National Security Advisor Doval says old intelligence methods are becoming redundant

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said here today that the concept of security has undergone changes and it was necessary that the national intelligence agencies should change their methods to meet the new challenges. .

"The efficacy of the old methods becoming redundant is one of the biggest challenges that we face," Doval said, while addressing the Munich Security Conference (MSC) organised at the Observer Research Foundation here.

Talking of the emerging challenges being faced by the agencies, Doval said, "One is the change in relativity of power and fast changing power differences between the different states: within the region, outside the region and globally. Another matter of concern is change in the nature of conflicts. We have been used to various types of conflicts in the past, but the ones emerging now are substantially different as the instruments of achieving political or strategical objectives are becoming increasingly ineffective and uncertain."

"There is no guarantee that the countries with superior fire power, technology, superior resources and networking would be able to decisively subdue their adversities," he added.

Terming the third challenge as the most difficult for the security experts, Doval said, "The new genre of conflicts have no substantially proven correct responses. We have not been able to evolve the right doctrines, strategies, tactics and technologies, and this has resulted in the development of other conflicts."

Calling for the response at the level of civil societies, individuals, corporates and business houses, Doval said that the action taken has to be at the level of the commonalities.

"We cannot have common solutions unless we have shared perceptions. The hope lies in the greater unity, understanding and commonality between the strong democracies, because if they don't lead, then it can lead to a state of anarchy," he added.

The MSC, in partnership with the Indian Observer Research Foundation, hosted a meet which focused on global and regional security challenges, including the conflict in the Middle East and the situation in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Around 70 senior decision makers from politics, business, media and civil society from India and the Euro-Atlantic, Asian and Middle-East regions came together to discuss key issues of international security policy. The conference ends on Wednesday.