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India Today
7 days ago
- 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
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan to keep modernising its military: US report
Pakistan regards India as an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernization effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage, said 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment. The assessment was prepared by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and presented to the US House of Representatives' Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations based on information available as of May 11, 2025. Following the April 22 militant attack in occupied Kashmir, India conducted missile strikes in Pakistan. The missile strikes provoked multiple rounds of missile, drone, and loitering munition attacks, and heavy artillery fire, by both militaries from May 7 to May 10, when both countries agreed to a full ceasefire. The assessment said Pakistan is modernizing its nuclear arsenal and maintaining the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear command and control. "Pakistan almost certainly procures WMD [Weapons of Mass Destruction] applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries," it claimed. According to the assessment, Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), including a new air exercise completed in November 2024. "Foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's WMD programs are very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates." It stated that during the next year, the Pakistani military's top priorities are likely to remain cross-border skirmishes with regional neighbors, rising attacks by the TTP and Baloch militants, counterterrorism efforts, and nuclear modernization. It said despite Pakistan's daily operations during the past year, militants killed more than 2,500 people in Pakistan in 2024. It also claimed that terrorist attacks targeting Chinese workers who support China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects have also emerged as a point of friction between the two countries as seven Chinese nationals were killed in Pakistan in 2024. According to the assessment, Pakistan and Iran have taken steps, including high-level meetings, to de-escalate tensions after the two countries conducted unilateral airstrikes on each other's territory in January 2024 in response to cross-border terror attacks. "In September 2024, Taliban and Pakistani border forces clashed near border posts, resulting in the death of eight Taliban fighters. In March 2025, Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged air and artillery strikes on each other's territory, each citing alleged militant infrastructure as the targets," it said. It stated that South Asia's security situation is shaped by various factors, including terrorism and longstanding mistrust among neighboring states, several of which are modernizing their militaries and nuclear capabilities. "Terrorist activity in Afghanistan and Pakistan will challenge military and security forces, and ongoing tensions along India and China's Line of Actual Control border demarcation are capable of escalating quickly. Russia and China continue efforts to bring regional powers closer into their respective spheres of influence," it added. The assessment said Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi's defense priorities will probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Delhi's military power. "India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries." It said to counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defense partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing. India also has increased trilateral engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and actively participates in multilateral fora such as the Quadrilateral, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and ASEAN. It said that China will continue to advance selected areas of partnership with Russia while avoiding actions such as overtly providing materiel or lethal military assistance to Russia that might elicit reputational or economic costs for Beijing.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India views China as 'primary adversary', Pakistan as 'ancillary problem': US report
India perceives China as its 'primary adversary' and Pakistan as 'an ancillary security problem to be managed' despite the military clashes this month triggered by New Delhi's military strikes on terrorist facilities, according to a new assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Pakistan, on the other hand, sees India as an 'existential threat' and will continue the development of tactical nuclear weapons to counter India's conventional military advantage, while tensions between India and China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', DIA director Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse said in his worldwide threat assessment to the US House armed services subcommittee on intelligence. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians last month. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes using drones, missiles and long-range weapons that ended with an understanding between the two countries on halting military actions on May 10. The DIA assessment, presented on May 11, said the Indian and Pakistani militaries had 'agreed to a full ceasefire' after multiple rounds of missile, drone and loitering munition attacks and heavy artillery fire during May 7-10. Kruse concluded: 'India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries.' On the other hand, the DIA said, Pakistan regards India as 'an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage'. Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and 'almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries', the assessment said. 'Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's PLA', it said. Chinese-origin combat jets such as the JF-17 and J-10C and the PL-15 missile were extensively used by Pakistan during the recent clashes. The DIA said foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes are 'very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates'. The assessment further said tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', and the Indian government's defence priorities will 'probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Dehli's military power'. 'To counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing,' the assessment said. Last October, India and China reached an agreement on disengagement of forces two remaining 'friction points' on the LAC and the leadership of the two countries agreed to revive several mechanisms to resolve the long-standing border dispute and to normalise relations. The DIA said the 'disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash' along the LAC. The DIA further assessed that India will continue promoting its 'Make in India' initiative to build its domestic defence industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernise its military. India also continued military modernisation efforts in 2024 by conducting a test of the nuclear-capable Agni-I Prime MRBM and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle and by commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine to 'strengthen its nuclear triad and bolster its ability to deter adversaries'. The DIA also concluded that India will maintain its relationship with Russia because it views these ties as 'important for achieving its economic and defence objectives and sees value in the offset deepening Russia-China relations'. While India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment, it still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and combat jets to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan, the assessment said.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
China adversary, Pakistan ancillary problem for New Delhi: US report
