India has 'problems' managing nuclear arms

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, AUG. 13. Armed with limited options to deliver its nuclear weapons, India is facing some difficulties in redefining the military command structure for managing land and air-based atomic weapons.

So far, it has been working on building a triad of land, air and sea-based platforms for delivering nuclear weapons and is integrating them under a coherent military command. As of now, the Agni-II strategic missile is the only land-based weapon the Government has decided to induct into its nuclear arsenal.

According to highly-placed Government sources, it has been decided not to arm the 150-km. range Prithvi missile or any of its variants with a nuclear warhead. The sources also said contrary to existing perceptions, the so-called Agni-III, with a range of around 3,000 km., did not exist. India, however, can do with a new missile, which is out of the Agni pedigree but has an intercontinental reach, to provide greater depth to its nuclear deterrent. Some Indian Air Force planes can also deliver nuclear weapons.

Crucial decision

In June, the Government decided to hand over the Agni-II to the Army. The decision was primarily based on three considerations. First, the Army was the largest of the three forces. Second, it had an infrastructure that could be adapted for storing and deploying the Agni-II with the minimum modifications and cost. Besides, it had the maximum experience in handling the Prithvi ballistic missile.

In determining a military chain of command for its nuclear arsenal, the Government has been guided by the draft nuclear doctrine advocating a small but effective nuclear arsenal and the post-Kargil recommendations of the Group of Ministers on higher defence management.

In defining the new defence architecture, the Government has tried to minimise the disturbance to its existing military hierarchy in the conventional field. It has also sought to separate the tri-service nuclear element for placement under a parallel hierarchy headed by a Chief of Defence Staff. The military chain of command, as far as nuclear weapons go, is therefore headed by the CDS.

After studying the command and control structures of the major nuclear powers including China, it has been decided to establish a Strategic Command. Reporting to the CDS, the strategic command will be tri-service in nature, with representatives from the Army, Navy and the IAF presiding over the nuclear assets.

New architecture

The unveiling of the new defence architecture, however, has been delayed as the cross-linkages between the military and the political leadership for deployment of nuclear weapons is still being worked out. For instance, while it is logical that any decision related to the use of nuclear weapons will be ultimately taken by the Prime Minister, a series of fall-back tie-ups between the political hierarchy and the military, in case the Prime Minister, for some reason, is unavailable for taking a decision, is yet to be finalised. In other words, it is yet to be decided who will hold the nuclear trigger in case the Prime Minister is unable to do so?

The Government's effort to redefine a new command and control set-up has also experienced other hiccups. The IAF is apparently reluctant to being absorbed in a new tri-service architecture. The IAF, as widely reported, first opposed any change in higher defence management even during the early stages of the nuclear debate following the Pokhran tests. It is also not too happy with the likely formation of a strategic command where all the three services will be equally represented.

In a note to the Defence Minister after the handover of the Agni- II to the Army, the IAF reiterated the demand for an apex nuclear air command under it to spearhead the nuclear forces. Sources said it was also not too keen on the strategic tri-service Andaman Nicobar Command, which may be able to exert an influence along the shipping lanes heading towards South-East Asia.

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