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RAWALPINDI, June 12: Pakistan is closely studying India's 'Cold start doctrine', though the country feels that it is not directly threatened by the doctrine, director general Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Shaukat Sultan said on Saturday.
'Cold start doctrine' is defined as one in which a quick in-and-out action is undertaken by a hostile army without giving any formal and informal warning to the country being invaded.
Speaking at a press briefing, Gen Sultan said, "We cannot outrightly ignore the cold start doctrine, but we strongly believe that it is not a viable proposition in the case of Pakistan.
"This could perhaps work for a banana republic or for that matter a small state, where operating under this doctrine foreign forces could land one fine morning without any
warning and fulfil the objective by capturing strategic positions," he said, adding that Pakistan's case was altogether different.
In the case of Pakistan, India would have to mobilize a large number of troops and military hardware and such a massive movement could not remain hidden no matter how much it was disguised.
Moreover, the ISPR chief said, Pakistan was better placed strategically as its troops were always located very close to the border and could assemble much more rapidly and respond quickly and effectively.
This doctrine, he said, should not cause undue fears and apprehensions in the minds of the general public.
DEFENCE BUDGET: On the issue of increase in defence budget, he said it was quite meagre. Besides, he said, it was not the decision of the armed forces.
The government, he claimed, had increased the budget in view of the prevailing environment, the likely future scenario and its goals.
Realistically speaking, he contended, the defence budget had decreased in terms of the total percentage of the budget, from 23.9 per cent in 1999 to 21.1 per cent in 2004, and as a percentage of GDP going down from 4.5 per cent of GDP in 1999 to 4 per cent in 2004.
Had the restructuring of army not been done, he said, the budget requirement could have been much more.
Comparing the increase in defence budget with that of India's, Gen Sultan said the latter's defence spendings increased from US$10.09 billion in 1999 to US$14.71 billion in 2004, whereas Pakistan's defence allocation went up from US$2.32 billion in 1999 to US$2.76 billion in 2004.
"The increase in India's defence budget over the five years alone is more than Pakistan's total defence allocation," he remarked.
RESTRUCTURING OF ARMY: The general said the move to cut the number of troops by 50,000 and other related restructuring would result in a long-term saving.
"We are expecting to save Rs10-15 billion over the next decade by reducing administrative manpower and optimising technical resources," he said. The other benefit to accrue from this move was the improved combat worthiness of the army, he added.
WANA CRISIS: Gen Sultan said the operation was continuing in South Waziristan agency and the exact toll in lives on the two sides was still not available.
The government, he reiterated, would take this war on terror to its logical end, till foreign militants were flushed out.
He said the foreign militants had agreed to register themselves, but had objections to being photographed and presented to media.
