Operation Sindoor takeaways: How India can sharpen its edge over Pakistan
Operation Sindoor
, the political decision to mount it, and the armed forces' ability to execute it, are commendable. India deserves better than to live under the shadow of terror.
But apart from raising tempers, does Trump's offer to mediate on Kashmir compromise India's sovereignty? Outside powers play a role in conflicts that have a potential to destabilise an entire region and radiate instability farther afield. Peace was secured in the 1965 war at Tashkent, not quite a Delhi suburb. Bill Clinton saved face for Nawaz Sharif to end the Kargil conflict in 1999.
Is Russia's sovereignty under threat from Trump's role in trying to end the Ukraine war? Trump's offer, complete with his reference to a '1,000-year' conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, is a reflection of his ignorance, not of compromised Indian sovereignty.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Escondido: Unsold 2025 Cruise Cabins Now At Reduced Prices (See Offers)
FavoriteSearches | Search Ads
Learn More
Undo
India began the operation to punish Pakistan. Only the TV channels dreamt up pictures of war and destruction. India does not want to escalate, but will rebuff any Pakistani attempt to attack India - that was the official position. It was Pakistan that wanted an external intervenor to save face, after its retaliation was suppressed. Trump was willing to chip in. He'll probably send someone to Stockholm to lobby for a peace Nobel, for averting a nuclear showdown.
The surgical strike after Uri did not stop Pulwama. The Balakot attack in retaliation for Pulwama did not prevent Pahalgam. Will Op Sindoor guarantee there will be no further Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks? India has been able to strike inside Pakistan and disable air defence systems and bases. Such ability is a function of military superiority. Can military superiority be taken for granted, and relied on to guarantee future deterrence?
Live Events
Pakistan's
defence capability
has never really been Pakistan's. When it used to be an American ally, its arms were supplied by the US. Now it buys 80% of its arms from China. Beijing has supplied it with its 4.5-generation fighter aircraft, advanced missiles and air-independent propulsion-powered submarines, which can stay submerged for long periods, housing nuclear missiles representing second-strike capability.
American officials reportedly have said that Pakistan's China-made J-10 aircraft shot down an Indian Rafale. India has not confirmed loss of any aircraft, but merely said that 'all our pilots are back home'. But if a Chinese warplane firing a Chinese missile brought down a Rafale, that would be a vital technology demonstration for Beijing.
Pakistan's more than happy to serve as Beijing's force multiplier, tying down a portion of India's armed forces, and harassing India on and off, as required. If Rawalpindi is also willing to offer up combat testing of Chinese military hardware, Beijing might well be willing to pour newer and more advanced weapons into Pakistan's outstretched palm. India would have to acquire superiority of military hardware over China to maintain military superiority over Pakistan.
India needs more than military capability to remove Pakistan as a threat. India needs to undermine the two-nation theory that makes Pakistan see itself as the secure homeland of South Asian Muslims and India as a threat to that security, giving the Pakistani army its legitimacy in the eyes of Pakistanis, even as the state collapses all around them.
That calls for India to move away from sectarian politics internally, and to provide governance that secures prosperity and dignity for everyone, regardless of faith. A couple of decades of such progress would undermine the two-nation thesis, and remove the rationale for Pakistan and its armed forces' legitimacy.
But that will take time, apart from a paradigm shift in Indian politics. Meanwhile, India needs to build better defence capability to match and surpass anything China has. It is cheaper and more reliable to build such capability in India.
It calls for startups to work in tandem with the established defence industry. Problem areas must be worked out, possible solutions outlined, their hardware and software components spelt out, and multiple startups identified to tackle the different parts of each.
One emerging challenge presents itself. Right now, an aircraft or a missile identifies the location of a target using active radar - sending out signals that bounce back from the target to enable locating its position. But active radar permits the target to discover it is being targeted. Suppose the target's location and signature are determined by satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO), and passed on to the attack unit. The target would be caught unawares by an attack unit that uses only passive radar, which makes use of radio waves that exist independent of that attack unit.
