INDIA shares land borders with seven countries-including Bangladesh (4096 kms), China (3439 kms), Pakistan (3325 kms) and Myanmar (1643 kms)-and maritime borders with five countries. Given the size of the country and its role in the comity of nations, our security concerns and interests are not limited to our immediate neighborhood. India's area of security interest clearly extends beyond the confines of the conventional geographical definition of South Asia.
With geo-economics gaining precedence over geopolitics, the tasking of defence forces the world over, is undergoing a sea change. Our Armed Forces are now playing a pivotal role in creating stable conditions for the nation's economic development. With its economy growing at over 8% per annum last year and set to rise further, India's one billion people are increasingly becoming an engine of regional and global growth and prosperity. Software, manufacturing, agriculture, nuclear energy, space, disaster management, maritime affairs, entertainment and culture are only some of the areas in which India's role is becoming increasingly vital for the region and the world. With the steady growth of the Indian economy, India has now a significant stake in a stable world.
India is fully committed to maintaining peace and stability with its neighbours, in the region and in the global context too. This is sought to be achieved through a combination of defence preparedness, unilateral restraint, confidence building dialogue, and expanding bilateral and multilateral interaction. Effective diplomacy, backed by credible military power is India's preferred means to meet the multiple threats and growing challenges in the region and globally. The country's force postures remain defensive in orientation, while its nuclear policy is characterized by a commitment to no-first-use, moratorium on nuclear testing, minimum credible nuclear deterrent and rejection of entering into an arms race. India is fully committed to the twin policies of no territorial ambition, and no export of ideology.
In tune with its philosophy of maintaining and strengthening defence relationships with international partners as part of India's contribution to global peace, security and strategic stability, the Ministry of Defence has significantly stepped up its defence ties with a wide range of countries across the globe. Strategic defence dialogue has assumed a significant role in the defence partnership between India and a number of countries. Such exchanges have led to greater joint partnership towards preparations for a globally coordinated initiative to fight against the menace of terrorism, proliferation, trafficking, piracy and the nefarious activities of nonstate actors. India's commitment to UN-led peacekeeping operations is unwavering and India has expanded its role by agreeing to contribute troops towards the UN operations in the middle-east.
This Supreme command of the Armed Forces vests in the President of India. The responsibility for national defence, however, rests with the Cabinet. The Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) is responsible to Parliament for all matters concerning defence of the country. Administrative and operational control of the armed forces is exercised by the Ministry of Defence and the three Service Headquarters.
