KAZAKHSTAN’S MILITARY POLICY: PRIORITIES FOR MILITARY BUILD-UP AND PREPARATION OF THE KAZAKHSTAN ARMY*
Mr Dubovtsev GF**
Today, the mankind is witnessing significant changes. In the last decade, globalisation has facilitated cardinal changes in world affairs. The increased economic interdependence among states and democratisation of international relations have created unprecedented possibilities for development. However, it has made the system vulnerable as well. Non-uniformity in sharing of the natural resources, increasing differences between developed and developing countries, economic expansion, distinctions in approach to the socio-political devices of the states and other negative aspects of globalisation have also created interstate contradictions. They have led to the use of military and other means of power to assert one’s supremacy over others.
The changed world has numerous challenges and concerns at all levels. By the end of first decade of the 21st century, national security has emerged as the prime concern of each country, including Kazakhstan. With territorial, national and ethnic threats; religious contradictions; increase in weapons of mass destruction (WMD); nuclear threat and widespread international terrorism; the probabilities of uncontrolled military forces getting involved in conflicts have increased.
Since the end of last century, the character of global-regional security threats and military safety has undergone considerable change. Along with traditional calls and threats, the increase in destructive potential of asymmetric forces and warfare have also added to the challenges being faced by regular armed forces of the states. The actions of such non-state forces are marked by surprise attacks with active support and use of civilians to replenish their numbers and to mask their actions.
Majority of military and scientific institutions of the world are actively researching new forms and methods for combating these asymmetric threats. Complexity in combating them arise due to inherent disadvantages faced by the regular armed forces due to their adherence to standard procedures, organisation and equipment. Therefore, politico-military reorientation is required to counter them effectively. The civilian and military leadership need to act together in the decision making process to face the emerging threats to national security.
The nature of military conflicts has undergone a sea change. The international community is facing new type of challenges due to the strategy of indirect approach: guided by political and psychological pressures, demonstration of force by powerful countries, economic sanctions and information warfare. The extremist groups, terrorist organisations with criminal orientation are using guerrilla tactics to conduct trans-boundary wars. Terrorist organisations use ethnic and religious factors to generate financial support from states.
The military systems of affected states need to adapt themselves suitably for conducting wars against such threats regionally and in their own territory. Presently, the Special Forces are also unable to combat such threats decisively. A wide spectrum of new theories for planning, reorganisation and development of Armed Forces have emerged. In the face of such threats, the armed forces should act more pragmatically by conducting joint operations with internal security and frontier troops, law enforcement bodies and Special Forces.
The Western experts have analysed these threats and concluded that traditional role of the Armed Forces must be changed to counter them by resorting to Network Centric Warfare. This concept is based on information superiority, which enhances the fighting power and supremacy of regular armies over non-state enemies. Emergence of such threats has forced the states to adopt a new series of measures to reorganise their Armed Forces which include their modernisation and new concepts for their employment.
Introduction of modern information technology has enabled the Armed Forces to decentralise their structural command network. This has facilitated faster dissemination of operational data and effective execution of operational orders; accurate assessment of opponent’s intention and plans; interpreting and disrupting their communications; blocking illegitimate money transactions and psychological operations – all linked to interstate structures. In future military conflicts; information, intelligence and networking would be the keystone to success. Speed in dissemination of information should be increased to minimise the time in decision-making process and transfer of orders, to thwart the opponents plans at all levels. Therefore, the Armed Forces must be technology savvy and be well versed with advanced communication and automated control systems both on strategic, operative and tactical levels.
Today, correct formulation and realisation of Kazakhstan military goals and policy are dependent upon the overall performance of not only the military itself, but also other power structures as well, and on the successful achievement of economic development plans of the country. These days, safety and security of Kazakhstan is linked with the developments in the Central Asia and its frontier states. Therefore, to define priorities for further development of its military potential, detailed analyses of geopolitical conditions in Central-Asia and adjoining regions and the foreign policies of its neighbouring states are important factors that need attention. In the last few years, as noted in the Military Doctrine of Kazakstan, the situation around the country has changed radically. There are some new factors which are destabilising the region and posing new threats to Kazakhstan’s national safety.1
In the intermediate term, greatest threats to the safety of Kazakhstan and the region are perceived from: unstable internal political, economic and social conditions; growth of ethnic and demographic identities in a number of states leading to transition of a considerable part of the population to adopt extremist methods of struggle; transnational terrorism and religious extremism; organised crime; illegal circulation of weapons and drugs; deficiency of natural resources; water sharing and deterioration of the ecological environment.
Low intensity conflicts in the adjacent states, initiated by international terrorist organisations, have the potential of involving Kazakhstan also. Confrontations in Central Asia republics can also result from terrorist acts of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) – with support from members of religious-extremist parties, Hizb-ut-Tahrir and Taliban and other extremist groups with a view of creating Islamic Caliphate in Central Asia.
Military conflict between the USA and Iran could possibly set-off a whole chain of catastrophic consequences, as seen in Iraq campaign. It would inevitably lead to a new coil of instability in Afghanistan and heightened terrorist activity not only in the Near and Middle East, but also in Central Asia.