Ukrainian drones already do something like this, using Starlink. Target-locating satellites need to be in LEO, a mere few hundred kms high, unlike geostationary satellites that are nearly 36,000 km away and make for lags in communication, or 'latency'. China could integrate satellite-based targeting into their ordnance, using LEO satellites and AI.
India needs to develop this capability. It calls for tech entrepreneurship, seed money and lots of venture capital. GoI could provide the seed capital, besides using the ₹1 lakh cr R&D corpus announced in 2024 to set up fully equipped contract R&D centres. Pension funds - EPF and NPS - could allocate, say, 5% to venture capital for strategic tech, with the savers' permission.
India Inc
should chip in.
Braggadocio will not keep terror away. That calls for systematic build-up of domestic capacity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
Setback for India: Jairam Ramesh after US general praises Pakistan's terror fight
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Indian government on Wednesday over recent remarks by a top United States military official praising Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts. Taking to X, Ramesh wrote, 'Recently, the head of the US Central Command called Pakistan a 'great partner in the counter-terrorism campaign'. What will our Prime Minister and his ovation say to this? Is this not a diplomatic setback for India?'advertisementHis statement followed US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla's testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, where the outgoing commander described Pakistan as a 'phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism comments came at a time when India had been actively campaigning to expose Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, particularly after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April. During the hearing, General Kurilla urged Washington not to adopt a zero-sum approach in South Asia, stating that the US must maintain strategic relations with both India and Pakistan."We need to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,' he said. 'We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has.'advertisementKurilla's remarks came even as India stepped up diplomatic efforts to hold Pakistan accountable for its alleged role in the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people on April 22. In response, India carried out precision air strikes on terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May military escalation ended on May 10 after the Directors General of Military Operations from both countries reached an officials, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, had reiterated that India would not accept any equivalence between victims of terrorism and the perpetrators. New Delhi also expressed concern over multiple international responses that appeared to hyphenate India and Pakistan during the brief military Kurilla, who is expected to retire later this summer, also spoke about Pakistan's role in combatting the Islamic State's regional affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan, also known as IS-KP. He acknowledged efforts by the Pakistani military and army chief General Asim Munir in countering the terror Watch
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Los Angeles protests: Over 20 arrested, tensions persist amid Trump immigration raids and military deployment
More than 20 people were detained on the first night of a curfew imposed in downtown Los Angeles, as police deployed crowd-control projectiles to disperse protesters rallying against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, authorities said on Wednesday. While officials reported fewer clashes compared to earlier demonstrations, the presence of heavily armed troops and ongoing immigration raids kept tensions high across the city. The curfew, covering a one-square-mile area at the heart of downtown, was enacted following five consecutive days of protests that have now spread to cities like Chicago, Austin, Dallas, and New York. 'If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue,' said Mayor Karen Bass. Federal immigration enforcement actions triggered the unrest, with Los Angeles authorities and residents accusing the administration of creating panic by raiding workplaces and separating families. 'When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart… you're trying to cause fear and panic,' Bass added. Some 2,000 National Guard troops were already deployed, half guarding federal buildings and ICE agents. An additional 700 Marines are expected to join once trained, while another 2,000 troops are scheduled for deployment by Thursday. Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman said this operation, overseen by Task Force 51, aims to secure sensitive infrastructure. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised Trump's move as a 'military dragnet' and sought an emergency court order to stop the Guard from assisting immigration enforcement. Trump, however, defended the deployment, posting that the city 'would be burning to the ground' without military intervention. Across the country, parallel protests erupted. In New York, police detained 86 people during overnight protests in Manhattan. In Chicago, a 66-year-old woman was injured after being struck by a car during demonstrations. In Texas, where protests have also flared, the state's National Guard has been placed on standby. Federal authorities also announced charges against two individuals accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at police in LA, warning that more prosecutions may follow. 