Pakistan must develop capabilities to counter India

Experts point to growing strategic instability in the region

ISLAMABAD:

There is a growing threat to the region’s strategic stability because of the advanced defence purchases by India, the pursuit of dangerous warfighting doctrines and its jingoistic ruling elite and Pakistan must develop its military capabilities for countering any Indian misadventure. The views were expressed by defence experts on Friday during a webinar on ‘India’s Counterforce Capabilities and Options’.

The webinar had been hosted by Strategic Vision Institute (SVI). The former director-general of the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Department at the Strategic Plans Division, Khalid Banuri, dwelt upon the dynamics driving India’s pursuit of counterforce strategy. This, he said, includes massive defence allocations, fast-tracked acquisitions and modernization, and the planned integration of its armed forces.

He pointed out that India has collaborations with major arms suppliers such as the US, Russia, and Israel, and is on the quest for more such arrangements. These collaborations, he noted, have created a security dilemma for Pakistan. Dr Rabia Akhtar suggested that deterrence equilibrium in

South Asia is more important than ever before because efforts aimed at making deterrence fail have outweighed those attempting to solidify it. She said that India’s ideologically motivated polity was uncomfortable with the notions of mutual vulnerabilities and status quo and therefore a push towards counterforce strategy was now visible in the Indian strategic conclave.

She warned that with expanding Indian counterforce capabilities, the chances of inadvertent and accidental escalations increase manifold, thereby, threatening the region's strategic stability. Pakistan, Dr Akhtar advised, should keep its counter value and counterforce options and seek allies, who can help it on the path for strategic modernization.

Dr Zafar Jaspal stated that the belligerence in Indian strategic thinking was evident from the statements made by its diplomats and military officials, specifically National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He said the three objectives of the Indian posture is to compel Pakistan, deter China, and demonstrate power in the Indian Ocean Region.