For India, China is main rival & Pakistan an ancillary security issue: US intel
NEW DELHI: Pakistan considers India an "existential threat" and will continue to pursue efforts to modernise its military and develop its battlefield or tactical nuclear weapons to offset New Delhi's conventional military advantage, the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has said.
In its 'World Threat Assessment' report, which notes India's
Operation Sindoor
to strike terror hubs in Pakistan and the subsequent escalation in hostilities, the DIA says PM Modi's defence priorities will "probably focus" on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing India's military power. "India views China as primary adversary and Pakistan more as an ancillary security problem to be managed, despite cross-border attacks in mid-May by both militaries," the report said.
China has played a big role in facilitating a proliferation nexus to help Pakistan and North Korea to steadily boost their nuclear and ballistic missile arsenals over the years.
Global estimates say India and Pakistan have around 170 N-warheads each, with Islamabad also frequently brandishing its short-range Nasr (Hatf-IX) and other missiles as a counter to New Delhi's conventional military superiority, as earlier reported by TOI.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
40대 이상이고 PC가 있으세요? 그럼 이 게임을 정말 좋아하실 거예요!
Sea of Conquest
플레이하기
Undo
The report says China's nuclear stockpile has probably crossed 600 operational warheads. "We estimate China will have over 1,000 operational warheads by 2030, much of which will be deployed at higher readiness levels for faster response times," it said.
'Pak primarily a recipient of China's military largesse'
Pakistan is modernising its nuclear arsenal and maintaining the security of its nuclear material, and command and control structures. 'Pakistan almost certainly procures WMD (weapons of mass destruction)-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries,' the report says.
Early on May 10, India had struck nine airbases in Pakistan in what constituted some clear strategic messaging before the understanding on ceasing hostilities came into effect in the evening. In particular, the deep precision hits on the Nur Khan and Sargodha airbases rattled Pakistan. Nur Khan in Rawalpindi is located close to the headquarters of Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division that handles the country's nuclear arsenal, as was then reported by TOI.
The DIA report says Pakistan 'primarily is a recipient' of Beijing's 'economic and military largesse', and its forces conduct multiple military exercises with Chinese forces every year.
'
Foreign material and technology supporting Pakistan's WMD programmes are very likely acquired primarily from suppliers in China, and sometimes are transhipped through Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkiye, and the UAE,' it says.
The report says India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific through exercises, training, arms sales and information sharing to counter China's influence and boost its global leadership role.
India will almost certainly continue promoting its 'Made in India' initiative this year to build its domestic defence industry, mitigate supply chain concerns, and modernise its military, it says.
In 2024, India conducted a test of its nuclear-capable Agni-I Prime medium-range ballistic missile and the Agni-V multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (multiple warheads on a single missile). 'India also commissioned its second nuclear-powered submarine (INS Arighaat) to strengthen its nuclear triad and bolster its ability to deter adversaries,' it says.
Referring to troop disengagement in Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh in Oct last year, the report says it 'did not resolve the long-standing dispute about border demarcation but reduced some tension still lingering' since the Galwan clash in 2020.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
33 minutes ago
- Hans India
We shouldn't expect smooth sailing all time: Jaishankar on India's ties with neighbours
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India "should not expect smooth sailing" all the time when it comes to its ties with the neighbouring countries. However, he asserted that New Delhi has tried to create a "collective interest" to build an inherent stability in relationships, irrespective of the regime. At the end of the day, "the logic every one of our neighbours must realise" is that working with India will "give you benefits", and not working with India "has a cost", he said, without elaborating. "Some take longer to realise, some understand it better. One exception of course is Pakistan, because it has defined its identity under the army, in a way it has an in-built hostility in it. So if you put Pakistan aside, the logic will apply everywhere else," the EAM said during an interactive session hosted on DD India. Jaishankar shared a link to the nearly hour-long interaction on his X handle