The future of the old way of keeping arms balance
The effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), consisting of all the destructive means like nuclear, chemical and biological and their disastrous consequences persist for centuries, especially the radiation and other hazardous effects endure in the atmosphere affecting many other in the neighbouring regions. Moreover, a strapping reality also prevails about the lesser chances of their usage as those being merely for deterrence purposes, therefore, for many experts, the conventional weapons would again become a preference of many great powers in the coming future.
In certain circumstances when the military apparatus becomes a pertinent means of protecting vital national interest, the conventional means only turn out to be the ultimate option because WMDs mostly serve tactical purposes of deterring the enemy and controlling its actions to prevent it from any possible aggression. Any use of WMDs will only mean falling into a situation of catastrophic destruction because in such wars, neither side will be victorious. At present, conventional military supremacy has become the penchant move of many nuclear powers, since they realise the fact that their nuclear weapons only serve a political goal and a long-term pursuance of such goals will cost as a huge burden on their economy, however, except as a means of last resort, the nuclear weapons have no valid or persuasive military role.
When the conventional balance of power gets undermined, it paves the way for the struggle to acquire nuclear weapons
For non-nuclear weapon states, the conventional military balance has a varying role in strategic scenarios, especially in conflict-ridden regions given that any imbalance in the equilibrium could destabilise the strategic stability and trigger an arms race where each side will try to maximise its power even not ignoring the option of acquiring WMDs. Likewise, the conventional military balance also puts states in an extremely difficult situation where each side is eventually compelled to maintain the status-quo and such marvels of attaining the edge in military assets can also prove to be a costly deal, whereas, any discrepancy in the balance of power, a number of concerns will arise; indulging two sides in an unanticipated arms race like in the case of many African states but such arms races are very limited in their scope and would not endanger global peace and security at large. The conventional types of warfare with unadventurous weapons in the battleground are aimed only targeting opponent’s side without causing colossal destruction.
Of course, when the conventional balance of power gets undermined, it paves the way for the struggle to acquire nuclear weapons. For example, in the South Asian case, the failure of the conventional power equilibrium resulted in the development of nuclear weapons and interminable ballistic missile race jeopardising regional and global peace. Initially in the post-partition era Pakistan had passed through serious threats to its survival and was deprived of its due share in financial assets and military equipment. Unfavourable circumstances prevailed and by the next year of their independence both India and Pakistan fought a war in 1948. For Pakistan it became an issue of its existence, therefore, it had to look for a variety of options to safeguard its security. Interestingly, after partition all ordnance factories had also fallen to the Indian side, whereas the weak economic conditions of Pakistan were also not in favour of importing military equipment. This was a time when Pakistan experienced a two-prong dilemma, i.e., to ensure its survival and become self-sufficient with lesser means. Keeping in view such challenges Pakistan also joined SEATO and CENTO in 1954 and 1955 respectively, but all in vain and failed to rescue it during the war and crises. Ultimately, the country focused more towards the self-reliance programs and after continuing efforts, especially during the last three decades, Pakistan today is successfully standing in the row of the countries that possess highly sophisticated military technology like advanced versions of missiles, tanks, aircrafts, drones, etc.
The modern Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) has further convoluted the future of conventional weapons involving new doctrines, strategies, tactics and technologies and ascendancy of quality over quantity
India, due to its huge investments in conventional military arsenals, has a hefty military supremacy over Pakistan. Pakistan’s defence spending is only Rs700.2 billion for the 2014-15 fiscal year, whereas, the Indian defence budget has now become Rs2.29 trillion. It has rightly been projected by Britain’s ministry of defence that by 2045, India will probably become third largest global conventional military arsenal with an estimated expenditure exceeding $654 billion.
However, the modern Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) has further convoluted the future of conventional weapons involving new doctrines, strategies, tactics and technologies and ascendancy of quality over quantity leading towards an irrevocable change in the conduct of warfare and the transformation of military equipment by involving fully automated unmanned machines in the battleground and the command line monitoring all the manoeuvrability through real-time satellite and space technology controls.
