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India Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
How India is iron-cladding defences in a rapidly volatile world
India's geopolitical strategy in 2025 reflects a complex balancing act as it navigates its primary rivalry with China, manages cross-border tensions with Pakistan and maintains a critical partnership with Russia, according to the US Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Worldwide Threat a volatile military standoff with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, India continues to prioritise its economic and defence objectives through ties with Russia, viewing the relationship as a counterweight to the deepening Russia-China DIA notes that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has scaled back procurement of Russian-origin military equipment but remains reliant on Russian spare parts to sustain its extensive inventory of tanks and fighter aircraft. These systems form the backbone of India's military, essential for countering threats from both China and dependence on Russian technology was underscored by its enthusiasm for the S-400 air defence system, dubbed the 'Sudarshan Chakra'. Following a $5.43 billion deal in 2018 for five units, the first S-400 system was deployed in Punjab in 2021 to counter aerial threats from both neighbours. With three units delivered, India is expected to press Russia for the final two. Tensions with Pakistan flared up after the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam. India responded with missile strikes on terrorism-related infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), triggering a 100-hour military face-off over three days. Both sides exchanged missiles, drones, loitering munitions and heavy artillery fire before agreeing to a ceasefire on May Pakistan's military response relied heavily on Chinese-supplied platforms, raising concerns about Beijing's proxy involvement in the conflict. Major General Ashok Kumar, director general at the defence ministry-affiliated think-tank Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, says that China offered Pakistan air defence and satellite support during the recent clash. He said that while China has supported Pakistan in all conflicts with India after 1963, when it got Shaksgam Valley from Pakistan, the support had been marginal.'It was a total turnaround since the Pahalgam terrorist strike, wherein the Chinese establishment has outright supported Pakistan. Support in terms of air defence radars, imageries and such other resources was made available,' Maj. Gen. Kumar to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Pakistan, despite a defence budget one-tenth the size of India's, ranked as the world's fifth-largest arms importer from 2020-2024, sourcing 81 per cent of its arms from China, including fighter aircraft, frigates and air defence which directs 63 per cent of its arms exports to Pakistan, also supports its ally through technology transfers, co-development and co-production. However, military experts warn that Pakistan's growing reliance on Chinese systems raises concerns about their reliability in high-intensity conflicts and the risks of over-dependence on a single Worldwide Threat Assessment for 2025 has underlined that India is sharply focused on countering China as its primary adversary while treating Pakistan as a secondary even as both adversaries indirectly collaborated in the May the China front, India reached an agreement last October to disengage forces from two contested positions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. While this reduced tensions lingering since the deadly 2020 clash in Galwan Valley, the longstanding border demarcation dispute remains counter Chinese influence and bolster its global leadership, India is intensifying defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through joint exercises, training, arms sales and information sharing. It has also ramped up trilateral engagement in the Indo-Pacific and remains active in multilateral forums like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and New Delhi's Make in India initiative continues to drive modernisation of its defence industry, aiming to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance military capabilities. In 2024, India tested the nuclear-capable Agni-I Prime medium-range ballistic missile and the Agni-V with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles. It also commissioned its second nuclear-powered submarine, strengthening its nuclear triad and deterrence capabilities against India navigates this intricate strategic landscape, its focus remains clear: balancing regional threats, deepening global partnerships, and building a self-reliant defence ecosystem to secure its place as a leading power in an increasingly volatile to India Today MagazineTune InMust Watch
India Gazette
19-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
China gave Pakistan air defense support during clash with India
Beijing aided Islamabad with aerial protection and a reconnaissance system, according to an Indian think tank China provided Pakistan with air defense and satellite support during its recent military confrontation with India, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing a think tank affiliated with the Indian Defense Ministry. Ashok Kumar, director general at the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies in New Delhi, said China assisted Pakistan in reorganizing its radar and air defense systems, enabling them to more effectively detect Indian troop and weaponry deployments, according to the report. "It helped them to redeploy their air defense radar so that any actions which we do from the aerial route are known to them," Kumar told Bloomberg. The aid indicates a more direct level of involvement from Beijing than was initially revealed, the report claimed. The