India gears up to position hundreds of tanks along border with Pakistan

The MBTs will be imported from Russia at a cost of $2 billion

India is planning to deploy over 460 main battle tanks (MBTs) along the border with Pakistan.

The deployment will significantly boost India’s already sizeable tank presence at the frontier. The Indian Army plans to position the recently ordered T-90 tanks along India's border with Pakistan, senior defence functionaries told IHS Jane 360.



The tanks, which will be imported from Russia at a cost of $2 billion, will join 900 or so T-90S Bhishma tanks presently deployed in India's Rajasthan and Punjab states. The purchase has yet to be green-lighted by the Defense Acquisition Council.

Analysts posit the significant surge in tank deployment at the border could be a manifestation of India readying to activate its Cold Start doctrine. The strategy is premised on India's conventional forces executing holding attacks before international intervention or nuclear retaliation from Pakistan.



In an interview with India Today, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat categorically stated that the “doctrine existed for conventional military operations.” General Rawat also said that India would not 'shy away from conducting more surgical strikes if needed'. In an interview to NDTV, the newly-appointed army chief said that the ‘surgical strikes’ were meant to deliver a message to Pakistan.

This article originally appeared on RT.