India needs 'whole-of-govt approach' to confront strategic uncertainties: Army Chief

The time has come for India to adopt a "whole-of-government approach" in decisively confronting the "strategic uncertainties" looming on its horizon as well as non-traditional threats like pandemics, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane has said, strongly pitching for broadening the country's national security doctrine.

Talking about complex geo-political power play in India's neighbourhood, Gen Naravane said the Indian armed forces are determined to "cement" the country's reputation as a net security provider in the region.

"There is an entire spectrum of strategic uncertainties that looms on the horizon and a whole-of-government approach is the need of the hour to deal with them," the Army Chief told PTI.

Though Gen Naravane did not elaborate, his comments came in the backdrop of Pakistan-supported Taliban's aim for a role in power structure in Afghanistan and China's persistent efforts to expand military ties with countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and the Maldives.

"In dealing with issues of global nature, the armed forces with their inherent capabilities and capacities will cement India's reputation as a net security provider in the region, taking security as a holistic concept," Gen Naravane said.

India is learnt to have been worried over the extremely fragile and dynamic situation in Afghanistan after the US sealed a historic deal with the Taliban providing for withdrawal of American troops from the war-ravaged country.

The Army Chief further said that India needs to broaden its understanding of national security and must examine non-traditional threats like pandemics "de-novo" as they have the potential to inflict severe damage on the country. "We need to act and prepare ourselves accordingly."