“Pakistan will receive such a decisive response that both history and Geography will change.”
Indian Defense Minister- Rajnath Singh
Pakistan will be wiped from the map, such were the statements issued by the Indian defense minister on Thursday, amidst the celebration of Vijayadashami after performing the Shastra Puja. He further stated that India will not hesitate to cross borders when THEY deem necessary. This statement posed a threat to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan. Moreover, India has claimed that it has exercised restraint in Operation Sindoor, which it will not show this time.
Following the threat, the Pakistan Army responded and stated that the threats by India are “delusional, Provocative, and jingoistic.” The statement issued by ISPR said “As for the talk of erasing Pakistan from the map, India must know that if the situation comes, the erasure will be mutual.”
Following the Pahalgam incident, the atmosphere in the South Asian Subcontinent has been tense, with both countries ready to counter an offensive. In such a situation, statements that challenge territorial sovereignty depict the actions as similar to a rogue state. Pakistani defense forces have time and again expressed that the world has no experience of a war between two armed nuclear states, and its results may not end well. Such unprovoked statements cannot be justified in any situation.
Operation Sindoor 1.0
Operation Sindoor 1.0, as the Indian defense minister termed it, did not end well for Pakistan. For the background. Operation Sindoor was launched by India following the Pahalgam Incident. India claimed that Pakistan backed the terrorist group involved in the attack, yet they denied any suggestion for a transparent investigation to determine the cause. A ceasefire was reached after India was hit with a heavy blow, in which 6 of their aircrafts were downed by the Pakistan Air Force. Since then, India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of initiating the attack in every International forum, claiming that it has been victorious in the war.
However, now India has again taken the initiative to threaten Pakistan. India faced a befitting response, despite being equipped with the latest technologies, including Rafael Jets, SCALP and HAMMER missiles, and Harop drones. Pakistan, however, still has a long way to go before it achieves the defense technology that is at par with India. In Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos against India, Pakistan mainly relied on the expertly trained Air Force.
Considering the current situation, it is essential to revisit the technologies possessed by the countries because both states are nuclear-armed and possess AI technological capabilities.
AI Defense Capabilities of India and Pakistan
Pakistan and India have, since their inception, perceived each other as sworn enemies. Both countries are in a constant struggle to maximize their power. Pakistan is far behind India in terms of technological supremacy, but this void is filled because of the helping hand that China provides. India, on the other hand, is actively working to develop its own AI defense capabilities.
India is currently developing the latest AI technologies that include:
- With Assistance from Israel, India is manufacturing Unmanned Aerial vehicles that will be employed to engage enemy aircraft, thus disrupting the defense systems of the adversary. Experts are considering the idea of incorporating specialized antennas to jam drones of the enemy. The Rustom 2 was developed for this purpose, which was inspired by the American Predator Drone.
- Secondly, Indian Researchers are working to manufacture robots based on neural network systems. These Robots will be designed with artificial muscles and lightweight materials for increased mobility. The aim is to enhance border security through these models, which provide enhanced surveillance and data transmission.
- Apart from this, India imports cutting-edge technology from the United States and Israel. Major technologies include the V-Bat combat drones, Sky Guardian drones from the US, and the Heron Drones and Harop loitering munitions for surveillance. Apart from drone technology, assistance for missile technology and surveillance equipment in Naval AI projects and Cybersecurity Systems is also being provided by the US and Israel.
Pakistan, on the contrary, is in the initial phases of the development of AI defense systems.
- A significant step was the establishment of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence at NUST, the focus is to develop AI-enabled defense capabilities in collaboration with the defense sector. The Pakistan Air Force has set up a Center of Artificial Intelligence and Computing (CENTRIC), which is dedicated to the development of AI-powered systems for data fusion, smart surveillance, and autonomous decision-making.
- A groundbreaking achievement in this sector was the development of the Shahpar 3 for AI surveillance and precision attacks. Another innovation was the KaGeM V3, which is a smart air-launched cruise missile powered by AI guidance systems. Spider System is an anti-drone technology developed by Pakistan to detect, track, and jam the UAVs of the adversary.
- Pakistan highly relies on China for its military systems and AI technology. Pakistan has received J-10CE fighter jets that are equipped with advanced sensors and P-15 missiles from China. Pakistan is also collaborating with China to develop technology in the field of Robotics and Cognitive electronic warfare. Â
This initial analysis hints at the cutting-edge technology possessed by the two countries, and if needed, they can be assisted by their allies.
Indian Threat and What’s Next?
India has warned Pakistan that it will erase Pakistan from the map. Even though Pakistan has clearly stated that it will give a mutual response, there are a few things that should be considered.
Pakistan has just signed a defense pact with Saudi Arabia regarding “the attack of one state will be an attack on the other.” Saudi Arabia, though not very advanced in technology but can assist Pakistan monetarily. Moreover, over 18% of the energy supplies in India are imported from the Kingdom. India should calculate the damages before launching an offensive on Pakistan.
China, a neighbor and an adversary of India, following the escalation in Operation Sindoor, renamed the Indian territories of Arunachal Pradesh to Zang’an. India has a feud with China on its northern front. Pakistan, however, is a close ally of Pakistan, and has supported it in the Operation Bunyan ul Marsoos (against India’s Operation Sindoor). India already has a sensitive border, so is it making a mistake by initiating a threat to Pakistan?
Moreover, a close ally of India, Israel, has not been on good terms with the International community recently because of its genocide in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. So, can India rely on Israel? Donald Trump, on the other hand, claims to be a champion of peace and attempts to end wars in world. Will the US, in such circumstances, lend an unconditional helping hand to India? These are all speculations based on the current scenario in the world. The situation will, however, unfold with the coming statements and actions by India.
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