‘Operation Sindoor’ changed global military thinking
A CASS-India Analyst
INTRODUCTION:
India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ has changed military thinking and war planning. As a result leading global powers are racing to return to their drawing board to redesign war doctrines. Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan over terrorist act in Kashmir, both sides went for a 96 hour long conflict which resulted in complete decapitation of Pakistan military and its precious infrastructure. But it has also exposed strategic ambiguity of US and dubious role of China in this conflict. However, India’s military might and technological prowess was at full display creating shock and awe.
ANALYSIS:
Now, it is time for the whole world to take cognizance of battlefield damages and witness Indian’s years of ‘Make in India’ investment, also its efficient R&D capabilities as most weapons were designed to meet theatre specific geo-military requirement.
For Indian military, the cost of battle usage of weapons and platforms, according to initial estimation, stands at 250-260 million USD whereas overall war cost for Pakistan military, as of now, could be 17 to 19 billion USD.
While India will take a month to return to pre-war condition as it received minor hit by Pakistani attack, it will take at least 8 to 10 years for Pakistan military to restore pre-war capabilities. For example, out of 18 premium strategic airbases, 13 were destroyed with massive collateral damage. None of the Pakistani runways can be repaired as subsurface cracks are slowly emerging.
In fact, the conflict has proved a very important point that under a nuclear overhang, both sub-conventional and conventional warfare can be fought. As Indian military planners went for a swift, intense and lethal war against Pakistani military and terrorist targets, it has opened a new debate whether nuclear weapon can offer ultimate deterrence.
In the initial phase of Russia-Ukraine war, many cursed the past decisions of Ukraine to give up nuclear weapons which Kiev had voluntarily given up at that time. But Indian military has proved it otherwise that there can be massive military engagement regardless of the adversary having nuclear weapon or not.
The precision targeting and weapons performance have proved that India too has arrived at a higher echelon of hi-tech ladder as far as military technology is concerned. It is no more a country of snake charmers. The entire operation has given strategic confidence and refined combat skills of Indian military as they fought under an integrated theatre.
But Pakistan military entered into the conflict zone as a fragmented force. The lack of coordination was visible as the Pakistani Navy and Pakistan Air Force had no clue about Pakistan Army’s broader objectives and war planning against India. Even some Pakistan soldiers of Baluch and Pashtun origin had deserted their posts along the LoC once the conflict spiraled.
On the other hand, India employed a wide range of unconventional strategy and new generation weapons and platforms making Pakistan and its strategic backer, China, to remain in dark about the exact intention of Indian military.
Most Indian armament performed well. So as the combat skills of Indian military personnel proved that they can handle high value and intense battlefield operations. This will give a much desired push to Indian defense industrial complex in terms of export order, technology and production prospects in future.
While India’s market share in arms production has grown nearly 14 per cent, both the US and China have lost defense industrial market shares nearly 4 and 11 per cent respectively. In each segment of the conflict, Indian military’s performance was meticulous and really commendable.
Though ‘Operation Sindoor’ will be noted as a game changing military strategy of India in modern war fighting, it is going to be evaluated worldwide by other militaries for setting future military doctrines that no weapon can stand before the strong resolve of millions of people to find justice.
