All of this seems to bode ill for any future normalisation process between India and Pakistan. If the budget is passed, a further militarisation of the Line of Control is a reasonable, if unwelcome, expectation. And no doubt, India is aware of Pakistan’s own security travails, and wants none of them to cross over. And in the long run, it will inevitably prompt Pakistan to raise its own military budget to keep up. Despite the ominous tones, that would be a mistake.
India’s economic growth has compelled it to seek a greater role in global politics, and it seeks to gain military clout that could reasonably correspond with its new economic and regional status. While India’s revisionist aims are one factor, another is its neighbour in the north. India’s greatest military and economic rival is not Pakistan, but China. China has aggressively asserted itself in the South China Sea, and has also begun to do the same in the Indian Ocean, a move that India sees as a threat. Despite the 14 per cent increase, India’s military budget is still less than a third of China’s and Indian officials feel that they need to catch up quick if they are to achieve any semblance of military parity.
While India’s defensive considerations may not be Pakistan-centric, they will inevitably be perceived as such this side of the Radcliffe Line. Pakistan’s own military disparity has already prompted its foray into acquiring tactical nuclear weapons, and India’s military expansion will only accelerate their production. Whatever India’s defensive considerations, the presence of more — and more lethal — arms in South Asia cannot be welcome.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (40)
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@What the ?: What to say of a person who does not even quote one correctly. This is what I said: “They talk about GDP but don’t mention their rank in Per Capita Income which really matters.” Is this what you’re trying to hide “India’s Per Capita ranking is 140 vs. 143 of Pakistan (IMF data)”? Not a huge difference. Is it? Had we not been a victim of Indian sponsored terrorism during the last decade, we’d have been doing much better than India, as were we before 2008. . I am not arguing about the Differences in the Per Capita GDP and the reasons thereof. . Can you please "guide" me as to how you have embedded the bolded part with the URL. . Cheers
@what the ? Does world believe you? What happened in mumbai? Question yourself why america,UK,UN,European Union have banned sanctioned such organisation in your country for attacking indja yet roam freely in your country. Tell me any indian govt office or org banned by world for attacking pakistan? World sees proof, when they have it they ban it. When you blame india you don't even knock india's door complaining or with proofs, your own FO doesn't issue a statement do they? Did they do that when the so called conspiracy theorist blamed india for karachi airport attack? Nope. Its local drama to keep trp and public on one side while other show other side to the world. It was Hilary Clinton who said home grown snakes who only bite your neighbours referring to your country policy. It has come back to bite you, for your own flawed "deep state" strategy..
@R.Subramanian: Dear Sir, I have three house maids helping us in our daily chores and all three have LCD/led Tvs, Refrigerator, Oven, Mixer Grinder at their houses but only one has a private toilet. It is all about mindset that is changing now.
@What the ?: Dear What the ?, your post seemed sensible until you said "Had we not been a victim of Indian sponsored terrorism during the last decade..." With this you've rendered your argument totally hollow and have put yourself in the esteemed company of the likes of Zaid Hamid, Ahmed Qureshi, Hameed Gul, et al.
@Mega:
"@ what the ? ” they talk about gdp But don’t mention its per capita income that’s what matters”. "Ok then let’s mention it....now what do you have to say?"
What to say of a person who does not even quote one correctly. This is what I said: "They talk about GDP but don’t mention their rank in Per Capita Income which really matters." Is this what you're trying to hide "India's Per Capita ranking is 140 vs. 143 of Pakistan (IMF data)"? Not a huge difference. Is it? Had we not been a victim of Indian sponsored terrorism during the last decade, we'd have been doing much better than India, as were we before 2008.
@What the ?: I feel Pakistani people are having wrong impression about toilets in India. It is not because Indian are poor, it is because of people's attitude. In India every house is having a TV sets, several of them are having Direct To Home satellite connection also. For that they are spending around Rs 7000 to Rs 15,000, if people gave importance to toilet means they could have used this money for building toilet in their house but people are not giving importance for clean environment. This is a social problem, people mindset has to change... for this Government is taking action by promoting clean environment and giving rewards for clean village and media is also promoting those clean villages, due to all these things changes are taking place. Surely this toilet problem will be solved soon.
@Mr Khan:
Please worry about 43 million people of your country first.
Over 43 million people in Pakistan defecate in the open
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-215001-Over-43-million-people-in-Pakistan-defecate-in-the-open
@Pops: "Life may be “cheap” in India, life is worthless in Pakistan." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It is also hopeless......
@Mr Khan:
"This in a country where 70% people don’t have toilets and defecate in public and over 120,000 farmers have committed suicide. Life is so cheap in India."
Could very well be true, but do the enemies count the toilets in the country and people defecating in the open to decide to invade? Did toilets and defecation prevent Pakistan and China from invading India in the past and continuing on their revisionist expansionist policies?
@Mr Khan: Life may be "cheap" in India, life is worthless in Pakistan. You get blown up because you are wrong "flavour" of Islam.
@ what the ? " they talk about gdp But don't mention its per capita income that's what matters". Ok then let's mention it. India's per capita income despite 1.2billion population is 1500$, Pakistan in spite being 18crore population is 1300$. There you have it, now what do you have to say?
@Mr Khan: Hilarious. This in a country where 70% people don’t have toilets and defecate in public and over 120,000 farmers have committed suicide. Life is so cheap in India.
Yes Mr Khan, your numbers are truly hilarious
pakistan should just have a look at their gdp and then that of INDIA before'acquiring tactical nuclear weapons, and India’s accelerate their production'.
Pakistan should just have a look at their GDP and that of INDIA before 'acquiring tactical nuclear weapons and accelerating their production'.
