Doctrinal shift in Indian army: The terrorist attack in Pahalgam and then the tension between Indo-Pak has brought a significant turn in India’s defense policy. India gave a befitting reply to Pakistan through Operation Sindoor, but this entire operation made India realize that now there is a need to adopt a new strategy by moving beyond traditional military thinking. Especially when neighbors like China and Pakistan are trying to surround India on two fronts.
Since the 2020 incident in the Galwan Valley, China has been continuously putting pressure on LAC. This time too, in support of Pakistan, China not only intervened at the diplomatic level. At the same time, he also said to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty. This reflects the strength of China-Pakistan strategic alliances. Which is now being called ‘Threshold Alliance’. That is, the level where military, technical and strategic understanding of two countries create a common front.
Integrated military attack of China-Pak
The weapons and systems used by Pakistan during this crisis were mostly of Chinese technology. This included JF-17 and J10C fighter aircraft, PL-15E BVR missiles, FM-90 and HQ-9 air defense systems, UAVs and electronic warfare technology. They were used under the ‘Kill-Chain’ model. In which the information received from the satellite was associated with frontline fighter jets.
China’s Beidou Satellite System was helping Pakistan in real -time intelligence, surveillance and reconcilitation. This technical cooperation has raised a big operational threat for India.
India also gave a tough answer technically
India integrated its counter -attack in technical and strategic attacks through Operation Sindoor, Operation Benayan and Um Marsus. India targeted several high value targets within Pakistan using BrahMos and French Scalp-Eg cruise missiles as well as Hammer glide bombs.
At the same time, the joint air security system of the Indian Air Force and the Army neutralized most of Pakistan’s attacks. India’s air defense system is a combination of modern and traditional systems like S-400, Barak-8, Spider, Akash and Igla. Along with this, integrated command systems such as IACCS and Akashtir made the edge of operation more sharp.
Thrashold Alliance and New Definition of War
This crisis made it clear that there will no longer be traditional wars between Indo-Pak. Rather, battles will be fought through technical and stand-off warfare. Pakistan is moving towards multi-domain operation with the help of China. At the same time, India will have to fully re-define its defense strategy.
Three columns based defense strategy
1. Strategic Plan and Long -term approach: India will have to speed up defense procurement policy, operational planning and long term military integration. ‘System of Systems’ approach is necessary in which every unit, technology and force work with harmony.
2. Accumulation of technical priority and capabilities: Integrated use of rockets, drones, missiles and cyber-electronic warfare is now a new identity of war. Russia-Ukraine War is the latest example of this. India will also have to become a leader in space, AI and cyber war.
3. Changes in approach and principles: Indian military thinking still focuses on the ground war. Whereas rivals like China-Pak have adopted multi-domains and asymmetric principles. By updating Cold Start Doctrine, the need for Doctrinal Evolution in the direction of ‘Short and Sharp Warfare’ is now on.
