More muscle needed to tackle multiple threats The Statesman 15 Jul 2025 Maj Gen Harsha Kakar

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More muscle needed to tackle multiple threats The Statesman 15 Jul 2025

          The Indian army deputy chief, Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, mentioned what had been known all along but not presented in the manner it should have. He stated, while addressing an event organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that India was battling two, if not three, adversaries during Operation Sindoor. He added that Pakistan was the front face with China and Turkey providing vital support from the background. The CDS did try and do damage control by mentioning ‘How much of State support (from China) is very difficult to define,’ however it is well known.

          China historically hesitates to enter into a conflict unless it is 100% certain of victory. It is aware that a long-drawn conflict as in Ukraine, tactical defeat or even a stalemate would break the carefully built myth of the ‘invincible’ PLA as also threaten authority of its ruling dispensation. Their national public fears body bags. Hence, Beijing continues threatening Taiwan, unwilling to risk an operation, preferring hybrid warfare.

          Powerful nations like China exploit proxies to push their agenda. Indian capability and infrastructure development was aimed at countering the Chinese. This had to change as India was narrowing the tactical and infrastructure gap. The best manner was to make India look westwards, splitting resources and funds. China also needed its military products to be tested in controlled military operations. Which better guinea pigs than Pakistan.

China and Pakistan are aware that any terrorist incident with high casualties in Kashmir would invite a military backlash. This is essential for the survival of the Modi government, which had been broadcasting a policy of ‘Ghar mein ghus kar maarenge.’

          For Pakistan, dependent on China for financial survival and military hardware, options are few. It is dutybound to do Beijing’s bidding. Added is its army losing control over the nation alongside increased casualties to freedom movements in its western provinces of Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. What better than a threat from India to bring unity within.  

Since Operation Sindoor, Imran Khan is missing from media coverage, losing fabricated cases, while Asim Munir tightens his grip on the country. Their perception management played up victory in Operation Sindoor with emphasis on Indian losses, hiding their own.    

          Turkey, whose drones were successfully employed by Azerbaijan against Armenia were hopeful of a similar performance against India. Failure of their famed Bayraktar TB2 drones is an immense setback to their export plans. With India likely to offer Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missiles to its major rival, Greece, concerns within Turkey are rising. They consider it as Indian revenge for their support to Pakistan.

          China provided Pak with all backup support, technical, intelligence, as also real-time inputs from their satellites. This did impact Indian plans, but failure of their military hardware, including aircraft, missiles and air defence radars was a major setback. More importantly, multiple nations have obtained technical data of failed Chinese missiles from India.

          Strategic losses to Pakistan, which compelled them to seek a ceasefire, would take time to recoup. Even if China provides them at a discount, it will still be costly for a cash-strapped nation. It would need to re-think its future plans on pushing terrorism in Kashmir, at least for now.  

          It is now clear that peace with China is just an illusion. Talks are only a façade and Beijing will remain our perpetual adversary. China’s anti-India policy is also evident on the economic field by it restricting exports of critical minerals, finished products as also withdrawing its engineers from global manufacturing organizations. India can never let its guard down and consider all agreements reached with China with a pinch of salt. Beijing is also expanding its reach in the neighbourhood.

Another factor is that Pakistan, which was considered a lesser evil due to its depleting economy and being globally sidelined, will remain an irritant, funded, armed and exploited by China. It has gained confidence due to China and Turkish support and would at some time in the future, post recouping its losses, reconsider another major terrorist strike. A combination of Pakistan and China, alongside a changing Bangladesh is a security concern for India.

This means India must invest in its military upgradation and capability development, not just against the northern adversary but also western. For this, apart from increased budgetary allocation, it needs to push its domestic industry to deliver products as per schedule. The current shortfalls in airpower cannot continue for ages.

India has rightly ordered an audit of Chinese parts in domestic military products and must pursue the same with vigour. Investment in R and D must be enhanced. Air defence has proved to be an essential pre-requisite in national defence. It needs to be upgraded with emerging threats.   

Simultaneously, New Delhi must change its policies towards countering terrorist strikes immediately, rather than giving the adversary two weeks to prepare, deploy and organize its defences as it did with Operation Sindoor. This means that theatre commands, which would be responsible for responding militarily, must be raised and tasked suitably. The Western Theatre Command should have multiple offensive options ready and rehearsed to be implemented with minimum time delay, post politico-military approval.

There is also a need to enhance civil-military fusion at state levels to counter any actions planned by Pakistan on similar lines as Operation Spider Web launched by Ukraine against Russia, targeting strategic assets deep within the country, alongside operations on the borders. There are Pak sleeper cells within India which could be activated alongside military operations. The armed forces may not be available to assist the civil administration when the border scenario is tense. States must possess resources as also intelligence to counter such actions.

India needs to revisit its neighbourhood first policy. It cannot let its neighbours shift gears towards China. With Bangladesh slowly drifting away, others cannot be permitted to follow suit. China, lacking the will to act militarily, will exploit Indian neighbours to enhance tensions within the country.

India is amongst few nations facing threats from multiple directions. National security needs to be given priority. The China-Pak axis is a reality and will be an increasing threat in the future. Only military power alongside national and political will keep adversaries at bay. Enhancing defence capabilities is now more essential than ever. 

      

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