Pakistan Army doctrine says ‘Attack First’
The growing tensions between India and Pakistan may result in pre-emptive action by Pakistan according to information gleaned about Pakistan’s military doctrine.
Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal, Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies
It is imperative according to this doctrine for the Pakistani army to try and punch through Indian lines first, rather than wait for an Indian attack. “They have to attack first. They have to take the initiative here. If they wait for India to strike, they will be left in a reactive mode. As it is they have only two Strike Corps in comparison to the three Indian Strike Corps,” Brigadier Kanwal explained.
The two Pakistani Strike Corps are the Army Reserve North and the Army Reserve South with reports that Pakistan army had created additional formations in the 1990s for both defensive as well as offensive roles.
Brigadier Kanwal is doubtful of the Pakistan Army’s ability to execute this doctrine. “They don’t have enough attacking forces to do the job. Their two Strike Corps are not enough to do this,” he opines, adding, “They rely on missile systems to try and achieve this.”
Isn’t it obvious that Pak needs to attack first. What is the need for a ‘doctrine’.
Even though Pak has 2 strike corps and we three, why did 300 people have to die in Mumbai last year ? The brigadier must analyze that. In response, in Newspapers, it was reported that the Indian Army Chief didn’t think his army was ready for an attack
Going forward, if Pakistan needs to attack first, where would they attack? Kargil showed that the Army dint put any effort on that analysis.