Rana Asif Khurshid
The famous American writer John Denver said: “The nuclear arms race is like two people sitting in a pool of gasoline spending all their time making matches.” After increasing 10 percent in the country’s defense budget for the upcoming fiscal year, India has broken into the top five defense spender’s club. This shows that India has activated dangerous arms race in South Asia. According to the 2016 Jane’s Defence Budgets Report, India now has the fourth-largest defense budget, followed by Saudi Arabia and Russia. Another report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published on February 22, 2015, that India is the world’s largest recipient of arms. In its report of 2016 also SIPRI pointed out India’s arms-import. India was the world’s largest importer of major arms in 2012-16, accounting for 13 percent of the global total. Between 2007-11 and 2012-16 it increased its arms imports by 43 per cent. In 2012-16 India’s imports were far greater than those of its regional rivals China and Pakistan (SIPRI). South Asia is a sensitive region where one state’s military spending grossly and vastly out shadows all other. There are two major states in South Asia, Pakistan, and India. Indian hegemonic design directly threatened the peace of South Asia, especially to its neighboring country Pakistan. Both are the two major players and also two militarily important states in the region. It can be said that the friendly relations between these countries can become the base of peace and strategic stability in the region.In South Asia, arms race started after the partition of Subcontinent in two countries India and Pakistan in 1947. India and Pakistan got independence simultaneously from Britain. But the blame game started in the beginning. No doubt there are many issues which are the obstacles to enjoying the friendly relations between Pakistan and India but the major issue is Kashmir that has been become the nuclear flashpoint in the South Asian Region since 1998. Kashmir issue was the major cause to start the arms race between the India and Pakistan and it destabilized the entire region.
Pakistan did not want to start the arms race but Indian desire and intentions forced to join the race. On the other hand, the motivations that drive India were not only the security concerns but also the desire for hegemony in the South Asian region. The first Prime Minister of India expressed his desire to say that “India should be dominant or perish”.
Pakistan in particular and other states, in general, faced the Indian hegemonic threat.
It is not only matter of concern for Pakistan but also for other neighboring countries of India especially for China. American double standards also destabilize the balance of arms in South Asia. India is the only states in the region that can support the American’s China-containment policy. Although during his visit to China in November 2009, Obama clearly said: “America does not seek to contain China’s rise and welcome China as a strong, prosperous and Successful member of the community of nations.” But this proves wrong when we see the worst form of double standards of American support to the Indian arm race in the region and US wants New Delhi to continue the anti-China role. America, Israel, and other western states do not want to see Pakistan as the first nuclear state in the Muslim world so this also might be another reason to support Indian arm race. That’s why after Obama, the new administration of America under the presidency of Trump also encouraging India in this regard. However, this is true that India is continuously destabilizing South Asia through its aggressive designs activated with the arms race. In this regard, we could not forget the statement of Indian ex-Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor had disclosed on December 29, 2010, that the Indian army “is now revising its five-year-old doctrine” and is preparing for a “possible two-front war with China and Pakistan.
Being a main state of the region, Pakistan is also trying to maintain its position and under duress has joined this race. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has clearly said, “India always tried to maintain its “hegemony” in the South Asia region and Pakistan has rejected this while “effectively” protecting its interests”.
There are many tensions between India and Pakistan but no doubt Kashmir is the main issue that has become the nuclear flash point. Similarly, tension remains over the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, as India keeps on violating the ceasefire-agreement in wake of the unresolved issue of Kashmir. Despite the peaceful settlement of disputes between two states, India has started the dangerous arms race in the region.
There is many impacts Indian arm race in the South Asian regions. There is a fear of nuclear war between India and Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir destabilizing the entire region security. Indian extremist parties like BJP and its allies can use nuclear arm against Pakistan (These parties had threatened to use nuclear arms against Pakistan in May 1998 after nuclear tests). The disputes between different states and behavior of Indi towards other states can become the reason of failure the regional corporation organization like SAARC. The prosperity of the entire region can effect as both major player of the region are increasing their defense expenditure. To avoid a major clash or nuclear war in the region, the core issues between Pakistan and India must be solved, especially Kashmir according to UN resolutions. Western power especially America should renounce the policy of influence in the South Asian region. India should also renounce its hegemonic desire and also control the extremist Hindus in the country.
No states including Pakistan can accept the hegemony of India in the region. So if India continues this arms race in South Asia, resultantly it can culminate in a nuclear war between Pakistan and India.
