Indian military doctrines with 'poor' strategic sense of nuclear realities endanger South Asia: NCA adviser

Adviser to the National Command Authority and former director general of the Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil, has expressed grave concerns over Indian military doctrines and their impact on South Asian stability. In his keynote address at a workshop on nuclear deterrence and strategic stability in South Asia, Jamil warned that Indian military thinking is shaped by a dangerous ideology, conflating mythology with national power.

He stated that this has resulted in "delusional Indian military doctrines with a poor strategic sense of nuclear realities," endangering South Asia and beyond.

Jamil emphasized that a strategic stability model for the region must take into account the political beliefs and strategic thinking of states, which in turn shape the strategic and security environment. He specifically highlighted India and Pakistan, two South Asian rivals with outstanding disputes, most notably the Kashmir issue.

Jamil argued that India's political approach to resolving conflicts is flawed, as it often avoids resolution through multilateral forums and instead resorts to military aggression against Pakistan and military violence within occupied Kashmir.

He further criticized India's revisionist ideology, which is based on the mythological concept of reclaiming South Asia for Hindu civilization. According to Jamil, this ideology has led to an overconfidence and a willingness to subdue neighboring countries, creating a dangerous political philosophy that has permeated Indian military thinking.

Jamil outlined three fundamental lessons for India's strategic stability in South Asia. First, he stated that conflicts outlast military adventurism and wars, and thus, resolving conflicts politically is crucial for stability. Second, any military misadventure between two nuclear powers would only escalate the crisis and serve no purpose.

Finally, Jamil asserted that the Indian leadership must understand that it cannot dictate its unjustified and illegal policy objectives through military aggression to another nuclear power.

In conclusion, Jamil's warning highlights the dangerous consequences of Indian military doctrines shaped by a delusional ideology and poor strategic sense of nuclear realities, and the urgent need for a political approach to resolve conflicts in South Asia.