A military exercise or war game is a measure to test the performance of the armed forces without engaging in the battlefield. Military Exercises are often used by nations to display their military might by showcasing weapons, systems and well-trained soldiers. The exercise goes flunked if a state is unable to achieve its goals. Moreover, using the exercise to build up a situation of war is a way of not sensitizing the consequences attached to it.
In a recent exercise by the Indian army in the Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, three surface-to-air missiles have been misfired, which went out of range and hit different areas in different villages. According to Indian media, the missiles were test fired by the army but deviated from the path due to a technical glitch.
This technical glitch excuse has been given by Indian officials last year as well when an Indian Brahmos missile was accidentally fired into the territory of Pakistan. The Brahmos missile was able to carry nuclear warheads. In two years it is the second incident of such mistakes at the strategic level in India. Though, India is translucent of the fact that such an incident could trigger a major disaster and potential war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, still behaving immaturely. India’s botched handling of military capabilities inflicts significant risk to the South Asian region and shows India’s callousness towards regional peace and stability.
The missile misfiring at Pakistan’s border could be an Indian attempt to recreate the Indian General Sundarji idea of Brasstacks, by planning to provoke Pakistan to respond; or to create a new trend in lieu of misfiring to check Pakistan’s response and deterrence calculus. This is a greater possibility when the missiles are in the hands of a fascist regime, making slogans of ‘night of murder’ in public rallies. India has lost its credibility by repeating such episodes and proving itself to be an irresponsible nuclear weapon state as well. This fascist regime isn’t allowing India to move beyond its war-prone behavior toward Pakistan.
Pakistan has never initiated any conflict but has always responded befittingly to any nefarious designs against its territorial integrity. India should be loud and clear that these are not the paper planes that go here and there but should be kept responsibly. Pakistan will not remain silent to any act of aggression being made against its country and will reciprocate with Quid pro-Quo Plus, as already given in the demo in 2019. Pakistan’s policy of ‘Quid Pro Quo Plus’ (QPQP), which has been assured with the combination of nuclear deterrence and conventional capabilities, seems to be an appropriate and reliable strategic resort given the emergent security dynamics of South Asia.
India should mind its behavior and should act responsibly for the perseverance of peace and stability in the region. Moreover, the international community should also look towards this child state and should review its geo-economic preferences in favor of geo-political realities and stop viewing India through the lens of a trade destination. This hegemonic and power-pursuit dream of India will all go in vain once it will confront Pakistan, as it will result in disastrous consequences.
Link : https://strategic-times.com/blog/2023/03/30/indias-botched-handling-of-military-capabilities/
Amber Afreen Abid
Research Officer, SVI
