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Lt. Col. Thakur Kuldip S. Ludra (Retd.)
Available at Library of Congress
'Defence of Andaman and Nicobar Islands' is the first attempt in India, any in the world, to analyse the importance of these islands to the Indian interests. So far not only was this region considered as Kala Pani in the average Indian's perception but the Indian Establishment has also considered it as an area way beyond the beyond. It was only after Operation Leach was launched and the resultant controversy between the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, which eventually ended in the sacking of the Naval Chief, did these Island achieve some importance in the minds of the Indians.
That these Islands have strategic importance is undeniable. They not only control the Strait of Malacca but also achieve importance in view of the American efforts to destabilise Indonesia, particularly Aceh in Sumatra. In addition inn view of it being extremely sparsely populated and it being on the route of the drug and arms runners, emanating from Thailand the global implications are obvious.
The author also strongly advocates the need for a centralised command and control of the Indian Armed Forces as well as reorganising the Armed Forces along the Theater Command concept.