The Humanitarian Dividend

MAINTAINING PEACE IN the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo has never been easy as the restive region of North Kivu has witnessed sustained violence. Indian forces and commanders deployed as part of the North Kivu brigade, con­fronted with a situation where pledges are violated almost as soon as they are offered, have worked on methods to separate combatants. One of the stratagems was to create buffer zones that all sides were expected to respect with well-armed Indian troops enforcing the rules in no man’s land. The buffer zones did not always last or deliver anticipated results, but with the aid of technical and on-ground surveillance, the guilty party could receive a painful rap on the knuckles.

The lessons learnt in tough missions as in Congo from 2004 onwards came in handy many years later when Indian commanders sat across the table with Chinese counterparts to work out the disengagement of troops at points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and mechanisms to maintain peace were discussed. Buffer zones are indeed a time-tested device but drawing up protocols of verification is challenging, particularly in an atmosphere of distrust. The first principle in a sticky situation where heavily armed troops are in dangerous proximity is to create a neutral zone and separate them. The criticism that India has given up patrolling in these areas fails to recognise that the People’s Libera­tion Army (PLA) has vacated its points of aggression on the LAC in 2020 and is back to where it was before the flare-up. It might be a coincidence that the Indian com­mander had served in Congo but the practical experience in a war zone did not go to waste.

Participation in interna­tional peacekeeping missions has allowed the Indian Army and paramilitary contingents to use their long experience of deal­ing with insurgencies and tackling terrorism, and it has also resulted in these tactics being refined and new insights being channelled back into India’s military thinking. Over the years, Indian contingents have earned goodwill for their profession­alism and sensitive approach to civilians in areas affected by prolonged violence and endemic poverty. The Indian delega­tion had a prominent presence at the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, despite not having committed any troops to the action. But it did send Army paramedics, help that South Korea recognised when it commemorated the war. The Indian flag flew at the demilitarised zone even as North Korean troops on the terraces of a concrete building watched the events on the other side, which included elaborate felicitation of American war veterans. Though its hard edges are obvious, peacekeeping has soft power value as it projects India’s support for efforts to end violence and makes it a responsible nation conscious of its international obligations. The gains are more long-lasting than shots fired in anger.

The decision to aid Turkey despite its leader Erdogan’s hostile diplomacy against India and support for Pakistan was a ‘no strings attached’ initiative. Politics may have played in the background but made no difference to the Indian assistance which was acknowledged by Turkey. Former diplomats feel that the unstinted assistance may not necessarily alter Turkey’s posture on issues that concern India but can improve the atmospherics between the two nations

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India’s quick response to the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has generated widespread admiration and once again, the Army medics, the maroon berets, were in the thick of action. Along with them were units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) while the Indian Air Force’s giant C-17 transport planes ferried tonnes of earth­moving and medical equipment as part of Operation Dost. The decision to aid Turkey despite its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hostile diplomacy against India over Jammu and Kashmir and support for Pakistan was a “no strings attached” initiative. Poli­tics may have played in the back­ground but made no difference to the Indian assistance which was acknowledged by Turkey. Former diplomats feel that the unstinted assistance may not necessarily alter Turkey’s posture on issues that concern India but can improve the atmospherics be­tween the two nations. Turkey’s reported decision to cancel a visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was seen as a snub, particularly as a VIP from Qatar came calling soon after. If India can loosen the Pakistan-Turkey clasp, it can only be a positive. Apart from the geopolitics, Indian units are winning hearts and creating a positive image for the country, a reputa­tional impact that helps counter more negative projections about India. Though humanitarian assistance is distinct from peacekeeping, they are two sides of the same coin. They also often enough involve military units, apart from specialised organisations like NDRF.

Though India has been involved in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations since Independence, its abilities have grown manifold in recent years with the acquisition of aircraft like the C-17 that allows it to deliver assistance across large distances. The increasing sophistication of its equip­ment, which includes swift deployment of bridges and setting up of field hospitals, means Indian units can do the needful. Indian vets are helping herders in South Sudan save cattle from malnutrition and disease. Also, a recent all-woman Cen­tral Reserve Police Force (CRPF) team that left for the country is likely to be a crucial presence in a crisis zone where women and children are at risk. India has provided close to 20 com­manders for various missions and its units have won several decorations. The enhanced support capabilities have led to a higher demand for Indian participation. Experience shows that the units have been a better fit in troubled areas in com­parison to other contingents when it comes to working with local residents. According to foreign affairs journals, India is involved in more than half of UN peacekeeping missions and the personnel also include police officials.

Operating in disaster zones like Turkey and Syria, Indian units have much to contribute given their frequent involve­ment in relief work in India. The Army had been called out to assist civilian authorities in calamities like the Ladakh floods of 2010 and the Uttarakhand cloudburst of 2013. They have been tasked with rescue operations, as in 2007, when widespread flooding was seen in many states. Troops and engineers helped rescue people while also restoring lost communication. Last year, the Army’s Southern Command was in action as part of Operation Varsha to help flood-affected Maharashtra and Telangana. The experience has been lever­aged in international missions as well as units that operate in a self-contained fashion relying on supply lines provisioned from India. The operations in Turkey provide an interna­tional profile given the scale of the disaster, even as the task is perhaps more challenging in Syria. In recent times, India has come across as a responsive neighbour to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka as compared to China, which is yet to facilitate the island nation’s debt restructuring. Even in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, the Indian imprint is better received and its record for genuine and prompt assistance is among the best in the world.

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Rajeev Deshpande

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