on Saturday night. In conversation with @sreeramchaulia on 11 years of Foreign Policy in the Modi era. @DDNewslive — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 21, 2025 In conversation with a strategic expert, he was also asked about the changes in stance of the US and China in the last 11 years, and how New Delhi looked at this change. "Where the US is concerned, yes, there is unpredictability, therefore at a systemic level, you stabilise it with as many linkages and relationships as possible," Jaishankar said. "With China, if you have to stand up to that country and we have had some very difficult period, so it's important to prepare the capabilities," he said. The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The minister said one of the "really perplexing" aspects of India's China policy was the "complete neglect of our border infrastructure in the previous decades". "To have a China policy and neglect your border infrastructure was absurd," he argued. "And, that is one of the things which has changed. We have today that standing up, in defence of our national interests, along the LAC. It is because we have built the border infrastructure to make that possible," Jaishankar said. During the conversation, he spoke at length about deepening of ties with countries in India's neighbourhood, and increase in reach out to the Gulf nations, in the last 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as also deepening of ties with the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific regions. He (Modi) has "given us a goal" but also in many ways charted a path to get there, the EAM said. Jaishankar also mentioned the ongoing Operation Sindhu launched by India to evacuate its nationals from conflict-hit areas as military confrontation between Israel and Iran intensified. Recalling Operation Ganga, he said it was the "most complex one" because evacuation was taking place during war-time in Ukraine. On volatility in India's neighbourhood and regime changes that have been ostensibly not favourable to India's interests, he said, "there will be changes". "We have tried to create a culture, a system and a collective interest, so that even if there is instability, the collective interest is stronger than those who are advocating distancing," Jaishankar said. He cited instances of Sri Lanka and how despite a change in regime, bilateral ties are good. Jaishankar also said that even after the initial period of difficulties, ties with Maldives are better. "Nepal... We are often in their internal politics, very often we get dragged in. We should not expect smooth sailing all the time, that never happens for any country with its neighbours," he said. "But, you should also not throw up your hands when things get difficult. That's poor planning," he said. Jaishankar also emphasised that New Delhi is doing the "sensible thing", which is to create systems, "create common interests, and create an inherent stability in that relationship, whichever is the regime". On counter-terrorism, and India's outlook towards Pakistan, he said the Mumbai attack was in many ways a "turning point", and the sentiment in this country was, now "enough is enough, things have to change". The 26/11 Mumbai attack, probably one of the worst terrorist assaults on any city, was let "unpunished", the EAM said, adding that "we had decades of a policy and outlook towards Pakistan". But, the Modi government changed that approach, the EAM said, and cited the 2016 Uri surgical strike, 2019 Balakot air strike and the recent Operation Sindoor. "What we have done is to really create a new normal, that the initiative will not always be with you, and that you can do horrible things and think there is impunity because you are on that side," he said. Jaishankar also said that counter-terrorism actions and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir should not be seen as single ideas, but part of a "holistic thinking". During the conversation, the Union minister described Modi as a "leader of his times". There has been an evolution of public sentiments, the country has changed, and the "PM reflects that change in mood, self-confidence", he said. On changing stances of the US and China over the past decade, he said that "what you are talking about are trendlines, which didn't happen one fine day, they developed over many years". He said what India has systematically tried to do is to "deepen our posture, our strategic posture, to have good relations with all major countries, but also other regions, so that we get into the optimal position". "We have been planning for a multi-polar world, one of course we desire, because that gives us higher profile and more influence," Jaishankar said. In the last 11 years of foreign policy, the consistent theme underpinning it is "multipolarity", he asserted. "You need to have that clarity, you need to envision the world today... Multiple poles are competing but cooperating with each other. But, here, we tried to have in a way the least problems and most benefits," he added.
