It is indeed surprising that the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace does not know that for decades, India's military strategy is based on preparations for a simultaneous two front war against China and Pakistan. However, in case of a war with either China or Pakistan, Indian diplomacy would also endeavour to restrict it to only one theater and avoid a two front war environment.
Indian diplomacy as well as its military is also faced with growing strategic encirclement. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are placating either China or Pakistan or both and may provide direct or indirect support to either or both in case of inimical brinkmanship. And such a specter is growing by the day due to Indian highhandedness in its dealings with her smaller neighbours.
At a certain stage during the last decade or two, Indian decisions makers were even thinking of reducing the size of their large army. Recent growth of Indian economy notwithstanding, this has not happened amongst other factors, primarily due to poor Indian handling of its smaller neighbours and they have been forced to spend much higher on defence than it used to.
Unless India improves her image and present a non-hegemonic India in its neighbourhood, strategic encirclement of India will continue to solidify against Indian interests. India therefore would not be able to add strength to her stature by continued coercive use of diplomacy and its military.
Indian diplomacy as well as its military is also faced with growing strategic encirclement. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are placating either China or Pakistan or both and may provide direct or indirect support to either or both in case of inimical brinkmanship. And such a specter is growing by the day due to Indian highhandedness in its dealings with her smaller neighbours.
At a certain stage during the last decade or two, Indian decisions makers were even thinking of reducing the size of their large army. Recent growth of Indian economy notwithstanding, this has not happened amongst other factors, primarily due to poor Indian handling of its smaller neighbours and they have been forced to spend much higher on defence than it used to.
Unless India improves her image and present a non-hegemonic India in its neighbourhood, strategic encirclement of India will continue to solidify against Indian interests. India therefore would not be able to add strength to her stature by continued coercive use of diplomacy and its military.