ISLAMABAD – New York Times has raised serious questions over the capabilityof Indian military in engaging with rivals despite the US banking on it tohelp keep an expanding China in check.
In an article, the newspaper said an Indian Air Force pilot ending up asprisoner in Pakistan after a dogfight with a warplane from the PakistaniAir Force has left observers dumbfounded.
India’s loss of a plane to a country whose military is about half the sizewas significant development.
The newspaper calls the India’s armed forces in alarming shape.
It quotes government estimates as saying that if intense warfare broke outtomorrow, India could supply its troops with only 10 days of ammunition.
Gaurav Gogoi, a lawmaker and member of the Parliamentary Standing Committeeon Defense said Indian troops lack modern equipment, but they have toconduct 21st-century military operations.
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American officials tasked with strengthening the alliance with India talkabout their mission with frustration.
New York Times further says that although India has a defense budget of 50billion dollars, a majority of the money goes to salaries for its 1.2million active duty troops, as well as pensions.
Only 14 billion dollars are used to buy new hardware.
Indian Prime Minister is currently being grilled by the opposition over amurky 8.9 billion dollars deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter planes from France.
