Why do we fight wars? NSA Ajit Doval declares amid Russia-Ukraine war

New Delhi:

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday stressed the crucial role of the nation's will in ensuring lasting peace after conflict and questioned the core objectives of warfare.

He said the way to achieve military goals is to break the will of the nation, and the defeat of its army breaks the will of the nation.

“Why do we fight the wars? Is it a vicarious pleasure to kill the enemy's human resources? What are our military goals and how do we achieve them? We achieve it by breaking the will of the nation and defeating its army, which breaks the will of the nation.” “If you defeat them on the battlefield, the nation is ready to make peace with you on your terms,” ​​Mr. said Doval at the inauguration of Indian Strategic Culture by Major General (retired) Dr. DG Bakshi.

He pointed out that nations often overlook this important aspect of strategy, focusing instead on military maneuvers and buildup rather than the collective resolve of their citizens.

Drawing parallels to current conflicts, the NSA said: “Whether it is Ukraine, Russia or any other war, one of the key tasks that has been neglected has been the creation and strengthening of national will.”

He also invoked the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who worked to promote national willpower over a century ago, saying, “About 100 years ago, Swami Vivekananda was one who dedicated himself to this task.”

Mr. Doval also stressed the need for a strong counter-narrative on social media to protect the morale of the Indian Defense Forces and national integrity, saying that the credibility of social media is slowly eroding.

“Social media needs to be countered with social media…The credibility of social media is slowly fading now. You should focus on searching and uncovering stories on social media that show outright and blatant lies. This can be achieved by showcasing some photographs etc,” Mr Doval said.

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