Deterrence Adrift: Dissecting Indian Coercive Military Doctrines 2017- 18

The recent flare-up between India and Pakistan, in February 2019, points to troubling new trends in strategic balance in the South Asian region. Considering the stated doctrines of Indian Armed forces- Joint Doctrine of Indian Armed forces (JDIAF) and Land Warfare Doctrine (LWD), it was long time coming. To this end, this study delves into analyzing these doctrines to deconstruct their role as driving logic behind Indian misadventures in South Asia. This study discusses the drastic changes this standoff between India and Pakistan has induced in the strategic balance of the region. This paper asserts that the recent events since Post-Pulwama attack have damaged the long-held myth of Indian conventional superiority and resuscitated the debate of drawing a clear nuclear threshold and uncertainty that surrounds it. It suggests that Pakistan needs to augment its resident fighting capabilities with modern technology and means of non-contact warfare. Along with its nuclear capability, Pakistan is required to expand its conventional capabilities to meet growing Indian challenge.