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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, February 7: Delay on the part of the Ministry of Defence MoD to commit an Army Special Forces instruction team for Mauritius has opened the possibility of the United States Army sending its troops to the Indian Ocean island nation.
The request for a Special Forces team to go and evaluate the Mauritius armed forces requirement for that highly skilled capability came to South Block in November last. It was routed through the Indian mission at Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, and had the concurrence of various departments and ministries of the Government of India. But the MoD has to process the proposal.
The offer from Mauritius for the Army Special Forces detachment was meant to be for the same function. The team would be responsible for studying the security scenario prevailing in Mauritius, and suggest the special forces options that the Port Louis authorities could develop on.
This includes the structure, strength, training, equipment and types of deployment that Mauritius could plan for its special forces. This is regarded as a golden opportunity for India to play a significant role in building up the armed forces of a friendly country.
The reluctance, however, displayed by the MoD to make a commitment on the Mauritius offer has attracted critical comment from those in the national security planning apparatus. 8220;India is sending the wrong diplomatic message by its dithering over this very vital issue,8221; said a South Block official. 8220;Mauritius is in our neighbourhood and when it comes to helping afriend we should be the first ones out there, not some other country,8221; said another official.
The United States has a very pro-active approach to military diplomacy, wherein training teams are dispatched as a matter of routine. And this is more so in those regions where the US believes it has significant strategic interests.
The Indian Ocean is one such region where the US has made serious diplomatic and military investments. While an appreciable military presence is essential for its energy supplies, especially in relation to the Gulf region, there is also the factor of political influence. Despite the costs involved, therefore, the US continues to maintain its base at Diego Garcia.
Any inroads made by the US into Mauritius are being read with apprehension by those in the national security business here in New Delhi. Small training detachments are the first step toward a semi-permanent presence, they all concur. And the cornerstone of this US policy are always its special forces, more widelyreferred to as its 8220;diplomatic warriors8221;. They invariably pave the way for a larger military mission.
Much to the chagrin of many strategists, the MoD does not seem to be perturbed by this development. 8220;We should never have let them get this opportunity. Especially since we can give much better advice and training on account of our real time experiences, be it close quarter combat, hostage rescue or the works. We can do it for less, but then the nation must also think about it as being something critical to our state interests, not just the professionals,8221; said a Special Forces officer.
