INDIA recently signed a $5billion deal with Russia to acquire S-400 missiles, arguably the world’s most lethal surface-to-air missile system capable of hitting any target 400km away. The deal was struck when the Russian President Vladimir Putin visited New Delhi.

Of late India has been on arms buying spree. It has bought 36 state-of-the art Rafale fighter jets from France whose delivery begins in 2019. A squadron of these aircraft will be based at Halwara near Pakistan’s border.

India has also placed orders for Apache attack helicopters from the US from whom it has already purchased Hercules 130J transport planes, anti-submarine Poseidon Boeing 737 aircraft as well as artillery and drones.

Ostensibly, India says these arms are required to counter threats from China and Pakistan. While it is very unlikely that New Delhi would want to tangle militarily with Beijing, it is Pakistan that irks the Indians most.

The new government in Islamabad has already stated that it is willing to take two steps if New Delhi takes one step in a bid to normalize relations between the two nuclear-powered nations. That Modi government has spurned this offer is a testament to its policy towards its western neighbour.

Fawad Hashmey
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2018