Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The Indian armed forces, in a step towards enhancing their joint fighting capabilities, have promulgated two doctrines, including one on fighting internal battles like the Maoist insurgency, “where a misguided population” has to be brought into the mainstream.
The documents, “Doctrine on Perception Management and Psychological Operations” and “Doctrine on Air and Land Operations”, are aimed at creating the “requisite synergy between the three services in important military matters”, a defence spokesperson said.

The Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, who is also the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, released the doctrines here Tuesday.

They “will go a long way towards enhancing joint fighting capabilities of Indian armed forces”, the spokesperson said.

The documents collectively aver that victory in a battle depends on joint teamwork by maritime, ground and air forces operating effectively, individually and together in support of shared military objectives.

The doctrine on “Military Psychological Operations” assumes significance as the government is currently mulling using the Indian Army, directly or indirectly, to fight the raging Leftwing extremism in east and central India.

It provides guidelines for activities related to “perception management in sub-conventional operations” like fighting insurgency.

The psychological operations document is useful “in an internal environment wherein misguided population may have to be brought into the mainstream”.

It stresses a planned process of conveying a message to “selected target audiences”.

This will “promote particular themes that result in desired attitudes and behaviour which affect the achievement of political and military objectives”, it says.

“Given the potential benefit of psychological operations as an effective force multiplier, its use in support of military aims and objectives is considerable,” the document says.

“The joint doctrine for Air-Land Operations would serve as the keystone document for employment of military power in a joint operations scenario,” the spokesperson said.

It establishes the framework of concepts and principles to understand the approach to planning and conduct of air-land operations in a conventional war scenario.

It also lays down procedures that will leverage the available technology towards synergistic application of air power.

The doctrines were formulated by the Doctrine Directorate of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).