I never visited or posted a comment on any other South Asian country's news website including India, except when I am searching for a particular information. But here a Pakistani website is overwhelmed by Indian trolls giving hint that how much inferiority complex the Indians have, which they are trying to compensate by bragging about everything related with India. They talk about GDP but don't mention their rank in Per Capita Income which really matters. They talk about decrease in poverty level which they define at $1 per day (currently 22% which Pakistan achieved in 2005) but don't mention that 70% Indians still don't have the luxury of toilet. Congratulations for being a super power, albeit of a different kind.
@ Mr. Khan. But it's absolutely ok when you eat grass and make "atum bum". Life is definitely precious in Pak.
@Mr Khan: Don't worry, Modi is going to build sewers and toilets too.
@Mr Khan Stop worrying about India's poverty and concentrate on your failed state , which is degrading everyday .
We always appreciate the editorial group of Tribune for their bold independent projection of views. This article aptly puts across that "India’s greatest military and economic rival is not Pakistan, but China. China has aggressively asserted itself in the South China Sea, and has also begun to do the same in the Indian Ocean, a move that India sees as a threat. Despite the 14 per cent increase, India’s military budget is still less than a third of China’s"
We in India always fail to understand that fully knowing that "India’s defensive considerations may not be Pakistan-centric," why these are inevitably perceived as such. Why Pakistan is infatuated with seeking a competitive parity with India. No other neighbor of India including Bangladesh feels threatened nor is in any parity seeking race with India. Sure this article nudges us to think.
That's your fault not India's. The reality is that you don't have enough money to fuel your existing power plants - can't even purchase your own supply of polio vaccine or other basics. You certainly don't have the money to continue building nukes, cruise missiles, and other expensive military hardware that have no use in your civil war with the Taliban. . Maybe India is wasting money on it's military buildup - but at least there financing it on their own.
@Mr Khan: We are outsourcing for toilet cleaners. Interested?
@ Gratgy, India reminds me of a toilet that doesnt physically exist as a toilet, and obviously minus the plumbing.
Pakistan reminds me of a cyclist who in an attempt to go faster, holds on to a car (India) that is racing with another car (China)
we can never beef up our military because we are vegetarian.
Hilarious.
This in a country where 70% people don't have toilets and defecate in public and over 120,000 farmers have committed suicide. Life is so cheap in India.
India will do whatever required to safeguard itself from its two all time enemies be it purchasing 500 fighter planes (SU 30 MKIs n Rafales ),planned induction of 300 LCAs,induction of 100 Apache attack helicopters besides 500 indigenous ones ,purchasing and building Aircraft carriers,nuclear subs, and Bofors guns.
@nizamuddin khan: I totally agree with you Mr. Khan however I wonder if the people that you are trying to get rid of are the same ones that your army is after too.
Pakistans mil budget should be seen in the context of threats.... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ India Afghanistan TTP and Iran at the very least.
"India beefs up its military" ++++++++++++++++++++ Preamble to Saudi Arabia for another 1.5 Bn Zakaat.......after all Eid is coming.
Disappointing editorial. It tells you about 14% increase but doesn't tell you that this barely caters to inflation. It also doesn't tell you that it is 1.8% of GDP which is lower than what it used to be and that it is lower than both China and Pakistan. This is unnecessary fear mongering by a supposedly responsible paper.
"Pakistan’s own military disparity has already prompted its foray into acquiring tactical nuclear weapons" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Now replace Pakistan in the sentence above with India in the context of China.
"India’s military expansion will only accelerate their production." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And India's India’s military contraction will also accelerate their production.
I say - FROWN but dont bite. Both sides of the subcontinent are busy piling up arms . But please .The treaty was that each wont be the FIRST to use it . Each said they will use it only in retaliation. I think both sides should be more open like opening up the borders for tourism / study / religious purposes. That will solve half the problem.
"it will inevitably prompt Pakistan to raise its own military budget to keep up." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thats a natural consequence of the end of Uncle Sam driven gravy train also known as Coalition Support Fund...for the country where OBL lived the last 10 years of his life.
"India beefs up its military" +++++++++++++++++++ the edit should be entitled : The Insecurities of a nuclear state.
India is the major power in South Asia.and seeks to play major role in international arena due to it's share of world population and economic growth.To maintain peace and stability, it is necessary for India and Pakistan to shift their focuses from traditional rivalry to mutual understanding of each other security needs.Pursuit of parity with India is partially responsible for Pakistan's domestic dysfunction .
It is clear as Express Tribune has put it that “the presence of more — and more lethal — arms in South Asia cannot be welcome.”
The solution is equally clear.
Pakistan must purge the national psyche of the delusional sense of the innate superiority of being Muslim descendants of Arabian and Central Asian horsemen thereby somehow negating the very tangible numerical, economic and educational advantage the Hindu’s of India have accrued.
The price of not purging the national psyche of this delusional behaviour is not Pakistan returning to the glories of the Mughal’s but rather of Pakistan going bankrupt.
Let India do what it wants militarily based on its security needs and perceived threats. Any notion of this move as un-welcome or a destabilization of the region is absurd. As far as Pakistan is concerned we need to focus on the security situation that we face internally and externally.
In reality a militarily strong India and Afghanistan would only mean a better chance for us to eliminate the unwanted elements that we are trying to get rid of.
I got a simple question - why are all Pakistanis (otherwise supposedly brave people) are scared shitless of their military? Common masses in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India want normal trade, commerce, travel and tourism in the region. It will bring lasting peace if it happens. Only - and only - Pakistani military is against it. All other stakeholders want it. Everybody knows and understands it is the need of the hour. In the article, not once has this aspect been mentioned. What kind of military exerts so much pressure and imposes so much fear on it's citizenry? A rogue military?
Pakistan from a point of defence is not major issue and as you have correctly surmised it is china that India has to look out for with its ever so risng aggresive intentions,