[Answered] India must rethink its one-front war concept amidst the China-Pakistan nexus. Analyze how nuanced strategic formulations can enhance national security preparedness and address complex geopolitical realities.

Introduction:

India’s evolving security environment, marked by the deepening China-Pakistan nexus, demands a departure from outdated one-front war doctrines towards a multidimensional, proactive, and integrated national security strategy.

Why India’s One-Front War Doctrine is Obsolete

1. Two Nuclear-Armed Neighbours: India shares contested borders with China and Pakistan, both possessing nuclear capabilities and strategic convergence against India’s rise.
2. Recent Conflicts: Galwan Clash (2020): First fatalities at the India-China LAC in 45 years. Balakot Air Strike (2019): Signaled a shift in India’s response posture towards Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. These highlight simultaneous threats across fronts.
3. China-Pakistan Strategic Convergence: Military Collaboration as China supplies 70% of Pakistan’s military equipment (SIPRI, 2023).  CPEC and Gwadar Port where China’s $60 billion investment in CPEC not only violates India’s sovereignty but also grants it strategic depth into the Indian Ocean. Joint Military Exercises like “Warrior” and “Shaheen” signify interoperability and coordinated operational training.

Nuanced Strategic Formulations for Multi-Front Preparedness

1. Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs): Enhances jointness across Army, Navy, and Air Force. Allows real-time coordination for dual-front contingencies. Example: The proposed Maritime Theatre Command will streamline naval operations vis-à-vis Chinese presence in the IOR.
2. Hybrid and Grey-Zone Warfare Readiness: Both adversaries exploit information warfare, cyber intrusions, and irregular proxy elements (e.g., Pak-backed terror groups, Chinese psy-ops). India must enhance counter-influence capabilities and civil-military fusion in intelligence and surveillance.
3. Force Modernization and Logistics: Need for rapid induction of high-altitude warfare gear, UAVs, and indigenous platforms (e.g., LCA Tejas, K-9 Vajra, Pralay missile). BRO’s infrastructure push: 295 projects worth ₹11,000 crore completed in border areas in past 3 years.
4. Diplomatic Balancing and Strategic Partnerships: QUAD, I2U2, and Indo-Pacific: India must leverage multilateral platforms to counter Chinese encirclement (String of Pearls). India-Russia-Israel collaboration in defence technology has improved precision and deterrence capacity.
5. Internal Stabilization as Strategic Imperative: Managing insurgency in Kashmir and Northeast, ensuring communal harmony, and strengthening democracy enhances internal security against external exploitation. Example: Revocation of Article 370 and development focus in J&K aims to neutralize Pakistan’s psychological warfare.
6. Revisiting Nuclear Doctrine: India’s “No First Use” policy may need recalibration to maintain credible deterrence in an unpredictable dual-front scenario.

Way Forward

1. Doctrine of Strategic Flexibility: Must allow for dynamic assessment of threat levels and deploy forces accordingly.
2. Public and Private Sector Synergy: In defence manufacturing, cyber defence, and AI-powered surveillance.
3. Intelligence and Cyber Infrastructure: Integrated with platforms like NATGRID, NCW (Network-Centric Warfare), and Artificial Intelligence-enabled threat analysis.

Conclusion:

India’s security paradigm must evolve beyond outdated assumptions. Embracing multi-domain, multi-front strategic thinking ensures resilience, deters aggression, and upholds national sovereignty in an increasingly complex geopolitical matrix.