India's Military Modernization And Its Impacts On South Asian Regional Stability

This research work is a study of India's military modernization and its impacts on South Asian regional Stability.South Asia is to be considered the most dangerous place and volatile region in the world.In the South Asian region,India is considered the largest military power which is equipped with highly sophisticated weapons and advance technology.At the same time,India has gradually increased its defense budget and started to invest in military modernizations plans.India is trying to reach its military potentials to the high level of modernization.As a result,India has emerged one of largest importer of arms in the world which shares almost 12 percent of total arms imports by ten largest importers.Such type of huge military spending in defense sectors and modernization plans unveils India's hegemonic intention and ambitions to dominate the region and emerge as a global power.This research also analyzes India's status as a regional power and how she is playing a role of dominator in South Asia.India with an immense power showed its muscles to other regional states and continuously interfering in the internal affairs of the small states in the region.These types of actions are showing the hegemonic role of India in the region.Moreover,India is increasing its dominance and showing strategic interest in the Indian Ocean to pursue its national interests beyond the region.To give real shape to such modernize and mechanize form of military capabilities and to pursue its goals India shifted its military doctrine in 2004.India Cold Start Doctrine is a proactive strategy which is highly aimed against Pakistan.Under this doctrine,India has conducted enough military exercises near the border areas of Pakistan to test and checked the military capabilities and potentials.It also shows how Pakistan is responding to India's cold start doctrine and relies on tactical nuclear weapons.India is already enjoying superiority over Pakistan in terms of conventional weapons.The United States strategic partnership with New Delhi has changed the domain of security in South Asia.This research is an attempt to explain the Indian military modernization capabilities and its offensive mindset which is bringing negative effects on the stability of the region.This research shows that how such type of Indian military modernization in all sectors of defense will bring instability in the region and will further enhance the existing arms race in the region.If such type of modernization will continue in future,the shadow of nuclear or conventional war will be over the region for a long time.This research will provide some policy recommendations for the international community as well as for both India and Pakistan to adopt some measures to make and keep the region stable for long ages.The thesis divided into five chapters including recommendations and conclusion.Chapter one deals with the background of the study with the reference to the Main argument,research questions,objective and significance of the study.This chapter also covers the existing literature on India's military modernizations plans and capabilities from various perspectives as well as research methodology and theoretical framework.Chapter Two examine the Indian strategies towards South Asia,where India is playing a role of dominator and a pursuing its policies in the region.It also explains India's hegemonic role in the region and India's attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of the other small states in the region.Beside these,it explains the India maritime strategy and its objective in the Indian Ocean,which gives India to strengthen its presence and to achieve national interests.Chapter Three covers the detailed information of defense sectors,in which India is enhancing and modernizing its weapons system and military capabilities.These areas include the modernization of land forces,Airforce,naval capabilities,Missiles and anti-missile capabilities,unmanned armed vehicles capabilities and space militarization.Additionally,it uncovers the doctrinal shift in Indian military.It starts with a general description that how and why India changed its military doctrine from Sunderji Doctrine to Cold start doctrine in 2004.It discusses the detailed analysis of both doctrine and explains the failure of Sunderji Doctrine.It explores the Indian offensive mindset to unveil the background behind the Cold Start doctrine and how India tested and implemented its Cold Start doctrine through different military exercises.It also shows how Pakistan is responding to India's cold start doctrine and relies on tactical nuclear weapons.This chapter also explains the Indian military exercises which were tested under the flagship of Indian Cold Start Doctrine.Chapter Four disclosed the Impacts of Indian Military modernization on the region.It explains that an Indian military modernization is an indication to further increase arms race in the region and how it shows the hegemonic intention of India.It also explained that such military modernization will have effects on the strategic competition between Pakistan and India.India has already conventional military superiority over Pakistan and India's economy allows it to further modernize its military.Chapter Five concluded the study and also suggested some policy recommendations for the International community as well as for India and Pakistan to take initiatives to prevent the region from further destabilization.