And another South Asian arms race?
Having first gone on a diplomatic offensive, then ignited the LoC and working boundary, India has now raised the stakes in the conventional arms race. Its indigenous ‘supersonic interceptor missile’, as is self-explanatory, is designed to ‘intercept hostile ballistic missiles’. The step is rightly being interpreted as a signal to both Pakistan and China; more the former, of course. And anyone with the simplest understanding of South Asian strategic deterrence dynamics will understand that this move risks triggering another arms race in the region.
The Modi government is clearly going all out to push and provoke Pakistan. The missile launch is a gambit, of course, upgrading its own capability and forcing Islamabad to choose between restraint and parity. The forces will naturally be inclined to balance the equation, while there will be loud calls, local and foreign, to act more prudently. Hopefully influential voices always calling on Pakistan to tone down its reaction will also pressure India this time around. It’s posturing is now over-aggressive. And neither the region, nor India’s own diverse polity, will be too comfortable with this arrangement for too long.
Pakistan has always been able to maintain deterrence with regard to India. And most concerns were put to permanent rest by the full spectrum of the nuclear deterrent. While the capability of the armed forces must never be compromised, the leadership must still be careful while choosing from its list of options. The military has done a good job of routing the terrorist sanctuary in the badlands, and politicians have stuck to the fight for democracy – which has had its highs and lows. The most important thing now is institution building, something successive governments have been putting on the backburner owing to more pressing concerns. Pakistan knows well how wasteful arms races can be. Fortunately, so does India. It would help, therefore, if concerned Indians and their friends internationally can impress upon New Delhi the folly of its own aggressive policy.
I dont see any article in condemning China when china is continuourly increasing its defence preparedness, launching sea carriers, submarines, missile testing, forceful occupation of disputed islands etc. Though these are all direct threats to india, pakistan expects that, india should not increase and counter the china's hegemony. But pakistan keeps on complaining india's preparedness. If missile testing by india is to be termed as 'provoking pakistan to engage in arms race' then how do we term china's actions in missile testing and submarines, should this not be termed as provoking india and introducing arms race in the region? HOw can the same action be termed and dubbed differently by pakistan. Is this not hypocrisy and double standard? But one thing is that, india never complained about china increasing its defence capabilities but pakistan never passes a day without grumbling about india's defence capabilities. This means that, pakistan is so weak that, instead of fighting it expects the enemy to tone down its defence preparedness. Is this not a childish expectation?
india is afraid of china, a self perceived threat, but most of its weapons and air force are very close to pakistan borders
right or wrong
India will soon realise USA plays double games.
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