WASHINGTON: Pakistan is increasing its nuclear stockpile and developingtactical nuclear weapons and new ballistic missile systems. In January2017, Pakistan conducted the first test launch of its nuclear-capableAbabeel ballistic missile, demonstrating South Asia’s first MIRV payload,and in early July, Pakistan demonstrated an expanded-range Nasr CRBM,”Pentagon top intelligence Chief Ashley said.
Islamabad is likely to proceed with its counterinsurgency operations andborder management efforts along its western border while sustainingcounterterrorism and paramilitary operations throughout the country, saysPentagon top intelligence Chief.
These efforts have had some success in reducing violence from militant,sectarian, terrorist, and separatist groups, but Pakistan will look to theUS and the Afghan government for support against anti-Pakistan fighters inAfghanistan, he added.
India seeks status as a global power, the Pentagon’s top intelligence chieftold US lawmakers on Tuesday, adding that as such New Delhi perceives itsstrategic forces as necessary elements to achieve that goal.
India has put its first domestically-built nuclear submarine, the INSArihant, into service, and is set to take delivery of its second nuclearsub, the INS Arighat, in 2018, Lt Gen Robert Ashleylink>, Director, DefenseIntelligence Agency told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“New Delhi seeks status as a global power and perceives its strategicforces as necessary elements to achieve that goal,” Ashley said.
He said India continues to modernise its military to better posture itselfto defend its interests at home and in the broader Indian Ocean regionwhile reinforcing its diplomatic and economic outreach across Asia.
“Continued exchange of heavy fire between Indian and Pakistani forces alongthe Line of Control poses a risk of inadvertent or gradual escalation ofhostilities,” he said.
In 2017, the lengthy Doklam stand-off between Indian and Chinese forcesalong the Bhutan-China border heightened tension between India and Chinaand prompted both sides to increase their forces near the Line of ActualControl, he added.
“We expect that both sides will maintain this elevated force posture alongdisputed border areas through the remainder of 2018,” Ashley said.
He said Chinese military forces continue to develop capabilities todissuade, deter, or defeat potential third party intervention during alarge-scale theatre campaign, such as a Taiwan contingency.
China’s military modernisation plan includes the development ofcapabilities to conduct long-range attacks against adversary forces thatmight deploy or operate in the western Pacific Ocean.
These capabilities, spanning the air, maritime, space, electromagnetic, andinformation domains, are most robust within the first island chain, butChina is rapidly extending capabilities farther into the Pacific Ocean.
According to Ashley, China’s expanding global footprint and internationalinterests are reflected in its Belt and Road Initiative of economic,commercial, and infrastructure projects in Asia, Africa, the Middle East,and Europe.
“Beijing’s military modernisation programme is expanding in concert withthis initiative to include investments and infrastructure to support arange of missions beyond China’s periphery, including power projection, sealane security, counterpiracy, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance anddisaster relief,” he said.
China’s most recent white papers and doctrinal writings emphasise therequirement for an army to be able to secure expanding Chinese nationalinterests overseas, including a growing emphasis on the importance of themaritime domain, offensive air operations, long-distance mobilityoperations, space operations, and cyber-operations.
“In August, following more than a year of construction, China officiallyopened a military base in Djibouti and deployed a company of marines andequipment to the facility. China probably will seek to establish additionalmilitary logistics facilities in countries with which it has longstanding,friendly relationships and similar strategic interests,” he said.