Strategic webinar on “Joint Warfare by Indian Armed Forces”   

A strategic, ‘Student Centric’ Webinar was conducted on a defence-oriented subject of “Joint Warfare by Indian Armed Forces” at the Amity University, Noida Campus. The Webinar was a meticulously planned ‘Student Awareness Programme’ through the collaborative endeavour of Amity Institute of Defence & Strategic Studies (AIDSS) under the guidance of its Director General, Lt Gen (Dr) SK Gadeock, AVSM (Retd) and Society for Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Studies (SAMDeS), New Delhi headed by its Chairperson, Admiral RK Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, (Retd).   
 
An illuminating talk on joint operations was delivered by Lt Gen KM Seth, PVSM, AVSM (Retd), former Governor Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura. Lt Gen KM Seth stressed on the enhancement of joint operations keeping the advancement of technology in mind. He also called for a changed mindset of the officers to be part of the Indian armed forces than of individual services.  
  
Thereafter, General Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd) former COAS & Chairman COSC delivered the Keynote Address embodying the essence of the subject to be discussed during the webinar. General Deepak Kapoor shared that the country was way behind in embracing joint functioning and advancement as compared to the other countries. He stated that for gaining peace equilibrium achieving the military jointness was critical. “Our unmatchable Military leadership coupled with the highest discipline & morale of the troops, unequivocally gives a winning edge to the highly formidable joint warfighting capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces”, said General Kapoor.   
 
The Webinar comprised of two panel discussions, wherein the first one focused on examining the critical issues pertinent to ‘Joint Army & Air Force Operations in an evolving scenario related to Ladakh in the Northern Region’ and the second one related to ‘Integrated Tri-services Joint Operations in Rann of Kutch / Deserts & Arabian Sea in the Western & Southern Regions of the country’. This was followed by the key determinants of Sino- Pak Strategic Nexus, its Security Manifestations in the Regional Matrix and finally the efficacy and implementation of the new Joint Operations Doctrine and developing a strategic response matrix to India’s national security challenges.   
 
Admiral RK Dhowan while summing up exemplified the ‘Synergy of Force Multipliers in Joint Warfare’ providing a realistic appraisal of the geo-strategic dimension. “Andaman & Nicobar Command is our citadel in the High Seas of the Indian Ocean Region to counter any challenging threats from the adversary from the South China Sea”, commented Admiral Dhowan.   
 
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha succinctly highlighted his ‘Perceptions on Joint Warfare’ with its manifestations and recommendations for the ‘Way Forward’. “Apart from the Synergy of Joint Warfare being achieved in the three Services, imperative that India’s Higher Defence Organisation also needs to be recalibrated accordingly in perspective”, averred ACM Raha.   
 
Dr Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President Amity Education Group stated that the topic of discussion was apt and timely. He also shared his desire of having 1000 cadets to be admitted in the Amity Military College and sought the esteemed gathering to assist him. He averred that these webinars would enhance the awareness quotient of students on strategic issues and motivating them to improve their assimilation & rational understanding on Defence-oriented National Security problems, with systemic ramifications in perspective.   
 
The students of Amity Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (AIDSS), guided by Prof Dr V. Yoga Jyotsna, HOI & Dean AIDSS and nurtured by Brig BB Varma, Programme Director AIET, performed exceptionally well giving their perceptions and valued inputs with astuteness and great aplomb. The Webinar was very well attended by faculty and students from Amity Universities, various dignitaries, veterans from the Armed Forces and other eminent citizenry.