Indian Defense
India Right To Wait Till Taliban Comes In Full View; No Need To Rush Into An ‘Afghan Strategy’
A pro-Pakistan government in Afghanistan will be a disaster for India. Because China too will be controlling Kabul through Islamabad. But Delhi right to ‘wait and watch’
For strategic affairs experts and analysts, a statement and a picture this week has been of immense interest, especially in context of what is happening in Afghanistan and the country’s future.
Through this one statement, Imran Khan seemingly resorted to wipe clean the slate of the Taliban and project them as a civil outfit. Pakistan sought to put a cloak on the reprehensible record of the Taliban, who are responsible for the worst kind of torture against women and children, most of them Afghans.
The second big development was the picture that emerged from China – of Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosting the Taliban in Tianjin and describing the dreaded outfit as “a pivotal military and political force” in Afghanistan.
I had written in April that on Afghanistan, India’s worry should not just be Pakistan, as a rogue player is waiting to take control – China. I had argued that China is keen on playing a larger role in Afghanistan. Since then, a lot has happened between China and the Taliban, culminating in the visit to China by a Taliban delegation.
While China has managed to get an assurance from the Taliban that th Afghan soil will not be used against Beijing, it has also formally started backing the Talibs by calling them a “pivotal political force”.
Amid all this, India is being seen as a fringe player with huge stakes in Afghanistan’s future – not pertaining to the financial investments Delhi has made in the neighbouring country but in terms of broader strategic imperatives in the region.
A pro-Pakistan government in Afghanistan will be a disaster for India, because China too will be controlling Kabul through Islamabad.
Another big concern is the possible fallout of the Taliban rise on Kashmir.
The Current Afghan ‘Strategy’
Sources in the Indian government say the main aim is to have a governance in Kabul that will be receptive to Delhi’s concerns and interests. India is not vying for a government that will favour New Delhi. And hence the steps being taken by India is of utmost interest. As of now, the approach is to ‘wait and watch’ and ‘talk to all’.
However, former foreign secretary Shyam Saran argued in his latest column that “short of putting boots on the ground, India should put its full weight behind the Ashraf Ghani government despite its many infirmities.”
Saran’s view is that “a military stalemate in Afghanistan, even a protracted civil war, may be a better outcome from India’s standpoint than a Taliban takeover. One may not be able to contribute to the Taliban’s defeat. We may, however, be able to prevent its victory and that would be a more prudent choice.”
Government sources say India’s aim is for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, and that India will always stand by the people of Afghanistan and support the country’s development. For this, they are in talks not just with the Taliban and the Afghan government, but also with other stakeholders like the US, Russia and even Iran.
India does not want to be seen picking sides in Afghanistan. At least not right now.
When the Afghan National Army chief General Sher Mohammad Karimi was to visit India earlier this week, a trip that has now been postponed, sources had made it clear that while New Delhi is all for providing any technical help the Afghan forces need to maintain the equipment India had given in the past, there are no plans to send any fresh military systems.
Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaeen recently said in an interview that India should not give any military support to the Ashraf Ghani government. While there is a small but noisy section within the Indian establishment that seeks a more pro-active role and bigger involvement in Afghanistan, it goes against the popular understanding.
India does not want to drag itself into the Afghanistan mess, a country that is seen as a graveyard of the global military powers. It is only after this that the Taliban fighters will likely escalate the level of violence and “focus on urban areas”. From India’s perspective, the best-case scenario is a power-sharing deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
However, this would be easier said than done – primarily because the Taliban comprise multiple factions, which are headed by various small warlords and it is not necessary, perhaps even unlikely, that all of them will act as per the directions of the central command.
Suddenly, India’s Afghan policy of ‘wait and watch’ while holding talks with various stakeholders appears to be a much better option than previously thought. However, what India needs is a clear, far-sighted plan and it will take much diplomatic heft to achieve that.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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