Regional Fragility and India’s Offensive Posture: Options for Pakistan

Abstract

South Asia is plagued by number of traditional and nontraditional threats, which make it fragile due to unresolved issues, especially between its two nuclear powers, Pakistan and India. „Imbalance‟ would be a more appropriate term when describing the India-Pakistan equation. In straight numerical terms of population, economics, military manpower and equipment, India overtakes Pakistan. What has to be understood from the outset is that the two countries have very different military aspirations. India sees itself as a rising regional and extra-regional power and sees military power as a main element in this process. Like any aspiring regional player, India also seeks potential partners such as the United States; and is wary of potential rivals such as China and Pakistan. Pakistan, being in an altogether different position, seeks to deter any offense from India.1 But lately, India has started adopting an offensive-defensive posture which poses greater challenges to the already fragile regional security. This paper will try to shed some light on the regional fragility and try to understand the evolving Indian offensive posture and its implications for Pakistan. An effort has been made to put forward some options for Pakistan in such eventuality.