Evolving Indian Strategic Thinking: Implications for Pakistan Security

Abstract

The Indian strategic thinking is continuously transforming and creating security challenges for Pakistan. This article aims to highlight the impact of Chanakya Kautilya’s six-fold policy on the doctrinal maneuvering of the Indian military and its impact on Pakistan’s security. Kauṭilya being a realist was proponent of aggressive strategic thinking. His work is still relevant in the modern strategic thought. There is reflection of his six-fold policy and mandala theory on the current Indian strategic thinking. Which not only impacts the Indian military’s doctrinal shift from defensive to offensive war strategies, CSD/proactive military Ops, surgical strikes or New Limited Land Warfare Doctrine of 2018, but it is also relevant to the undeclared war or hybrid warfare domains. It is imperative for Pakistan to closely monitor the transformation in the Indian strategic thinking to come up with adequate response to mitigate emerging challenges in the shape of limited war strategies, military modernization or hybrid warfare.       

Keyword:  Chanakya Kauṭilya, Strategic Stability, Indo-US Alliance, Doctrinal Transformation, Indian Military Modernization