Hans India
33 minutes ago
- Hans India
Punjab Police arrest two suspects with links to Pakistan's ISI
New Delhi: In a major intelligence-based operation, Amritsar Rural Police in Punjab apprehended two persons suspected of espionage activities linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said this on his X handle on Sunday, also announcing the identities of the two accused. The arrested accused were identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopy Foji and Sahil Masih alias Shali. The preliminary investigation has revealed that Gurpreet Singh was in direct contact with operatives of the Pakistan ISI and is suspected of sharing sensitive and confidential information via pen drives. The key ISI handler involved in the case has been identified as Rana Javed, said the DGP in his post. 'Two mobile phones reportedly used to communicate with ISI operatives has been seized,' the post further said. The DGP said that investigations 'are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network.' He also said that the probe is aimed at identifying all collaborators. DGP Yadav in the post said that the Punjab Police remain committed to safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of the nation and will take all necessary actions against those involved in anti-national activities. Earlier in an operation, the Punjab Police arrested a spy with links to ISI and Pakistan-based Khalistani supporter Gopal Singh Chawla. The accused, Gagandeep Singh, was arrested in Tarn Taran on June 2. According to officials, he had been leaking sensitive and classified information, including details of troop deployments and strategic locations, posing a serious threat to national security. Investigations have also revealed that the accused had been sharing classified information, including troop deployments, strategic locations, and army movements during Operation Sindoor, posing a serious threat to national security, the DGP had said. The police teams recovered two mobile devices from the possession of the accused, containing sensitive intelligence that he shared with the Pakistani intelligence operatives, as well as the details of over 20 ISI contacts. The accused has also received payments from operatives via Indian channels. On June 21, in a major breakthrough, Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled a Pakistan-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module being operated by UK-based handler Dharam Singh, alias Dharma Sandhu, with the arrest of a local operative and recovered six sophisticated foreign-made pistols from his possession, said DGP Gaurav Yadav on Saturday. The arrested accused were identified as Onkar Singh, alias Nawab, a resident of Jalalusma village in Amritsar. The weapons, smuggled via drones from across the India-Pakistan border, include four 9MM Glock pistols and two .30 bore PX5 pistols.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
B-2 bombers flew 37 hours non-stop, covered over 7000 miles: US outsmarted Iran's Russian air defense missiles to strike its nuclear sites
In a meticulously planned and unprecedented military operation, the United States on June 21 executed a large-scale airstrike on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, targeting the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities, bypassing Iran's dense air defense network, which includes older generation Russian-made surface-to-air missiles. The US strikes included the first-ever use of 30,000 pound (14,000 kilograms) GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator , also known as bunker busters, in combat. According to The New York Times and multiple defense sources, the US operation combined the stealth capabilities of six B-2A Spirit strategic bombers, each valued at roughly $2 billion, with the precision of submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles . The bombers flew non-stop for 37 hours with multiple aerial refueling to cover the over 7000 miles (approx 11,400 kilometers) from the Missouri airbase to the target areas, marking a new chapter in the U.S. effort to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions. The arsenal: Massive Ordnance Penetrators and Tomahawk missiles The centerpiece of the airstrike was the deployment of 12 GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bombs, dropped exclusively by the B-2A Spirit bombers on the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility. Each MOP weighs approximately 30,000 pounds (13,600 kilograms) and is engineered to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of reinforced concrete before detonating, making it one of the most powerful conventional bombs in the U.S. arsenal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo The MOP's warhead is encased in a high-performance steel alloy designed to maintain structural integrity upon impact, enabling it to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets that conventional munitions cannot reach. In addition to the MOPs, the Natanz and Isfahan sites were struck by a barrage of 30 submarine-launched BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, known for their precision and reliability. Live Events The Tomahawks were complemented by two additional GBU-57A/B MOPs dropped on Natanz, underscoring the strategic importance of that site in Iran's nuclear program. The flight path: A 37-hour mission The six B-2A Spirits, operated by the U.S. Air Force 's 509th Bomb Wing, launched from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri on a mission lasting approximately 37 hours. The bombers refueled multiple times mid-air to cover the vast distance to Iran and back, demonstrating the B-2's extraordinary range and endurance. The stealth design of the B-2, featuring radar-absorbing materials and a low radar cross-section comparable to a small bird, allowed the bombers to penetrate Iranian airspace undetected, evading sophisticated surface-to-air missile defenses protecting the Fordow site. Each B-2 bomber can carry up to two GBU-57 MOPs due to the bomb's massive size, and the aircraft's internal weapons bays are optimized for stealth and payload delivery. The B-2's bat-like aerodynamic shape and advanced automation systems reduce pilot workload during such complex missions, enabling precise targeting of hardened underground facilities. Why these targets? Fordow: Built 300 feet beneath a mountain and shielded by Russian-supplied air defenses, Fordow is considered the crown jewel of Iran's nuclear program. It houses approximately 1,000 centrifuges used for uranium enrichment and has long been a challenge for airstrike planners due to its depth and fortifications. The use of multiple MOPs aimed to obliterate this key site, which President Trump declared 'gone' after the strikes. Natanz: Iran's main uranium enrichment facility, Natanz, was targeted with a mix of Tomahawk missiles and two MOP bombs. The strikes focused on above-ground infrastructure and underground cascades of centrifuges, aiming to disrupt Iran's uranium production capabilities. Isfahan: This site, involved in uranium conversion and fuel production, was hit primarily by Tomahawk missiles, damaging critical buildings but reportedly without radiological leakage.
