'Tactical' Nuclear-warheads moved along borders

LAHORE: Two nuclear powers in South Asia are locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball stand-off as both have moved their 'tactical' nuclear warheads, with an accurate range of 200km, along the LoC, working boundary and international boundary. In addition to this, both the countries have long-range batteries of moveable and static missiles, capable of carrying nuclear payload, which can home on various major cities on either side of the divide.

According to a detailed survey conducted by a western intelligence agency, the Indian army's eight out of nine strike divisions have moved to 'jumping off points' near the border. Particularly, the 21st strike force (mainly comprised the 33rd Armoured Division) has advanced towards Akhnoor in the Jammu region, assuming a forward command post.

This strike force has been supplemented by two more mechanised infantry brigades and self-propelled artillery units from Meerut and Mathra. Moreover, three corps in Kashmir have been augmented with additional armoured and infantry brigades to enable the Indian troops in the region to move forward from a defensive posture to major offensive. These corps include 16th Corps at Nagrauta, Jammu, 15th Corps at Badami Bagh, Srinagar and 14th Corps at Nimmud, Leh.

To supplement the ground forces, out of the total 738, around 660 combat aircraft, including bombers, ground-attack aircraft and interceptors, are expected to be deployed for immediate offensive operations. In addition to this, at least, 90 Mi 25 and 35 Hind Helicopters of class gunships would be deployed behind the frontlines.

The Indian armed forces central command has already deployed seven ex-Soviet Kilo Class submarines in an offshore picket-line formation in the Arabian sea to be joined by the sole aircraft carrier 'Viraat', a British Hermes Class carrier with Sea Harriers aboard. This is in addition to the wide range of Indian Navy fleet in the region, including frigates and destroyers.

In response to India deployment, Pakistan, in addition to engaging its nine divisions in the holding formation, has moved a sizeable attack-force of armoured and motorised infantry divisions (strategic formation) into a combat readiness position. The two infantry divisions based in Balochistan and the NWFP had also been moved towards the eastern borders. However,the troops, including 12 brigades of the 30th Corps (Gujranwala), contingents of the 4th Corps (Okara) and the 19th Armoured Brigade (30th Corps), which have been engaged in the annual exercise 'Khabardar', have not been moved.

Pakistan has reinforced the Uri Sector by deploying two brigades of 10-Corps (Rawalpindi). Four brigades of the 31-Corps (Bahawalpur) have moved into forward positions along the Bahawalpur-Fort Abbas stretch in Punjab and Rajasthan sectors. In addition to this, an independent Armoured Brigade has been moved forward to support the local infantry in the Old Beas Area.

Further south, five brigades of 5-Corps (Karachi) have been moved up to the border stretch south of Fort Abbas to Gadra Road and Darwaza and in the border region adjacent to Jaisalmer, Bikaneer and Barnar forward areas. The report says Pakistan's strike formations are poised for operations deep inside India. The troops include North and South Army Reserves, including 1-Corps (Mangla) with significant armoured element. It is important to note that Special Forces have already been taking positions along the Jammu-Rajouri sector.

To defend the skies of Pakistan, and to aid the ground forces, besides conducting sorties deep into Indian territory, Pakistan has the entire complement of Mirage ground-attack fighters on or near the border along with all 49 Chinese A5Cs. These aircraft will play a pivotal role in countering the Indian armoured advance in case of war. These squadrons of Mirage and A5C will be reinforced by 100 Chinese Q5s, leaving only 35 ground-attack aircraft in reserve.

The squadrons of interceptors, including 38 F-16As and Bs (Fighting Falcons), 160 Chinese F-7Ps (modified MiG-21s multi-role aircraft), 85 Chinese F-6s and newly-acquired 40 F7PGs will be deployed for countering Indian designs on Pakistani armoured and artillery brigades by the Indian ground-attack aircraft.

The Indian armed forces, having 1.1 million active army, 1,10,000 active airmen and 53,000 active seamen, are poised to come into action. It has a numerical advantage over Pakistan vis-a-vis armament gadget. In the armoured range, India has 700 T-55 ex-Soviet tanks (modified to 120mm guns). There is a perception that 450 T-55 are operational. It has another 1500 T-72/MI ex-Soviet tanks with 125mm guns in addition to 1200 Vijayanta Tanks (195mm guns), made in India with the collaboration of the UK. Besides this, India has 90 PT-76 light tanks. To supplement this, India also has 100 BRDM-2, 350 BMP-1, 1000 BMP-2 and 162 OT-62 ex-Soviet Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).