think tank added that China also provided assistance to Pakistan in adjusting its satellite coverage over India during the 15-day period between the April 22 terror attacks in India's Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and India's strikes on suspected terror facilities in Pakistan-controlled territory on May 7. China, which called on the South Asian countries to de-escalate during their four-day conflict, has traditionally enjoyed warm defense ties with Pakistan. On Monday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar left for a three-day official visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a report by state-owned media outlet Radio Pakistan. Dar will engage in comprehensive talks with his Chinese counterpart, focusing on the changing regional dynamics in South Asia and their potential impact on peace and stability, the report stated. Additionally, the two nations will conduct a thorough review of their relations. Pakistan has admitted using Chinese weapons in the recent standoff, according to reports. However, New Delhi has not publicly commented on Beijing's alleged involvement in the confrontation, which ended with a ceasefire on May 11. China has condemned the April terror attack in Kashmir, which claimed 26 civilian lives, adding that it "opposes all forms of terrorism." READ MORE: Truce or trap? India's calculated calm with Pakistan
India.com
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Chinas Covert Role: Satellite, Air Defence Aid To Pakistan In India Conflict Exposed
China gave Pakistan vital satellite and air defence assistance in its recent war-like confrontation with India, a senior Indian defence think tank asserted, hinting Beijing might have had a more active role in the conflict than officially stated. China helped Pakistan realign satellite surveillance over Indian space and redeploy air defence radar systems in the period before the war that followed the April 22 killing of 26 Indian tourists, Ashok Kumar, the Director General of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS)—a think tank attached to India's Ministry of Defence — said. "It helped them to redeploy their air defence radar so that any aerial action from our side could be detected," Kumar told an interview at the headquarters of the think tank in New Delhi. Support was said to have been given in conjunction with an ISIS-affiliated terror assault that ignited the escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Though the Indian government has yet to officially declare China's role, and Pakistan has acknowledged that it used Chinese weapons systems, Kumar's words signal wider logistical and intelligence collaboration between Beijing and Islamabad during the conflict. CENJOWS is a research think-tank aimed at modernizing India's military strength. It has Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the heads of India's Army, Navy, and Air Force on its advisory board. Requests for comment sent to the Foreign and Defence Ministries of China, India, and Pakistan, as well as to the Indian Armed Forces and the Office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remained unanswered as of Sunday evening. Worst Conflict In 50 Years The recent skirmish has been termed the most intense between India and Pakistan in half a century, with drone attacks, artillery exchanges, missile exchanges, and small-arms battles along their disputed border areas. India has designated the April 22 killings as a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist act — a charge Islamabad has refuted. Ex-US President Donald Trump alleged to have brokered a ceasefire from May 10, something India dismissed as saying the truce was negotiated bilaterally. Pakistan subsequently extended the ceasefire until Sunday, while India said that it was seeking confidence-building measures. China's Military Hardware Underperformed: Report Kumar also pointed out that Chinese military systems deployed during the war "failed miserably" in actual battlefield situations. Though he did not explain, he quoted Indian military officials raising questions about the functioning of the systems. Pakistan had used hundreds of drones in the war, reportedly, but India's networked sensor system helped it effectively counter the threat, said Kumar. Pakistan said on Friday that it had downed six Indian fighter aircraft. The statement hasn't been independently confirmed, and no losses have been verified by India. Chinese hardware like the J-IOC combat fighter and the PL-15 air-to-air missile have been used for the first time in actual combat, according to reports. Their employment has caused a stir in regional defence communities, especially in Taiwan. Neither China nor Pakistan made any official assessment of their performance or public statements regarding the contribution of the systems to the war. India Prepares For A Two-Front Challenge Kumar cautioned that future defence planning in India would have to increasingly factor in the likelihood of concurrent aggression by both China and Pakistan. "Anything which is with China today can be deemed to be with Pakistan tomorrow," he stated, further observing that China is not likely to act unless a conflict reaches a "critical" point. He also suggested Pakistan could be expected to support China in the case of a future India-China conflict. China and Pakistan have enjoyed close strategic and military relations since the Cold War. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan through the Belt and Road Initiative, including in the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). After a fatal 2020 border skirmish with China that killed 20 Indian troops, India has continued to gradually redeploy military resources to bolster its northern border. In spite of a recent improvement in relations over the past several months, the new conflict highlights intensifying strategic tensions in the area.
