisioned for itself. It also seeks to highlight the extent of India’s maritime interests, the likely course that it is expected to take in the future and the ensuing implications at regional and global level besides Pakistan.