Opinion | Is India fuelling an arms race in Asia or closing a deterrence gap?
The challenge for New Delhi is to solve its deterrence shortfall without letting competition harden into permanent confrontation
The issue is not whether India is spending more, but whether it is correcting a deterrence shortfall or feeding Asia’s accelerating cycle of competitive rearmament.
The Indian intent is clearer after Operation Sindoor exposed weaknesses in Indian defences, including drone technology, air power and decision making.
While Pakistan is obviously worried about India’s military efforts, Pakistan does not need to match India platform for platform. It has long pursued a less costly Chinese-made arsenal that is difficult to deter, alongside escalation management. The aim is not conventional victory but to keep India uncertain, politically constrained and tactically reactive while increasing the odds that New Delhi pauses before it climbs the ladder.