Indian air force's fighter squadron is below sanctioned numbers. There is a huge shortfall of officers in the Indian Army. Indian Navy has a shortfall of ships to enforce its superiority. Meanwhile Chinese army, navy and air force have grown to mind boggling levels. In terms of numbers and technology, India is years behind China. Pakistan on the other hand has stolen, borrowed and bartered nuclear weapons, missiles, fighter jets to counter India. India's superiority 'seems' to be dwindling. Does that mean India cannot face another war with Pakistan. I don't think so. Of all the wars fought between India and Pakistan, Pakistan always held superiority in terms of technology. 1963 saw Pakistan use advanced weapons thanks to America. 1971 witnessed the same. Again thanks to America. Kargil war saw Pakistan at a strategic advantage. And the world knows India won all of them.
What makes India potent and lethal despite the difference in technology?
1. Indian defense services are a part of Indian might. Whereas in Pakistan, the defense services are a power on their own, independent of the government. Democracy in Pakistan is a joke. This makes Indian defense services disciplined, loyal, smarter, potent and lethal. The focus is on the enemy. Pakistan defense services don't know who the enemy is. Their government, Taliban, India???????
2. Indian economy is much ahead of Pakistan. Sorry. There can be no comparison between the two. Pakistan... Where is the economy? They spend on missiles, jets, blah blah blah. No money to feed their population, no reserves in case of crisis. India could sustain a war longer than Pakistan. India is superior in terms of military. India has money. India has fuel reserves. Pakistan has neither. If war broke out today, Pakistan would probable scurry to the world powers for cease fire.
3. Both have nuclear weapons. An Indian first strike or even a retaliatory second strike would annihilate Pakistan. Point to note is that, if Pakistan keeps pushing terrorists across border India may be forced to openly declare war.
Let us come to China. World's largest army. Third largest air force. Second largest navy. Do we need to be scared? Let me be frank. Direct conventional conflict between India and China would probably result in Indian defeat 9 out of 10 times. Does India have to worry? Not really.
1. Both India and China have nuclear weapons. China has more, but Indian retaliation would cripple China beyond doubt. India does not want conflict with either Pakistan or China, but if pushed beyond a point it will have no choice but use nuclear weapons.
2. In 1962, India was not aligned to any power block. Today, India and Russia are partners in trade, space and military. China would not dare an open conflict for fear of Russia opening other fronts with China. Russia is still one of the two major nuclear forces in the world. Other than few border skirmishes and war of words, Indo-China border will remain calm, though unpleasant.
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2 comments:
I am afraid that the situation is more scary than you hope.Nuclear conflagration cannot be ruled out once the terrorists / jihadists gain atomic control.Nuclear deterrence becomes irrelevant when it depends on the non-existing good sense of terrorists. Logic is never a constraint for suicide-bombing desperados. I hope I am wrong.
Yes. I agree. I missed out the terrorist component of the threat
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