THE CHALLENGE POSED by China and Pakistan is far greater than just the possibility of their combined pressure on the borders. Today’s global contestations encompass a wide range of areas, including economics, trade, cyber security, cross-border terrorism, politics and various internal fault lines. These are all part of the broader battle. In military terms, conflicts now extend beyond land borders to include air, sea, space, and cyber domains.
To date, India has not faced a two-land-frontier-war situation. However, the Indian armed forces are rightly preparing for a two-and-a-half-front war, which includes the northern and western borders, as well as the need to address internal situations. While the border with Pakistan has generally been quieter, it has remained active, particularly with the infiltration of terrorists and the smuggling of drugs.
The Chinese challenge, however, is far more extensive. The Sino-Indian border spans approximately 3,500km and is yet to be fully delineated. China has illegally occupied 36,000sqkm of land in Aksai Chin and claims an additional 90,000sqkm in Arunachal Pradesh. The Karakoram Highway, built by China, traverses Indian territory under Pakistan’s illegal possession, while Pakistan has illegally ceded the Shaksgam tract to China. China’s extensive border infrastructure includes roads, air support, and ‘Xiaokang’ villages to assert sovereignty. Its 2022 Land Border Law declares its territories sacred and inviolable. With superior infrastructure, troop presence, and weapons, China maintains a strong border posture that, along with Pakistan, poses a significant challenge to India.
Since the 1962 war, China has regularly instigated skirmishes. Post Galwan (2020), over 50,000 Chinese troops remain stationed in Ladakh, conducting mountain warfare exercises. India, however, is highly experienced in mountain warfare, with its Army continuously deployed in the harsh Siachen Glacier since 1984. Following Galwan, India rapidly mobilised over 68,000 troops, tanks, and weapons, demonstrating its logistical strength. India’s quick deployment on the Kailash Hills was a key bargaining point. India continues to improve border infrastructure, including roads, bridges, airfields, and helipads, alongside enhancing weapons and surveillance under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) plays a critical role in this build-up, enabling situational awareness and collaborative decision-making. The Ukraine war underscored the importance of leveraging technology for multi-domain warfare. India is incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its military strategy, focusing on aerial threats, drone imagery analysis, and integrated situational awareness. The armed forces collaborates with industry players and deep-tech startups on AI initiatives.
Also Read
- THE WEEK goes to Machoi Glacier where India trains its soldiers to guard its crucial heights
- 'HAWS is focusing on empowering junior leadership': Major General Bruce Fernandez
- 'India has advantage in high altitude combat': Lieutenant General S.L. Narasimhan (retd)
- How mountaineering expeditions play crucial role in mountain warfare training
Space warfare has become vital for India’s security and scientific achievements. India has launched communication and surveillance satellites and is developing the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC). The tri-service Defence Space Agency (DSA) oversees India’s space warfare and satellite intelligence. Supported by the Defence Space Research Agency, the Defence Imagery Processing and Analysis Centre and the Defence Satellite Control Centre, the DSA recently conducted India’s first space exercise, ‘Antariksha Abhyas-2024’.
Work is underway in areas such as electronic intelligence, communication intelligence and space-based tracking systems. These advancements are important for all terrains, including mountains. In 2019, the Defence Research and Development Organisation demonstrated India’s Anti-Satellite capability by destroying a live orbiting satellite in low earth orbit at around 300km with a new interceptor missile in a ‘hit-to-kill’ mode. These achievements are only the beginning, and there remains much progress to be made in the space domain.
The author is a former defence secretary and is currently chairperson of the Society to Harmonise Aspirations for Responsible Engagement.