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
China gave Pakistan satellite support, Indian defence group says
India's Centre for Joint Warfare Studies says China provided Pakistan with air and satellite support during its clash with India in May. PHOTO: AFP China provided Pakistan with air defence and satellite support during its clash with India in May , according to a research group under India's Ministry of Defence, suggesting that Beijing was more directly involved in the conflict than was previously disclosed. China helped Pakistan reorganise its radar and air defence systems to more effectively detect India's deployments of troops and weaponry, Dr Ashok Kumar , director-general at the New Delhi-based Centre For Joint Warfare Studies, said in an interview. China also helped Pakistan adjust its satellite coverage over India during the 15-day interval between an April 22 massacre that killed 26 mostly Indian tourists and the start of hostilities between the two nations, he said. 'It helped them to redeploy their air defence radar so that any actions which we do from the aerial route is known to them,' Dr Kumar said at the group's headquarters in New Delhi. India's government hasn't publicly detailed China's involvement in the conflict. While Pakistan has said it used Chinese-supplied weapons, Dr Kumar's assessment – if correct – indicates that China's involvement went even further, offering logistical and intelligence support to Islamabad. The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies describes itself as an autonomous think tank focused on integration and transformation of India's armed forces. Its advisory board includes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as well as India's top military commander and the heads of the army, air force and navy. China's Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry didn't respond to requests for comment placed over the weekend. Representatives for India's Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office didn't respond to requests for comment. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry and Information Ministry also didn't respond to e-mailed queries on May 18 . The clash was the worst between the nuclear-armed neighbours in half a century, with both sides trading air, drone and missile strikes, as well as artillery and small arms fire along their shared border. It was triggered by the bloodshed on April 22, which India has called an act of terrorism orchestrated by Pakistan. Leaders in Islamabad have denied involvement. The conflict drew in world powers, with President Donald Trump taking credit for helping to mediate a ceasefire that started May 10 – an assertion that generated anger in India, which said the truce was negotiated bilaterally. On May 15 , Pakistan's deputy prime minister said the ceasefire would be extended to May 18 , while the Indian Army has said it would continue to work on confidence-building measures with Pakistan. D r Kumar said China used the conflict as a testing ground for its weapons. The performance of the Chinese defence systems were below average and 'failed miserably' in some instances, he s aid, citing an Indian military assessment. He didn't provide specifics. India's defence systems reacted well to Pakistan's use of hundreds of drones in the conflict, Dr Kumar said, adding that India's integrated network of censors gave it an edge. He didn't comment on China's J-10C fighter or Pakistan's claims that it downed Indian warplanes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on May 16 said Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets, an assertion that hasn't been independently verified. India's government hasn't commented on whether it lost aircraft in the fighting. Chinese weapons like the J-10C fighter and the PL-15 air-to-air missile had never seen documented live fighting before, and their use has raised concerns among Beijing's rivals across the region, including in Taiwan. China's government hasn't commented on the use of its equipment, and Pakistan hasn't presented evidence to back up its claims. Dr Kumar said that India's planning for conflicts with Pakistan now accounts for the probability that China will provide assistance to Islamabad. China may not intervene on behalf of Pakistan unless the situation is 'critical', but Pakistan will enter a conflict between India and China, he said. 'Two-front situation' 'India now factors in a two-front situation in almost all its calculations,' Dr Kumar said. 'Anything which is with China today can be deemed to be with Pakistan tomorrow.' The longstanding strife between India and Pakistan centres on the disputed region of Kashmir, a mountainous swathe of territory that both countries claim in whole but control in part. China has long been a backer of Pakistan dating back to the Cold War, and more recently has invested billions of dollars into the country via its Belt and Road infrastructure program. In recent years, India has shifted more military resources to its disputed border with China, where a 2020 clash left 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops dead. More recently, India and China had made strides toward normalising ties. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hans India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
High-level industries summit focusses on enhancing India's air, missile defence capabilities
New Delhi: The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, in collaboration with Aerospace Services India (ASI) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), hosted the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile India Eco-System Summit 2.0 at the Manekshaw Centre here, aimed at enhancing India's air and missile defence capabilities, according to an official statement issued on Thursday. The inaugural session focussed on the growing synergy between Indian and Israeli Defence sectors. The day-long summit brought together key stakeholders from India's Defence eco-system, highlighting collaborative achievements and future possibilities in enhancing India's air and missile defence capabilities under the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make-in-India' initiatives. The summit emphasised the achievements of ASI-IAI's wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, which plays a critical role in providing technical representation, life-cycle support, and local manufacturing for the Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system and its associated subsystems such as the BARAK 8 missile and Air Defence Fire Control Radar. It underscored the importance of establishing a resilient and future-ready air defence infrastructure through sustained collaboration, capability development, and localised innovation. Key sessions of the summit included panel discussions on operational readiness and self-reliance in missile systems, technology showcases featuring AI-powered service management systems like STORMS developed by ASI. Discussions were held on building India's long-term capability in indigenous Defence manufacturing. The event witnessed participation from senior representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, DRDO, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, and leading Indian Defence manufacturers. The participants voiced a shared commitment to elevate India's position as a global hub for advanced weapons systems, with ASI reaffirming its vision to become India's premier defence service provider, the statement added.