The artillery power of India includes (towed artillery of range 75 mm) 900 75/24 mtn, 215 FRY M-48. In the range of 105 mm, it has 1300 IFG Mk-1 and Mk2 and 50 M-56. In the 122mm range, it has 550 D-30s and in the 130mm range, it has more than 750 M-46 guns besides 410 FH-77B 155mm guns. The towed artillery mostly comprises ex-Soviet guns.

In the self-propelled class, India has 80 Abbot in the 105mm range (mostly in store), 100 modern M-46 130mm guns (about 70 in store and some mounted on Vijayanta) and some 2S19 152 mm guns. Moreover, it has more than 100 multiple rocket-launchers, including BM-21, LRAR and 214mm Pinacha (still in deployment phase).

The Indian forces have been equipped with Milan, AT-3 Sagger, AT-4 Spigot and AT-5 Spandrel anti-tank guided missiles, besides 84mm Carl Gustav recoilless guns along with over 1000 106mm M-40 AI recoilless guns. The Indian surface-to-air missile batteries include 180 (SA-7), 620 (SA-8), 50 (SA-8B), 400 (SA-9), 45 (SA-3), some SA-13, 500 (SA-16) along with Akashs and Trishuls.

The army has been equipped with 100 Chetak and 50 Cheetah helicopters. The Indian forces have Searcher and Nishaant drones to carry out reconnaissance operations. As far as Indian airpower is concerned, it has 116 Jaguar, 200 MiG-27, 74 MiG-29, 18 Su-30 (Flanker), 42 Mirage 2000 fighter-bombers and ground-attack aircraft, all capable of carrying nuclear warheads (minimum 5kt to maximum 1mt). In addition to this, it has 10 TU-142 Bear, 4 TU-22 Backfire long-range bombers, capable of carrying 5kt-100mt of nukes.

The Indians have 52 Mirage 2000Hs for interception, aided by 320 MiG-21 (Fishbed) and 65 MiG-23 (Flogger) multi-role aircraft. The most advantageous of all the Indian airfleet are 8 Mig-25Rs (Foxbat), which are the most sophisticated reconnaissance aircraft in the world, having the ceiling and speed records to its credit so far.

In addition to this, Indian Air Force (IAF) has more than 20 Mi-25/35 Hind (attack) Helicopters, 80 Mi-17 (light transport gunships), 20 Chetak and 20 Cheetah helicopters. To defend this kind of mighty Indian power, Pakistan has around 120 M-47, 280 M-48A5, 50 T-54/55, 1200 T-59 (Chinese), 250 T-69, 200 T-85, 320 T-80UD and 15 Al-Khalid tanks. Pakistan doesn't have light tanks. In addition to this, Pakistan has between 800 to 1150 M-113 APCs.

As for the artillery power, Pakistan has 200 T-56 (85mm), 300 M-101 and 50 M-56 pack (105mm), 200 T-60 and 250 T-54 (122mm), 227 T-59-1 (130mm), 30 M-59, 60M-114 and 124 M-198 (155mm) and 26 M-115 in the 203mm class towed guns. Pakistan has 50 M-7 (105mm), 150 M-109A2 (155mm) and 40M-110A2 (203mm) self-propelled guns. The anti-tank guided weapons include 800 missiles, including those carried by Cobra gunships, 200 TOW Baktar Shikan (modified from Chinese Red Arrow 8) besides 45 Azar (T-83) multiple rocket-launchers and some M-20s (3.5 inch) rocket-launchers.

The country's surface-to-air missile capability depends on 1440 (including 350 Stingers, some HN-5A, some RBS-70) and 500 Anza Mk-1 and 2. The army helicopters fleet includes 20 AH-1F (Tow) attack helicopters, 12 Bell 47G, 6 Bell-205, 10 Bell 206B, 16 Mi-8, 18IAR/SA-315B, 24 IAR/SA-316, 25 SA-330 and 6 UH-IH transport helicopters. Pakistan has Bravo-type drones for reconnaissance purposes.

