Highlights
– India to continue Indian Ocean naval exercises with major navies
– Coastal and maritime programs target illicit smuggling operations
– Important trading sea-lanes reinforce need for increased maritime security
In the past several months, the Indian government has taken a lead role in tackling emerging maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean including piracy, terrorism and smuggling. In February 2008, India hosted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a conference attended by 26 heads of major navies from around the world, to promote naval interaction with Indian Ocean Rim countries. Recently, India has announced it will continue to hold frequent Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal maritime exercises with internationally-renown navies including the United States and France, as well as Qatar, Thailand and South Africa, among others.
India currently relies on the Indian Ocean for 90 percent of its trade by volume. Due to a ten percent increase in global pirate attacks in 2007, coupled with terrorist groups such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conducting human and weapon smuggling operations, a heightened military maritime presence and tighter coastal security regimes will be important for India to maintain stability and security in the vital body of water in the long-term.
Security Gaps
According to Indian officials, terrorists have continued to exploit security gaps in India’s 4350-mile coastline to smuggle arms and explosives heading to countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Maldives. Rebels from the LTTE have also sought refuge off India’s southern coast to regroup and retool in their fight for an independent Tamil homeland. For example in March 2008, Indian authorities from the state of Tamil Nadu arrested two LTTE operatives for constructing a 70-foot vessel for the LTTE Navy, the Sea Tigers, in a Kerala boatyard.
Additionally, the RDX explosives used in the 1993 Mumbai bombings that killed 257 people and targeted the Bombay Stock Exchange Building, several hotels and the headquarters of Air India were smuggled by sea into the Raigad area along the Konkan coast in Maharashra .
Coastal Security Upgrades
To address illicit smuggling activities, the Indian government has focused resources on law enforcement patrols and a variety of maritime surveillance programs to include:
• As part of the Coastal Security Scheme, the government will strengthen infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance missions. Currently, 47 out of a total 73 new coastal police stations are operational in Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Daman. The program will also establish 97 check posts, 58 outposts and 30 operational barracks in the nine coastal states.
• India is pursuing the development of a satellite tracking system that is expected to increase maritime awareness for terrorist smuggling operations. The government seeks to install the system by late 2008.
• The Indian Navy and Coast Guard will intensify surveillance for 21 unmanned islands between Sri Lanka and India to prevent LTTE infiltration into Indian territorial waters.
Vital Stakes in Maritime Stability
India recently announced its plans to increase defense spending by 10 percent in 2008 (Previous Report). Additionally, as India is set to become the third largest importer of foreign oil by the year 2025, the government will likely continue to allocate funding and resources to combat piracy and maritime terrorism in the long-term.
