India is ready to take on Pakistan for its alleged backing of terrorists, but can it take on the country militarily? Military options exist but exercising them isn't that simple, say experts. India's military options against Pakistan include: Surgical air strikes not just on infrastructure which supports terrorism, but also on politico-economic targets. The use of artillery firepower to address alleged Pakistan Army support to infiltration and terror camps close to the Line of Control. Commando operations to hit out at critical vulnerabilities of the Pakistan military and the Inter-Services Intelligence, which is suspected to have trained the terrorists who attacked Mumbai last week. India's military establishment is confident that they can take on Pakistan. “Deterrence first and if that fails punishment. Air power is the best tool,” says Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, former chief of the Indian Air Force. Strategists say any military action should aim at achieving a political impact. "Two or three Mirage 2000s (fighter jets) go and drop a bomb on the bridge on the Sutlej River—the bridge on Sutlej, a powerhouse in Gilgit—so that the people in Pakistan think that this (backing terrorism) is costing us. The elite in Pakistan then have to put pressure and say enough is enough," says strategic analyst Air Commodore (retired) Jasjit Singh. But India will have to plan what to do after a military strike. Public opinion is exerting tremendous pressure on the government to be seen as imposing costs on Pakistan, but if India uses military power in anger it risks falling into a trap laid by those in Pakistan who use terrorism as statecraft. “Some want India-Pakistan tension to increase and in this process the Pakistan army gets back into the saddle. Ashfaq Kayani (Pakistan military chief) then has every justification to say Musharraf II,” says strategic Analyst Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak Experts reckon that military force ought to be used only as the last resort and efforts mounted first to exert international pressure to make support for terror very costly for Pakistan. source : IBN Live India doesn't rule out military option against Pak
Operation Parakram was an eye opener for most. The bulkiness of the operation, delays and resulting international pressure took the fizz out of the whole mobilisation leading our strategists to rethink about Cold Start. The options are : 1. Precission air strikes on key installations, military/dual use. 2. Arty barrages on similar targets. 3. Finite offensive by IBGs across the LOC. The Problems are: 1. Political will. 2. Chances of a spiralling full blown war. 3. Their vague/low nuclear threshold.
Its something that they have used to the max. Its time India called the bluff as their nuke threshold might not be as low as we are led to believe. They know the consequences of a nuke strike.
Sir, Would a blockade of Karachi be a possible option ? And would a finite offensive serve any purpose ? What would an exchange of artillery fire signify ? I think a limited offensive would just be an economic defeat for India. But an all-out offensive based on cold-start would make sense. Ofcourse, only if our politicians have the will and courage to defend us on the international scale. With the coming of young blood like Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi, I am positive that the situation will tremendously improve. Relating to precision air-strikes. Isn't it too late ? All the camps would already have shifted out of PoK by now. About the nuclear retaliation. Do you think Pakistan in its right mind would ever think about going nuclear. It would just assure their conversion to a nuclear wasteland. What chances do our ABM countermeasures have ? What is generally the success rate ?
But then also we cant risk our self by getting some of our cities destroyed by their nuclear attack even thogh we are able to then counter strike and destroy whole pak.We first have to devlop our anti missile shield,then only we can show our direct strike capibilties.
Now we have lost the time to launch any kind of attack,as the camps have been removed from their places. According to me : 1. We should wait for the time til all camps get in place,then only plan for a surprise attack. 2. We should try to make maximum use of our Airpower,so as to avoid the losses of the soldiers during artillery attack. 3. We should devlop our missile shield. 4. During our airstrike try to destroy their nuclear launch infrastructure and bases. And at last we should stop overthinking about what others will say if we do this or that,then only we will be able to achive our goals.
Our only Option. My take on this is all countries act as per their advantage. Pakistan uses the thousand cut doctrine against us so that we will bleed into disintegration at some point. We have to be internally strong and fix all loop holes. As a proactive measure we must fund and arm the baluchis and pakhtoons in their freedom struggle and must fuel a arms race with Pakistan to bleed it economically to disintegration. Pakistan was a gift to Jinnah by Indian freedom fighters, Jinnah was himself never a participant in the freedom struggle. So it is a country born out of opportunism by a opportunistic leader. What we see now is the actual freedom struggle in Pakistan. Baluchis,Sindhis and the Pakhtoons can’t stand the Punjabi dominance in the Army, Politics and the civil society so a split is inevitable and trust me this will be the answer to all problems of India. So lets get to work.....
The only option India has against Pakistan right now is wait and keep a very close watch on developments inside that country. The militants inside pak are now pointing their guns inwards and taking on the establishment. The time is not far when the pak govt will have to act to get the rid of these 'jihadis' as they would have no other choice. If the govt doesnt act then pakistan will be on the way to being somalia in another 10 years or so. So, India should keep its ammunition dry and keep up the vigil and see how the authorities on the other side are going to tackle the Frankenstein's monster it created.
Options? We need to sit back in our couch and watch, we are superpowers rite? who would dare touch us?
we are not super power, we have the capability we are not super power, it is a bitter truth, but we have the capability is the sweet lie. many DSPs and ASP of our Police force don't know how to operate latest weapons. so is it a sign of being a super power no not at all ! Please rethink.
Nice thread. a) INDIA is NOT a super power. b) INDIA hold an upper hand in front of pakistan as far as Arial attacks are concerned. India has got better technology, well trained Pilots. In fact, India has upper hand over pakistan with regards to EVERYTHING. All Pakistan can do is send RATS within the cities, but DONT have GUTS stand up against US, face to face. I gotta rush now, willcontinue my post later.
