INDIA CHINA
COLD WAR BY DR.A MAJID SIRAJ:
POSTED BY HABIB YOUSAFZAI, KASHMIR DIASPORA ALLIANCE
ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM!
CHINA STANDS BY PAKISTAN IN THEIR CAUSE TO FREE THE INHABITANTS OF
MAQBOOZA KASHMIR AND ITS TERRITORY RESPECTIVELY WHICH LEGALLY BELONGS TO
PAKISTAN ADDS HABIB YOUSAFZAI, KASHMIR DIASPORA ALLIANCE
India, China
and Pakistan are vying for supremacy in weapon technology as never seen before. The inventory attained by the three is
formidable. Kashmir is embroiled in
these equations because a sharp tilt in one direction will influence an outcome
on politics here. China has a vested
interest in Kashmir as demonstrated not only by its belligerency on LAC with
India and Ladakh but by stapled visa on passports from Kashmir and provoking
inclusion of Indian administered parts of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh in
their official maps as Chinese territory.
They arrogantly defy protests on infractions in Ladakh and demolition of
surveillance cameras and bunkers in Chumar posts by their army (PLA). Indian
defense minister in Peking Mr. A. K. Antony was given curt answers in Peking. China is getting more involved in Kashmir by
its intrusion just 300 kms from capital city of Ladakh. A
critical analysis will reveal a combination of factors responsible for Chinese interests
in Kashmir. Apart from security
strategy and influx of freedom seeking Buddhist Lama Doctrine, there is a
project underway for making for an artery of communication from Arabian Sea to Xinjiang
province through Xizang Belt to transport oil.
Roads, tunnels and passes impact on Kashmir territory. They claim territories of Kashmir and
Arunachal Pradesh on which they are not relenting. China is building dams in PaK against which
India registered protest, ignored by China.
Pakistan and India have Kashmir conflict with zero sum adversarial environments
and Chinese help in Defense buildup of Pakistan is construed provocative by
India.
China’s
increasingly assertive posture on Arunachal Pradesh is being carried out
against the backdrop of its increased militarization in Tibet. According to a 2010 US Department of Defense
report, China has replaced its old liquid fuelled, nuclear capable CSS-3
intermediate range ballistic missile with “more advanced CSS-5 MRBMs” and has
vastly improved its border roads in the eastern sector bordering India. Intercontinental
missiles such as the DF-31 and DF-31A have also been deployed at Delingha,
north of Tibet. On the border with India, 13 Border Defense Regiments totaling
around 300,000 troops have been deployed. Airfields have also been established
at Hoping, Pangta and Kong Ka, in addition to the existing six airfields in
Tibet. China is a nuclear power with a weapons inventory of about 240 devices. China is also making its titanic presence
known in the Eastern waters encroaching the Indian Ocean and territories like
Maldives and Myanmar.
India is on toes to boost defense along North East and
Kashmir. It has
upgraded its military deployment of the 290 km-range Brahmos supersonic cruise
missile and 90,000 more troops with four more divisions in addition
120,000 troops supported by two Sukhoi 30 MKI squadrons from Tezpur in
Assam. Recently deployment of a further 5000 troops
has been an irritant to Chinese who have vehemently protested. Again India is a nuclear power with an
inventory of 100 devices. The assumption is that nuclear deterrence
will play a critical role in averting all out war in the region. India China argument on political historical
issues seems to be simmering on. The
Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai
Lama in the 17th century and is the second largest Tibetan monastery after the
one in Lhasa. It could well be that the
14th Dalai Lama may choose his successor from the Tawang monastery prompting
further Chinese claims. Indian posture
over Chinese presence in Tibet and sheltering Dalai Lama and his resistance
movement is supportive of questioning China’s legitimacy over Tibet. The row goes on. India has to cope with China while dealing
with challenges in Kashmir with Pakistan.
It therefore follows normative logic that priority notice is taken on
defense and resolution of all related conflicts.
The Indian ballistic missile defense (BMD) program is
effective to deter use of nuclear weapons. A summary of Indian army of 980,000 active troops would be added to reserves of 300,000
first line troops and 500,000 second line troops. There are additional 40,000 first line
troops of Territorial Army. Indian army
has a command structure of a modern army with HQ in New Delhi and
Northern operational command in Udhampur, Jammu. The
Army Is equipped with 62 tank armored regiments, 5 with 62 tanks
each and 1330 tanks being locally assembled. T-72M1: 35 regiments @ 55 tanks each,
T-55: 10 regiments @ 55 tanks each, (550) with L7/105mm gun + the Vijayanta :
11 regiments @ 72 tanks each, (800+) upgraded with FCS and night fighting
equipment. The Artillery 200 regiments
with 155mm M-46: 35 guns 155mm caliber Bofors FH-77B: 410 and 105mm
Abbot: 80 self-Propelled artillery. Rocket
launchers in readiness are 122mm BM-21/LRAR: 150+ 214mm Pinaka: ~30 and 300mm Smerch: 62. The mortars in stock are 81mm Indian
E1 + L1A1: 5000+ 120mm AM-50: 1500 and 160mm
Tampella: 200, Milan 2 and
AT-3 Sagger, AT-4 Spigot, AT-5 Spandrel, SS-11-B1 and Harpon. They are used against tanks and bunkers.
India has a formidable air defense
capability. There are 384 Air Defense Guns range from 23mm: ZSU-23-2-320 and ZSU-23-4 Shilka SP- 75, 30mm: Tunguska-M1 - 20 ; 40mm:
L40/70 - 1920 to SIPRI and Tunguska M1 systems . A highly sophisticated missile program is in
readiness with ‘Surface-To-Air’
Missiles SA-6 (launchers) 160, SA-8b
50,
SA-10 24, SA-13 250,and SA-16 launchers: 2000 to cover 'blind-areas' including
the later versions ‘ Akash and Trishul’ Surface-To-Surface
Missiles include SRBM: Prithvi
SS-150 - 15 launchers & 75 missiles in 333 Missiles. These are followed by Nag ATGM and Astra. Army
Aviation Comprises of 14
Helicopter Units. Surveillance is conducted by unmanned
Aerial Vehicles like Searcher, Nishant and Radar: BSR Mk.2 and AN/TPQ-37,Firefinder
WLS MUFAR
– Rajendra, Green Archer and Cymbelline (Mortar location).
The Arjun Mark-I has been added to T-90. Mark-II version enhanced night fighting
capabilities with advanced equipment for the gunner, driver and commander. On June 11, 2013 India achieved
another milestone in production of Hawk AJT with successful first test flight
of first Navy Hawk AJT. The Indian politicians
have this background information that underpins foreign policy. The prudence however remains with epistemic
thinkers who advocate peace.
China on board demilitarization of the entire
Karakoram-Western Himalayan-Shaksgam watershed though negotiations could be
achieved. A dream for Peace is conceived
by using the northern China border as a baseline and a huge triangle would come
into being and become the object of a Pakistan-India joint proposal to the
United Nations to designate that area as an International Peace Park with
access measures similar to those of the Antarctic Treaty. A Siachen International Treaty would prohibit
any form of military intrusion on the glacier. The confronting armies would
disengage and vacate the designated site and have access to international
monitoring data to assure that their territories are not being encroached. As a byproduct people of Jammu & Kashmir
could breathe an air of peace and tranquility and what a reward?
Dr. A Majid Siraj majidsirajuk@yahoo.com
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