India perceives China as its 'primary adversary' and Pakistan as 'an ancillary security problem to be managed' despite the military clashes this month triggered by New Delhi's military strikes on terrorist facilities, according to a new assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Pakistan, on the other hand, sees India as an 'existential threat' and will continue the development of tactical nuclear weapons to counter India's conventional military advantage, while tensions between India and China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', DIA director Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse said in his worldwide threat assessment to the US House armed services subcommittee on intelligence. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians last month. The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes using drones, missiles and long-range weapons that ended with an understanding between the two countries on halting military actions on May 10. The DIA assessment, presented on May 11, said the Indian and Pakistani militaries had 'agreed to a full ceasefire' after multiple rounds of missile, drone and loitering munition attacks and heavy artillery fire during May 7-10. Kruse concluded: 'India views China as its primary adversary and Pakistan more an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both India's and Pakistan's militaries.' On the other hand, the DIA said, Pakistan regards India as 'an existential threat and will continue to pursue its military modernisation effort, including the development of battlefield nuclear weapons, to offset India's conventional military advantage'. Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and 'almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries', the assessment said. 'Pakistan primarily is a recipient of China's economic and military largesse, and Pakistani forces conduct multiple combined military exercises every year with China's PLA', it said. Chinese-origin combat jets such as the JF-17 and J-10C and the PL-15 missile were extensively used by Pakistan during the recent clashes. The DIA said foreign materials and technology supporting Pakistan's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes are 'very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transshipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates'. The assessment further said tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are 'capable of escalating quickly', and the Indian government's defence priorities will 'probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Dehli's military power'. 'To counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing,' the assessment said. Last October, India and China reached an agreement on disengagement of forces two remaining 'friction points' on the LAC and the leadership of the two countries agreed to revive several mechanisms to resolve the long-standing border dispute and to normalise relations. The DIA said the 'disengagement did not resolve the longstanding dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering from a 2020 incident when troops on both sides were killed in a clash' along the LAC. The DIA further assessed that India will continue promoting its 'Make in India' initiative to build its domestic defence industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernise its military. India also continued military modernisation efforts in 2024 by conducting a test of the nuclear-capable Agni-I Prime MRBM and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle and by commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine to 'strengthen its nuclear triad and bolster its ability to deter adversaries'. The DIA also concluded that India will maintain its relationship with Russia because it views these ties as 'important for achieving its economic and defence objectives and sees value in the offset deepening Russia-China relations'. While India has reduced its procurement of Russian-origin military equipment, it still relies on Russian spare parts to maintain its large inventory of Russian-origin tanks and combat jets to counter perceived threats from China and Pakistan, the assessment said.
Korea Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Iran-US talks made 'some but not conclusive progress,' mediator Oman says
ROME (AP) — Iran and the United States made 'some but not conclusive progress' Friday in a fifth round of negotiations in Rome over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, the talks' Omani mediator said. The remarks by Badr al-Busaidi suggested the negotiations between the two longtime enemies would continue even as the talks run up against their toughest challenge: Trying to find middle ground between American demands that Iran stop enriching uranium while Tehran insists its program must continue. 'The fifth round of Iran US talks have concluded today in Rome with some but not conclusive progress,' al-Busaidi wrote on X. 'We hope to clarify the remaining issues in the coming days, to allow us to proceed toward the common goal of reaching a sustainable and honourable agreement.' Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi after the talks told Iranian state television that al-Busaidi presented ideas that will be conveyed to the two nations' capitals 'without creating any commitments for either side." "These negotiations are too complex to be resolved in just two or three meetings,' he said. 'I am hopeful that in the next one or two rounds — especially given the better understanding of the Islamic Republic's positions — we can reach solutions that allow the talks to progress.' He added, 'We are not there yet, but we are not discouraged either." The US was again represented in the talks by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and Michael Anton, the State Department's policy planning director, at the negotiations in the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighborhood. A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks, said the direct and indirect negotiations 'continue to be constructive.' 'The talks continue to be constructive — we made further progress, but there is still work to be done,' the official said. The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the US has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on half a century of enmity. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. 'Iran almost certainly is not producing nuclear weapons, but Iran has undertaken activities in recent years that better position it to produce them, if it chooses to do so,' a new report from the US Defense Intelligence Agency said. 'These actions reduce the time required to produce sufficient weapons-grade uranium for a first nuclear device to probably less than one week.' However, it likely still would take Iran months to make a working bomb, experts say. Enrichment remains the key point of contention. Witkoff at one point suggested Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67 percent, then later began saying all Iranian enrichment must stop. That position on the American side has hardened over time. Asked about the negotiations, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said 'we believe that we are going to succeed' in the talks and on Washington's push for no enrichment. 'The Iranians are at that table, so they also understand what our position is, and they continue to go," Bruce said Thursday. One idea floated so far that might allow Iran to stop enrichment in the Islamic Republic but maintain a supply of uranium could be a consortium in the Mideast backed by regional countries and the US. There also are multiple countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency offering low-enriched uranium that can be used for peaceful purposes by countries. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry has maintained enrichment must continue within the country's borders and a similar fuel-swap proposal failed to gain traction in negotiations in 2010. Meanwhile, Israel has threatened to strike Iran's nuclear facilities on their own if it feels threatened, further complicating tensions in the Mideast already spiked by the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Araghchi warned Thursday that Iran would take 'special measures' to defend its nuclear facilities if Israel continues to threaten them, while also warning the US it would view it as being complicit in any Israeli attack. Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo , an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes. Yet despite the tough talk from Iran, the Islamic Republic needs a deal. Its internal politics are inflamed over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past. Iran's rial currency plunged to over 1 million to a US dollar in April. The currency has improved with the talks, however, something Tehran hopes will continue as a further collapse in the rial could spark further economic unrest. Meanwhile, its self-described 'Axis of Resistance' sits in tatters after Iran's regional allies in the region have faced repeated attacks by Israel during its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The collapse of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government during a rebel advance in December also stripped Iran of a key ally. The Trump administration also has continued to levy new sanctions on Iran, including this week, which saw the US specifically target any sale of sodium perchlorate to the Islamic Republic. Iran reportedly received that chemical in shipments from China at its Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas. A major, unexplained explosion there killed dozens and wounded over 1,000 others in April during one round of the talks.
