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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dalvinder Singh Grewal" data-source="post: 226810" data-attributes="member: 22683">Chapter III PROXY WAR PARADIGM <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Definition</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Characteristics</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Causes</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Effects</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Methodology</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Countermeasures</li> </ol> Webster Dictionary (P.<a href="http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.page.sh?PAGE=1155" target="_blank">1155</a>) gives the meaning of the word proxy as “the agency for another who acts through the agent; authority to act for another.” Proxy war is taken to mean ‘the war through another agency and can be defined as “an indirect war, imposed by one nation, community, or group against another, by engaging a third agency.” A simple example can be of the younger brother, who has been deprived of his property rights by his elder brother. He wants to regain his share but is too weak for a fight and too poor for a court case. He wins over his nephews by showing extreme love and affection and speaks to them in very sweet words, gradually filling their ears against their father for not giving enough to them for their betterment. A brawl of the sons with their father leads to a fight, and in one such fight the incited sons kill their father in anger and in turn are hanged for murder on the evidence given by the younger brother. Being the only heir left thereafter, the younger brother not only gets his own property back but also that of his brother. Here he has employed sons of his brother as agents to win the war against his brother. In actuality, this situation may not depict a war. Another example is cited here to clarify further. In the Cold War period, the USA and the USSR were the two superpowers trying to lower each other. The USSR used Vietnam to lower America’s influence, while the USA used Afghanistan to lower the hold and prestige of the USSR. In Afghanistan, the USA used Pakistan as a conduit of funds and weapons to train, maintain, equip, and direct Afghan rebels against the USSR. Later, desirous of maintaining domination over Afghanistan, Pakistan on its own trained the Taliban to take control over Afghanistan in its own hands. It sheltered Afghan refugees, trained the younger lot in war and weaponry, officered them and led them against the regime, and gradually swept over most of Afghanistan. Similarly, Yasser Arafat used the ‘Intifada’ of Palestinians against Israelis to gain his lost territories. Characteristics: <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">There are three agencies minimum involved in the proxy war: the engaging agency, on whose behalf it is initiated and fought; an engaged agency, who is engaged to fight on behalf of the engaging agency; and the attacked agency, on whom the proxy war is waged. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">An engaged agency fights at the battlefront for the other. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The engaging agency does not physically involve itself at the battlefront. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The real interest for the fight is of the engaging agency. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The aims and objectives of the engaged agency are meant to achieve the aims and objectives of the engaging agency. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The planning, organizing, directing, or controlling may lie invisibly at the hands of the engaging agency, but visibly these are in the hands of the engaged agency. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Visible or invisible benefits are ensured to the engaged agency by the engaging agency. </li> </ol> Causes: Some of the causes of resorting to proxy war are as under: Proxy war is very useful for those who cannot fight a war directly. Hence, the weaker of the two may resort to proxy war without having risked itself. Where physical war is not possible or is more destructive, as in chemical, biological, or nuclear war, proxy war is the best solution. When the two enemies are located wide apart and are not in direct contact, proxy war is the only answer. When a country has a priority of the safety of its men and resources and is financially sound, it prefers proxy war. Effects Advantages of the proxy war to the engaging agency: A proxy war helps attain the aims and objects of the engaging agency without having it physically & directly engaged in the war. <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">It helps in maintaining secrecy about the real intentions and type of operations. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">It helps in creating confusion in the enemy for quite a long time, as the real enemy is not visible and easily ascertainable initially. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">It helps to preserve its own resources for any direct war, including soldiers, weapons, and equipment, the need for which may accrue later on. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">It provides a platform for propaganda/maligning campaigns against the nation/community against whom the war is waged without getting directly & physically involved.hysical risk and the risk to prestige and the manpower and resources of the engaging agency is minimal. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">In nuclear, biological, or chemical environments, proxy war is most suited. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The risks to manpower, resources, territory, and the prestige of the engaging agency is lesser. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Overall financial costs to the engaging agency are much lower. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Engaging agency is not visibly accountable to the international community on human rights violations and use of resources and finances for military purposes, as the proxy war expenditure is not budgeted. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The engaging enemy has no fear of losing in a proxy war. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Direct operations later against the exhausted enemy on ground of own choosing are easier, less costly, and have less fear of losing. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Sufficient intelligence about the enemy and time for preparation for a direct war can be gained through the proxy war. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">International pressure against the engaging agency to stop war may not be that effective, as is the case of a direct war. </li> </ol> Disadvantages of the proxy war to the engaging agency: The proxy war seldom produces the final results; a war may be needed to achieve the final aim. Proxy war is thus more or less a preparation for a final war, where the engaging country prepares to fight the weakened enemy or waits for an opportune moment. The war may not proceed exactly as per the requirement of the engaging agency. The engaged agency may go out of control or sometimes work against the interests of the engaging agency, or the interests of the two may collide. Sometimes the engaged agency may be bought by the country against whom the proxy war is waged, or alternatively, the engaged agency may find the engaging agency is not a sincere actor. The duration of the war may be much longer than could be otherwise. The chance of achieving the desired result of the proxy war may be lesser if the forces are not well trained, prepared, or oriented. Effects on the third party against whom the proxy war is waged: The initial phase may be quite confusing and damaging. The troops and resources may get tied down at a not very important objective. Losses may mount without results in the initial stages. Fighting against an invisible enemy may affect the morale of the troops adversely. The prolonged war may weigh heavily on the troops and the resources. The safety and security of the civilians in the area may be endangered, causing panic button or unrest at sudden provocation. The cooperation to the defence forces from the civilians may die over a period of time. The internal unrest may help the enemy achieve the results earlier than expected. The political fallout may be adverse. Methodology: <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Detailed planning of the proxy war is done by the engaging agency. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The engaging agency decides the aim on which the engaged agency is to work. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Creating an environment through propaganda: disinformation campaigns through media, diplomacy, etc., and buying off political leadership in the affected area. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Preparing own teams and intelligence agencies </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Survey of the area and the population to find out which suits the best for fulfillment of the aim. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">As the guerrilla tactics/hit-and-run tactics are generally adopted, the remote areas, jungle areas, mountainous areas, area with sufficient broken ground or having good hiding places are selected </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The population selection is the most careful job. The people who have some disenchantment or have some grudges against the regime are chosen. Among them, those who can be motivated and molded in the name of religion, language, caste, creed, or the like to stand and fight against the establishment are chosen. Further segregation is done of those who can be affiliated with the aim successfully. Too-smart, overactive, fickle-minded, weak, and egoistic people are avoided. Preference is given to the fundamentalists with a different religion than the religion of the majority of the establishment and the persons who can be easily incited. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The recruitment is a well-thought-out and planned process. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">The orientation and indoctrination must precede the training. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Training </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Organization </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Selection </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Arming </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Detailing </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Communications </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Direction and Control </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Administration </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Finances/funding </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Supplies </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Re-evaluation </li> </ol> Countermeasures: The country that is affected by the proxy war must take the following precautions: A. Contact 1. Gain Information 2. Approach 3. Maintain proper records B. Control: Liaise: must have continuous liaison with the local population. A liaisoning cell must be created for this purpose. Own agents must work in this direction Assist the parents/guardians to control their wards Isolate Demotivate: Hold demotivation camps. Rechannelize: Provide them alternative jobs or send them to places away from the affected area. C. Contain: D. Counter:</blockquote>

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