Pune: India’s attention towards Pakistan was driven largely by the continuing threat of terrorism, but China is going to be New Delhi’s main competitor across multiple domains in the long-term, asserted former Army chief General Manoj Naravane on Thursday.
While refraining from using the term “enemy” in context of China, he stressed the need for a strong military deterrence while resolving long-standing differences with Beijing through dialogue.
Speaking about security challenges New Delhi faces from its neighbours, Naravane noted Pakistan and China were in a different category, though India had fought wars with both countries and had unsettled borders with them.
He was speaking at the launch of his new book ‘The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries’, published by Rupa Publications.
“Pakistan and China are a totally different ballgame. We have fought wars with both of them. We have unsettled borders. So they will always remain on our radar as a threat, as a challenge,” he noted.
Naravane, however, distinguished between the two countries, saying India’s immediate attention towards Pakistan was driven largely by the continuing threat of terrorism, while China was likely to emerge as India’s principal competitor over the longer term.
He was speaking at the launch of his new book ‘The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries’, published by Rupa Publications.
“Pakistan and China are a totally different ballgame. We have fought wars with both of them. We have unsettled borders. So they will always remain on our radar as a threat, as a challenge,” he noted.
Naravane, however, drew a distinction between the two countries, saying India’s immediate attention towards Pakistan was driven largely by the continuing threat of terrorism, while China was likely to emerge as India’s principal competitor over the longer term.