'If you took part in these riots and were looking to cause trouble, we will come looking for you,' U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. Meanwhile, Trump escalated rhetoric, calling protesters 'animals' and 'a foreign enemy,' to which Newsom responded by accusing the president of launching an 'assault on democracy.' The ongoing raids and arrests have heightened public anxiety, with reports of ICE agents operating at libraries, car washes, and schools, prompting some LA graduations to increase security or go virtual. Since the protests began, police have detained over 200 people, many for failing to disperse. Seven officers have been injured, and charges ranging from vandalism to assault have been filed. Despite the unrest, protesters continue to rally outside City Hall and federal buildings demanding an end to the raids and mass detentions. Police detained more than 20 people, mostly on curfew violations, on the first night of restrictions in downtown Los Angeles and used crowd-control projectiles to break up hundreds of protesters demonstrating against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, officials said Wednesday. But there were fewer clashes between police and demonstrators than on previous nights, and by daybreak, the downtown streets were bustling with residents walking dogs and commuters clutching coffee cups. Officials said the curfew was necessary to stop vandalism and theft by agitators after five days of protests, which have mostly been concentrated downtown. Demonstrations have also spread to other cities nationwide, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, and Chicago and New York, where thousands rallied and more arrests were made. LA's nightly curfew, which the mayor said would remain in effect as long as necessary, covers a 1-square-mile (2.5-square-kilometer) section that includes an area where protests have occurred since Friday in the sprawling city of 4 million. The city of Los Angeles encompasses roughly 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers). "If there are raids that continue, if there are soldiers marching up and down our streets, I would imagine that the curfew will continue," Mayor Karen Bass said. The tensions in LA and elsewhere emerged as immigration authorities seek to dramatically increase the number of daily arrests across the country. Bass said the raids spread fear across the city at the behest of the White House. "We started off by hearing the administration wanted to go after violent felons, gang members, drug dealers," she told a news conference. "But when you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you're not trying to keep anyone safe. You're trying to cause fear and panic." Referring to the protests, she added: "If you drive a few blocks outside of downtown, you don't know that anything is happening in the city at all." Some 2,000 National Guard soldiers are in the city, and about half of them have been protecting federal buildings and agents, said Army Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, head of Task Force 51, which is overseeing the deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles. About 700 Marines will soon join the Guard troops, but they are still undergoing training and will not be mobilized Wednesday, Sherman said. Another 2,000 Guard troops should be on the streets by Thursday, he said. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has accused Trump of drawing a "military dragnet" across the nation's second-largest city with his escalating use of the National Guard, which Trump activated, along with the Marines, over the objections of city and state leaders. Newsom asked a court to put an emergency stop to the military helping federal immigration agents. The assistance includes some guardsmen now standing protectively around agents as they carry out arrests. A judge set a hearing for Thursday, giving the administration several days to continue its activities. The change moves the military closer to engaging in law enforcement actions such as deportations, as Trump has promised as part of his immigration crackdown. The Guard has the authority to temporarily detain people who attack officers, but any arrests would be made by law enforcement. The president posted on the Truth Social platform that the city "would be burning to the ground" if he had not sent in the military. Meanwhile in New York City, police said they took 86 people into custody during protests in lower Manhattan that lasted into Wednesday morning. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the vast majority of demonstrators were peaceful. A 66-year-old woman in Chicago was injured when she was struck by a car during downtown protests Tuesday evening, police said. Video showed a car speeding down a street where people were protesting. In Texas, where police in Austin used chemical irritants to disperse several hundred demonstrators Monday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's office said Texas National Guard troops were "on standby" in areas where demonstrations are planned. Guard members were sent to San Antonio, but Police Chief William McManus said he had not been told how many troops were deployed or their role ahead of planned protests Wednesday night and Saturday. Authorities announce arrests in protests Two people accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at police during the LA protests over the weekend face charges that could bring up to 10 years in prison, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. No one was injured by the devices. One of the suspects is a U.S. citizen, and the other overstayed a tourist visa and was in the U.S. illegally, authorities said. "We are looking at hundreds of people," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. "If you took part in these riots and were looking to cause trouble, we will come looking for you." Trump, Newsom locked in a war of words Trump has called the protesters "animals" and "a foreign enemy" and described Los Angeles in dire terms that