What government must understand: In Andamans, it can protect national security and ecology

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As far back as 1945, India’s visionary historian-diplomat Sardar K M Panikkar had warned that, “the active control of the Indian Ocean and defence of the coastline is possible only by having islands as advanced bases. The A&N archipelago is admirably placed to secure control of the Bay of Bengal.” Manifold preoccupations with the western Indian Ocean expanse had, however, led India to neglect its eastern waters, including the strategic Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) archipelago. These included a perennially adversarial Pakistan, our huge diaspora and trading links with the Persian Gulf, as well as traditional ties with Indian Ocean island...