The military doctrine and strategy are designed to safeguard the core military and national safety interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking into account the objective analyses of the military-political situation in the world and the Central-Asian region. Officially confirmed policy states that Kazakhstan will take military action against threats which affect the safety of the country; and would use all levers of state power to prevent conflict – taking into consideration its political and economic priorities through interstate diplomacy. The foreign policy, based on partnerships and cooperation, seeks to resolve conflict situations at early stages of their development. Military force will be applied to protect the vital national interests of Republic Kazakhstan.
After the policy statement made by the third President of Independent Kazakhstan in March, 2007; the military doctrine was reviewed on the basis of detailed analyses. Thereafter, the new military policy was issued. It included directions for further military build-up and to prepare the Kazakhstan Army to face core threats. The main consideration in defining these directions, was to take into account the military threats in the intermediate term. Accordingly, the priority of the Armed Forces has been designed to keep them in a state of readiness for fighting against the low and medium intensity conflicts in the region.
Taking into account the politico-military threats, the Kazakhstan Armed Forces are being restructured by creating a balance between the military needs and financial constraints. The key principles for planning military operations and their application under present day politico-military threats are :-
(a) Transition from linear tactics to conducting precise operations.
(b) Self-sufficiency and independence of groupings of armies.
(c) High speed of management, wide use of the automated command control systems by the armies.
(d) Latest technology arms and equipment including high-precision weapon system.
(e) Minimisation of own losses during fighting.
To achieve the above mentioned qualitative parameters, the Kazakhstan Army has been transformed radically by taking following conditions into consideration : -
(a) Modernisation of the command and control system and structuring the central bodies for sound military management and planning. Taking into account the experiences of the advanced countries, the role and responsibilities have been decentralised at each level to improve decision making and for exercising better command and control.
(b) Increasing the fighting capacity of the Armed Forces by improving their equipment profile to confront the modern threats efficiently. Periodic structural review and constant upgradation of fighting techniques to further raise the potential and alertness of Armed Forces.
(c) Increase in the intensity and quality of combat training during peace time. The main criterion here is efficiency and seeking maximum return from each deployment of forces. Finances for conducting studies and research, based on the fighting capabilities of other armies is also given due weightage.
(d) Reliable communications, backed by sound training and latest technical knowhow and equipment are the cornerstones of the policy to maintain alertness at all times. Army transformation caters for technological changes which will necessitate introduction of new systems of arms, military technology, forms and ways of conducting operations in the future.
(e) Introduction of modern military technology with automated control systems, weapons and high-precision ammunition will allow the Armed Forces to effectively solve the problems by using lesser number of troops for ensuring military security of the country.
(f) Efficiency of the Army depends on dedication and professionalism of the soldiers, their training and capability for solving problems both in war and peace.
The major tool for transforming the potential of the Armed Forces lies in the military education system. The domestic military education system is conducted in the following manner:-
(a) Research and introduction of progressive forms of warfare to prepare military expertise to measure up to the best foreign standards.
(b) Improvement in the quality of education through methodical work, based on structural changes required to achieve obligatory standards taking into account real-life requirements of the Armed Forces.
(c) Realising the importance of active interaction with leading foreign military institutions for the purpose of studying the modern teaching and education processes.
(d) Creation of a mechanism to attract foreign experts for specialists’ training in Kazakhstan.
(e) Strengthening of scientific potential of military educational institutions.
(f) Perfecting the material base of high school education by providing latest training apparatus, to enhance computer literacy and with connection with the World Net through Internet.
(g) Development of occupational guidance work for the youth and perfection of rules for enrolment of students.
(h) Enrolment through successful multilevel entry system and introduction of courses to train the sergeants and officers for higher posts in the Armed Forces.
Conclusion
By seeking to achieve perfection in domestic military training system and initiating steps for strengthening social protection of the military men, Kazakhstan government policy has positively affected the appeal of military service – strengthening the image of the Armed Forces. It has further motivated the soldiers to perform their duties more efficiently and led to qualitative improvements in the structure of the Armed Forces. This is positively reflected in the quality of their combat training and consequent improvement in raising the level of alertness of the Armed Forces.
The above mentioned measures and plans for better military-political management will allow the Kazakhstan Army to achieve new qualitative levels, corresponding to innovations in military science, and to future military-political scenarios. Briefly, this is the stated policy of Kazakhstan to defend its territory and to provide national security in all spheres.
Radical changes in politico-military conditions and the future vision of conducting armed struggles have necessitated transformation of the defence system to safeguard the national security of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The military re-organisation of the State and its Armed Forces and evolving a perfect defence policy for Kazakhstan are based on the analyses of most effective systems and structural models best suited to meet the vital interests of the State. These measures would be adequate to meet the threats faced by Kazakhstan in the 21st Century.
*Paper presented at a Joint USI-Military and Strategic Studies (Kazakhstan) Bilateral Discussion held at USI on 10 Oct 2011.
** Mr Dubovtsev GF, a is the President of the Military Strategic Studies Centre, Kazakhstan