Daily Times

According to SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, in 2014 to 2018, India is among five major arms importers of Asia. India was also the world’s second largest importer of major arms in 2014-18 and accounted for 9.5 per cent of the global total.India has been the chief recipient of Russian arms in 2014-18, although Russian arms exports to India fell by 42 per cent between 2014-18 because of India having become the major defence partner of the US and its lean to purchase western weapons..

In 2016,India got deliveries of ship-based Barak-8 Ballistic Missiles Defence systems from Israel and India have also ordered the land-based version in 2009 from Israel, with deliveries to start in 2020. India is about to receive the submarines ordered from France in 2008. Aswas published in the National Interest dated 21 September 2016,India is acquiring 36 Dassault Rafale fighter jets as well, from France, after the Indian Supreme Court gives the final decision of the corruption charges leveled against the Modi government.As per the Indian Express, the aircraft are being purchased to carry the nuclear weapons as part of India’s airborne strategic delivery system..

According to the Hindustan Times of 20 November 2018, India has signed a R39,000-crore deal with Russia for the supply of Russian S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems, despite the US concerns about the purchase, as S-400 are likely to be affected by the US sanctions legislation if India is unable to secure a waiver. India had also inked a deal with Russia to buy four frigates in 2016 as the Indian Navy currently operates six such stealth frigates bought from Russia.These ships have proved to be reliable, have good weapons and sensors.

However, the most dangerous developments are India’s purchases of military arms and equipment from the US, in the backdrop of India having become a strategic partner and major defence partner of the US. India’s defence related agreements with the US are also a matter of concern. The US has already recognised India as a “major defence partner”, a status that commits the US to facilitate technology sharing with India.In 2018, the US granted India Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1), like Japan and South Korea, that eases India’s defence procurement from the US.

In a major boost to bilateral strategic ties, India and the US have signed a crucial logistics defence pact namely, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), that will enable their militaries to use each other’s military asset and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, making joint operations more efficient.

With the latest high tech weapons, India would be encouraged to realize its ambitions of becoming a regional hegemonic power in South Asia by displaying its aspired supremacy over Pakistan by attempting limited conventional offensive actions or the so called surgical strikes into Pakistani territory. To counter this evolving threat, while Pakistan will need to acquire weapon systems of the matching capability, it will also need to develop and maintain friendly strategic relations with the US by asserting its own regional strategic importance

As per the SIPRI report 2019, the US has become the second-largest arms supplier to India.As published in the Hindustan Times on 7 February 2019, the Trump administration has approved the purchase of the two advanced missile defence systems to India fitted into two Boeing-777 Head-of-State aircraft, for an estimated cost of $ 190 million.The systems, known as Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suites (SPS),are meant to enhance the security of the planes flying the president and the prime minister. The systems counter the advanced intermediate range missile systems automatically with no action required by the crew.The pilot will simply be informed that a threat missile was detected and jammed. According to the Pentagon, whereas the sale will strengthen the US-India strategic relationship, it will not “alter the basic military balance in the region”.

As published in the Hindustan Times on 3 April 2019, the US has also approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Sea hawk helicopters to India at an estimated cost of USD2.4 billion, the State Department has said. These helicopters are designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea. These helicopters would replenish India’s aging fleet of British-made Sea King helicopters, to provide the Indian defence forces the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.

The above discussed Arms build up by India, although is being done on the pretext of countering China, in fact, such capabilities of India would be used against Pakistan, as India would never really serve the US interest by countering China by involving itself in a military conflict with it. Hence, India’s weapons build up by acquiring high tech US and western weapon systems would be used to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty.

With the latest high tech weapons, India would be encouraged to realize its ambitions of becoming a regional hegemonic power in South Asia by displaying its aspired supremacy over Pakistan by attempting limited conventional offensive actions or the so called surgical strikes into Pakistani territory. To counter this evolving threat, while Pakistan will need to acquire weapon systems of the matching capability, it will also need to develop and maintain friendly strategic relations with the US by asserting its own regional strategic importance.

The writer is an ex-Army Colonel, a former Research Fellow of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Islamabad and Senior Research Fellow, Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad