Indian Military and the Challenge of Apolitical Strategic Discussions

On March 30, General Deepak Kapoor handed over charge to General V.K. Singh as the Chief of the Indian Army. General Kapoor’s statements were frequently picked by the media and his comments on India’s new war doctrine (which is not essentially ‘new’) created furor in the strategic community across the globe. On the occasion of General Kapoor’s retirement a few thoughts crossed my mind.
Is advocacy by the military—contrived or unintentional—in the public domain desirable or dangerous? Stephen P Cohen, in his seminal work on the Indian Army asserted that India’s armed forces readily accept their apolitical role—the problem is about who precisely defines the meaning of military and political. General Kapoor’s comment on the two-front war encouraged debate on the Cold Start strategy in the public domain, but did the General cross over into the political realm in doing so? Are public statements on feasibility of strategic policy by the military fostering discussion or is it violating the segregation of military and political roles?
I discuss these issues in greater detail in Pragati- The Indian National Interest Review. According to me, senior military officers should be allowed to speak on their behalf.