Indian Army’s two front war strategy follows deterrence against Pakistan and dissuasion against China. According to recent news reports, this may have changed a bit to, active deterrence against Pakistan and active dissuasion against China.
This strategy underlines the fact that, in case of a two front war, against Pakistan, India would launch major offensive inside Pakistani territory in order to destroy and or neutralize Pakistani forces while remaining short of Pakistan’s nuclear thresholds. This war would be short and violent, as the forces after dealing with Pakistan would be needed either for Chinese front or to retain balance.
Against China, the dissuasive strategy would use the terrain friction to delay and or deny Chinese manoeuvre forces from gaining access to depth areas in time and space. With the new planned raising of the strike corps, its artillery division and beefed up front line forces with additional two divisions and other support echelons, while delaying the Chinese advance, Indian Army would be able to launch the strike forces to either effect a recoil on Chinese forces or deny any further penetration. Against China, the war effort would be relatively protracted as compared to Pakistan.
The Indian Navy would deny access to Chinese navy in to IOR. Against Pakistan IN may effect a blockade and attain domination of IOR against both Pakistani and Chinese Navies.
Indian Air Force would conduct counter air operations as well as support the ground and naval operations endeavouring to attain air superiority against Pakistan and air parity against China.
The use of nuclear forces would be avoided against Pakistan by remaining short of its perceived thresholds and against China by denying them penetration which may cross Indian thresholds. The effort thus would be to keep the war to conventional level without escalating it to nuclear level. However, nuclear forces would remain prepared to respond if the need arises.
This strategy underlines the fact that, in case of a two front war, against Pakistan, India would launch major offensive inside Pakistani territory in order to destroy and or neutralize Pakistani forces while remaining short of Pakistan’s nuclear thresholds. This war would be short and violent, as the forces after dealing with Pakistan would be needed either for Chinese front or to retain balance.
Against China, the dissuasive strategy would use the terrain friction to delay and or deny Chinese manoeuvre forces from gaining access to depth areas in time and space. With the new planned raising of the strike corps, its artillery division and beefed up front line forces with additional two divisions and other support echelons, while delaying the Chinese advance, Indian Army would be able to launch the strike forces to either effect a recoil on Chinese forces or deny any further penetration. Against China, the war effort would be relatively protracted as compared to Pakistan.
The Indian Navy would deny access to Chinese navy in to IOR. Against Pakistan IN may effect a blockade and attain domination of IOR against both Pakistani and Chinese Navies.
Indian Air Force would conduct counter air operations as well as support the ground and naval operations endeavouring to attain air superiority against Pakistan and air parity against China.
The use of nuclear forces would be avoided against Pakistan by remaining short of its perceived thresholds and against China by denying them penetration which may cross Indian thresholds. The effort thus would be to keep the war to conventional level without escalating it to nuclear level. However, nuclear forces would remain prepared to respond if the need arises.