The country's air defence depends on 58 Mirage V (nuclear capable 5-40kt), 110 Mirage III, 49 A5Cs (nuclear capable 5-20kt) and 135 A5s (Chinese) fighter-bombers/ground-attack aircraft. It doesn't have any long-range bombers. For the interception purpose, Pakistan primarily rests on the capability of 38 F-16 (Fighting Falcons), the air-superiority aircraft, which has been upgraded occasionally. It has 160 F-7Ps and 85 F-6s (Chinese) combat aircraft to take on intruders and to give cover to the armoured battalions from the Indian ground-attack missions. There are another 11 Mirage IIIRPs for the reconnaissance missions.

Although India has a numerical superiority on almost all the fronts yet some of their military gadget is either in store or not in service. Pakistan, despite having the numerical disadvantage, has a qualitative edge as its equipment inventory is relatively latest, and has higher proportion of western built and designed items, especially the M-series tanks and the stock of anti-tank missiles.

India's real advantage lies in its airforce, but Pakistan has the potential of overcoming the problem through its sophisticated and superior Airborne Early Warning Systems (AEWS). However, the survey further suggests Pakistan might have additional support from the locals along the LoC and working boundary in the north, where any activity of freedom fighters behind the enemy lines will help Pakistan sustain Indian aggression.

It also emphasises the fact that war could be better fought with the effective assistance of intelligence input. The performance of the ISI and the RAW would certainly contribute to giving an edge to any country in the war. It also points to the fact the Indians would prefer opening limited front along the LoC and the working boundary. Or, even in the case of fully-fledged war on the international boundary, India would try to pierce Pakistan's defence along the LoC to capture the region, if possible. The report says the war will have clear objectives of Indian strategy to curtail the alleged cross-border intervention by Pakistan. India would have punitive designs on Pakistan, and grabbing Pakistani territory would not be the real purpose. However, the report adds, India would like to conquer areas on the other side of the LoC, which are most likely to be held even after war.

'Tactical' Nuclear-warheads moved along borders.

The devices are tactical, the movement is strategic.

Mao wrote: "The wise General is circumspect; he prefers to succeed by strategy."

Sun Tzu writes: "All warfare is based on deception...Offer the enemy a bait to lure him; feign disorder and strike him...Keep him under strain and wear him down."

A few Paki border troops and missile units, in support of a hand full of muslim cross-border raiders, are keeping 3/4 of a million Indian troops pinned to primitive border defence positions for 6 months (during the brutal summer), with little chance of battle before monsoon ends in October.

The world holds it's collective breath as Paki 'tests' a rocket or two, yet Pakistan remains tucked under the U.S.'s wing, while both assisting the hunt for Taliban minnows, and hiding the Taliban fish.

Little Paki-stain is making a lot of hay while the sun shines, and a lot of big countries are gonna have painful scabs from having their noses rubbed in it.

"I remember all the starvation in India when I was a kid." .> that was when US still had separate washrooms for "colored" people. You were a kid then. India today produces more food than it can consume. Not all houses have cable or even electricity but no one starves . and it produces most of the software made outside of US.

both have moved their 'tactical' nuclear warheads ... along the LoC

The parties are kicking a lot of dirt on each other right now. Trying to provoke the other, or prove their manhood for their constituents back home. The Indians are inclined to go, the Pakis are doing their best to dare them to cross the line.

The leftist paradigm allows the weaker Pakis to attack India without penalty, while India must show "restraint". India appears well past restraint at this stage. Add to that the muslim 'humiliation' issue, so that the Pakis feel obligated to respond to the Indian build-up. India attacks conventionally due to some provocation, Pakistan respond conventionally, but is soon overwhelmed in the air and at sea. Some Paki field commander, about to be overrun, resorts to nukes (Paki C&C is notoriously bad - Musharraf claims he has no control, doesn't know where the nukes are. If they're in the field, even if under "loyal" commanders, their security is significantly at risk). India responds in kind, heavily. Total elapsed time: 3-5 minutes. The World's Shortest and Deadliest War.

If the Pakis simply backed away from the border and put away their toys, world pressure on India to do likewise would be impossible to ignore. However, that would be 'humiliating' to the Pakis, so it doesn't seem likely. The US could put its troops in harms way. That would stop the Indis, but not the Paki terrorists. If India pulls back, the Paki fundamentalists would see that as a sign of victory and redouble their efforts. A "Mexican Standoff" of sorts.

