Indian Cold Start doctrine and strategic stability in South Asia
By: Rizwan Zeb
It was the failure of the Operation Parakram which led to a rethink in the Indian strategic community. The Indian defense establishment realized that the failure to achieve any objectives of the operation was mainly due to the long delay between the mobilization order and the actual deployment of the strike corps on the international border. Two things went against the Indians: although India had a lot of moral support in the wake of the Indian parliament attacks but by the time the Indian troops were ordered to mobilize and the mobilization, Pakistan successfully counter mobilized; and the world community intervened. Another important factor was that, first, the Indian political leadership failed to set clear objectives and second, they crumbled under intense international pressure.
It was the failure of the Operation Parakram which led to a rethink in the Indian strategic community. The Indian defense establishment realized that the failure to achieve any objectives of the operation was mainly due to the long delay between the mobilization order and the actual deployment of the strike corps on the international border. Two things went against the Indians: although India had a lot of moral support in the wake of the Indian parliament attacks but by the time the Indian troops were ordered to mobilize and the mobilization, Pakistan successfully counter mobilized; and the world community intervened. Another important factor was that, first, the Indian political leadership failed to set clear objectives and second, they crumbled under intense international pressure.