NEW DELHI, Dec 21 – The Kargil War of 1999, fought between India and Pakistan, marked a pivotal moment in global history as the first direct conflict between two nuclear-armed nations. Despite remaining below the nuclear threshold, the war resulted in approximately 500 Indian fatalities and even higher losses on the Pakistani side. It also triggered a comprehensive reassessment of India’s national security framework, leading to the establishment of the Kargil Review Committee (KRC), tasked with identifying shortcomings and recommending reforms.
Chaired by noted strategist K. Subrahmanyam, the KRC produced a far-reaching report advocating changes across six critical domains: India’s security architecture, intelligence capabilities, counterterrorism and border management, defense modernization, nuclear policy, and media relations. While many reforms have been initiated, 25 years later, the implementation of these recommendations remains incomplete.
Strengthening Apex Decision-Making
At the time of the Kargil War, India’s nascent National Security Council (NSC) lacked cohesion and operational maturity. The KRC recommended the evolution of the NSC into a robust institution led by a full-time National Security Advisor (NSA). Although subsequent governments have addressed this recommendation by appointing a full-time NSA and expanding the NSC Secretariat’s structure, concerns persist over its internal coordination and limited integration of independent expertise from think tanks and external advisors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has expanded the NSC with new positions, including a maritime security coordinator and additional deputy NSAs, reflecting India’s changing threat perceptions. However, experts emphasize the need for greater inter-agency cohesion and more transparent decision-making processes.
Reforming Civil-Military Relations
The KRC also criticized the marginalization of India’s military leadership in strategic decision-making. It called for improved civil-military coordination and greater involvement of military leaders in long-term planning. While the government created the post of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) in 2019 to enhance inter-services coordination and act as the defense minister’s principal military advisor, challenges remain. Veterans have raised concerns about the heavy workload associated with the role, which requires balancing operational responsibilities with strategic advisory duties.
Efforts to implement “theaterization” of commands to improve operational integration are ongoing. However, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh recently stated that restructuring India’s military could take up to two decades, underscoring the complexity of the task.
Modernization and War Preparedness
During the Kargil War, India’s armed forces faced critical shortages in weapons, ammunition, and winter gear, exposing glaring weaknesses in procurement and preparedness. The KRC urged a balanced approach to defense modernization and indigenization, emphasizing the need for timely equipment acquisition.
While India’s defense budget has grown from $14 billion in 1999 to over $81 billion today, bureaucratic red tape and corruption scandals have delayed critical procurements. The Modi government has pushed for indigenization through initiatives such as the corporatization of ordnance factories and technology transfer agreements. However, delays in the development of indigenous weapons systems, like the decades-long timeline for the Arjun Tank, highlight ongoing challenges.
To address manpower costs, the government introduced the Agnipath scheme for contractual recruitment in 2022, but it has faced backlash in regions where army jobs are a key avenue for socioeconomic mobility.
Lessons and the Road Ahead
The Kargil War catalyzed a fundamental rethink of India’s national security apparatus, as reflected in the KRC and subsequent reviews by government panels, task forces, and the military. Despite progress in areas such as the creation of the CDS and the expansion of the NSC, India’s reforms remain uneven and incomplete.
Experts warn that further delays in modernization and structural reforms could jeopardize India’s ability to project power across the Indian Ocean and maintain regional stability amid emerging challenges from China and Pakistan. As the KRC aptly noted, “Procrastination has cost nations dearly.”
For India to fully realize its aspirations as a global military power, it must implement long-overdue reforms in its security architecture, intelligence capabilities, and defense modernization efforts. The journey to a stronger, more resilient national security system remains a work in progress.