the governor says is nowhere close to the truth. Newsom called Trump's actions the start of an "assault" on democracy. "California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next," he said. The protests began Friday after federal immigration raids arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend, and police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. Thousands of people have peacefully rallied outside City Hall and hundreds more protested outside a federal complex that includes a detention center where some immigrants are being held following workplace raids. Despite the protests, immigration enforcement activity has continued throughout the county, with city leaders and community groups reporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement present at libraries, car washes and Home Depots. School graduations in Los Angeles have increased security over fears of ICE action, and some have offered parents the option to watch on Zoom. Los Angeles police detained 200 people related to the protests throughout the day on Tuesday, including 67 who were occupying a freeway, according to the city's chief. The majority of arrests since the protests began have been for failing to disperse, while a few others were for assault with a deadly weapon, looting and vandalism. At least seven police officers have been injured.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran claims US bases to be targeted if conflict breaks out between countries
Iran threatened Wednesday to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out, while President Donald Trump said he was "less confident" about reaching a nuclear deal. Amid escalating tensions, a US official said staff levels at the embassy in Iraq were being reduced over security concerns, while the UK Maritime Trade Operations, run by the British navy, advised ships to transit the Gulf with caution. Watch: Iran swears to annihilate Israel in revenge: who will strike first & why? Here are 5 deadly triggers Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 accord that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on Tehran, backing nuclear diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails. Also Read: Trump travel ban shows 'deep hostility' towards Iranians, Muslims, says Iran "All its bases are within our reach, we have access to them, and without hesitation we will target all of them in the host countries," Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in response to US threats of military action if the talks fail. "God willing, things won't reach that point, and the talks will succeed," the minister said, adding that the US side "will suffer more losses" if it came to conflict. The United States has multiple bases in the Middle East, with the largest located in Qatar. Also Read: Why has Iran been banning people from walking dogs in public? Iran and the United States have recently been locked in a diplomatic standoff over Iran's uranium enrichment, with Tehran defending it as a "non-negotiable" right and Washington calling it as a "red line". Trump had previously expressed optimism about the talks, saying during a Gulf tour last month Washington was "getting close" to securing a deal. But in an interview published Wednesday, Trump said he was "less confident" the United States and Iran could reach a deal, in response to a question on whether he believed he could stop Tehran from enriching uranium. 'A shame' Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal and close though still short of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead. Western countries, including the United States and its ally Israel, have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire atomic weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Last week, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said enrichment is "key" to Iran's nuclear programme and that Washington "cannot have a say" on the issue. During the interview with the New York Post's podcast "Pod Force One", which was recorded on Monday, Trump said he was losing hope a deal could be reached. "I don't know. I did think so, and I'm getting more and more -- less confident about it. They seem to be delaying and I think that's a shame. I am less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago," he said. "Something happened to them but I am much less confident of a deal being made... Maybe they don't wanna make a deal, what can I say? And maybe they do. There is nothing final." Trump maintained that Washington would not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons, saying "it would be nicer to do it without warfare, without people dying". On May 31, after the fifth round of talks, Iran said it had received "elements" of a US proposal for a nuclear deal, with Araghchi later saying the text contained "ambiguities". Iran has said it will present a counter-proposal to the latest draft from Washington, which it had criticised for failing to offer relief from sanctions -- a key demand for Tehran, which has been reeling under their weight for years. On Monday, the United Nations nuclear watchdog began a Board of Governors meeting in Vienna that will last until Friday to discuss Iran's atomic activities and other issues. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting followed a report issued by it criticising "less than satisfactory" cooperation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites. Iran has criticised the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying it relied on "forged documents" provided by its arch-foe Israel. In January 2020, Iran fired missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops in retaliation for the US strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani days before at Baghdad airport. Dozens of US soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries.