I see Pakistan as being the one with the twitching finger over the button

A Modest Proposal From the Brigadier
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/632731/posts
Atlantic Monthly, March 2002

From a conversation with Brigadier "Aman" Amanullah (ret),
formerly the chief of Pakistan's military intelligence in
Sind Province, which borders India and includes Pakistan's
biggest city and a cultural center, Karachi. Aman in 53.
Currently a liaison for Benazir Bhutto with the Paki military.

I told Aman that I was disturbed by the ease with which Pakistanis talk of nuclear war with India. Aman shook his head. "No," he said matter-of-factly. "This should happen. We should use the bomb. ... We should fire at them and take out a few of their cities - Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta," he said. "They should fire back and take Karachi and Lahore. Kill off a hundred or two hundred million people. They should fire at us and it would all be over. ... We should teach them a lesson. It would teach all of us a lesson. There is no future here...My children have no future. None of the children of Pakistan have a future. We are surrounded by nothing but war and suffering. Millions should die away."

Are you suggesting more money be stolen from the American people and given to these people for "economic developement" (i.e. buy more weapons)?

No. Let's use our knowledge and skills, assist these countries to create businesses that employ people. No tax money required, just investment opportunity and know-how.

More war machinery in the hands of these two countries is madness.

What I want to know is, where are the massive anti-war, anti-nuke protest marches going on when the world is on the brink of its first actual real time full blown nuclear war?

Their absence tells me that this is a war the leftists would LIKE to see happen....therefore they are not out there funding the peacenik protestors as they did all those many years during the Cold War.

Why would the LEFT LIKE to see war here?

Because such a war would gravely damage America under President Bush and Americans in the region could be at risk from nuclear fallout, could they not? Not to mention that Pakistan could turn on America and voila, the Talieban are back in power because Americans are forced to withdraw from the region to avoid the nuclear war repurcussion danger???

I don't know - just speculation. And if there have been such peace protests or peace prayer vigils, I have missed seeing any reports of them.

Surely, people who truly want PEACE and who pray for PEACE should be active at this time!!!

This is madness. Someone needs to sit Musharraf and Vajpayjee down at a test site in the South Pacific and set off a 20 kiloton nuke. These clowns have no idea what nuclear weapons can do.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Both Musharraf and Vajpayee know very well what their nuclear weapons are capable of doing to each other.

Indians have had enough of the Muslim terrorist and are planning on doing something about it. The Muslims have forced this war to occur. They must be defeated at all cost, even nuclear war. India will pay dearly, but Pakistan must be taken care of before they become more powerful.

Well, I tend to agree there are no winners in a nuclear exchange. But if it has to be, then I have no problem picking a side.

But, it's entirely possible that Israel has supplied India with the anti-missile system which is currently fully deployed along Israel's N/NE borders. It has worked very well in tests, and it's a new version of the Arrow anti-missile system which we supplied them during the Gulf War, which worked semi-well back then. The new anti-missile system, built jointly by the USA and Israel IIRC, has passed all tests with flying colors. So it is possible for one side to win with the right defensive "shield".

However, I doubt India has it, since Israel's top priority is to fully deploy it around the country to avert missile attack from all angles.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Both Musharraf and Vajpayee know very well what their nuclear weapons are capable of doing to each other.

No, they don't. They are siezed by nationalist sentiment and public fury. Neither one can back down. A few voices on each side are starting to bring some reality to the debate, but Musharraf thinks he can get away with murder because of his relationship with America, while Vajpayjee believes he can limit any offensive to the Kashmir with no worry about a Pakistani nuclear response.

Both of them are wrong. The sad thing is, both appear to be the best thing going as far as leadership is concerned. Musharraf is a Kemalist, secular Muslim, while Vajpayjee is a moderate Hindu nationalist.

Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

like a gang banger kid with a saturday night special

Haven't you heard, all the gang bangers, like the Pakistanies, have gone upscale. Something semiauto in .45 ACP or .40 Liberty (S&W) is more their style these days, if not a full auto AK or AR. The gang bangers have money for stolen or smuggled guns, unlike the poor people who have to live around them, who could make good use of a so called "Saturday Night Special" (a racist term based on "Niggertown Saturday Night") more properly termed, an affordable defensive weapon.

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