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

Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil, an adviser to the National Command Authority (NCA) and former director general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), has expressed grave concerns over the Indian military's mindset shaping a "dangerous ideology." According to Jamil, this ideology combines mythology with national power, resulting in dangerous and delusional doctrines that pose a significant threat to South Asia and beyond.

Jamil's key note address at a workshop titled 'Nuclear Deterrence and Strategic Stability in South Asia' was held in London. He highlighted the need to consider the political beliefs and strategic thinking of states in shaping a strategic stability model. Jamil pointed out that India and Pakistan, as South Asian rivals, have outstanding disputes, with the core issue being Kashmir.

He criticized India's approach to resolving the conflict, stating that it resorts to military violence within occupied Kashmir and aggression against Pakistan instead. This strategy, Jamil claims, has failed, leaving Kashmir as a nuclear flashpoint, severely impacting the South Asian strategic and security environment. Jamil also discussed India's historical revisionist and hegemonic aspirations, which have a long tradition of Indian coercion and militant violence against its neighbors.

He further pointed out that India's political ideology is rooted in its mythological concept of violence and revisionism, which believes South Asia belongs to Hindu civilization. He emphasized the importance of realizing three vital lessons for strategic stability in South Asia: first, conflicts outlast military adventurism and wars, and must be resolved politically; second, any military misadventure between nuclear powers could escalate the crisis and serve no purpose; third, wars often begin with confidence but end with the realization that control is unattainable.