Once CS has been launched and the IBGs nuked and if a few of them are wiped out and if at the same time the total damage to indian forces is still below the strategic level (which No One can be Sure of) then the only option left for india is to withdraw. Or should i say the only sane option left for india is to refrain from aggravating the situation, one, because if not then it will only lead to the MAD scenario, two, the CSD itself revolve around a 'none-nuke' concept i.e. it would culminate/stop before the point of no return (the adversary is beaten enough that it finally decides to go nuclear at strategic levels).
Now this all is based on assumptions, similar enough the way the CSD is based on assumptions i.e. india assumes that while executing CSD it would NOT cross the Pakistani nuclear threshold, which no one is sure of, similarly Pakistan would/should tac nuke the IBGs to an extent where the strategic damages to india does not cross it's nuclear threshold, which again no one is sure/clear of. So with this we can conclude that the Limited War and the CSD both are kinda nonviable as no side can guarantee that it would not cross the point of no return. With this, talking any further about these two strategies is simply beating about the bush!
Original Post By Xeric
Xeric,
Hope you read my Post 232.
That will indicate why I am surprised that you find it strange that the Indian Army felt sad for the dead of our adversary.
That will also indicate that we in the Indian Army do not fight shy in recognising valour of even our adversaries.
We are a professional Army that takes war in a professional manner and not something that means we should be consumed by hate and become beasts, leaving our God given human sensibilities in the Cantonments to dry and wither.
That is why, if I may state, I am surprised to find anyone who finds it surprising to mourn over the death of others, even if they are our adversaries!1
That said, now to the post of yours.
If some IBGs are nuked, I fail to see why the IA has to withdraw.
If they are to withdraw, then why go in, in the first place?
Therefore, once the Cold Start commences, there is no question of withdrawing because even in a conventional war there is no withdrawal, even if some reverse occur on the flanks.
The issue of '
only sane option left for India is to refrain from aggravating the situation,' does not arise.
War, itself, is an insane action.
And one does not go to war, because one has got out from the wrong side of the bed.
War is the last resort. It is undertaken after much deliberation and weighing up the options and much discussion with the international community.
And once embarked, it has to reach some conclusion; albeit it will be stopped at a certain point of time by the international powerbrokers, as has been the case in every war in the subcontinent.
It will ofcourse be controlled so as to not reach the scenario of MAD, but then who can predict?
The manner in which the international community is petrified about the MAD scenario in the subcontinent, there is a good possibility that the war will be brought to a close by then before the MAD level is reached.
But if come comes because someone in panic has pressed the button, little the military can do anything about that, except carry on with the aim and with greater vigour because the damage has been done and it is then a question of life and death.
That is why I had raised the issues of CNP, troops to task, overall strength in numbers of equipment and personnel and so on.
Having said that, you may again call me a pacifist, but then I sincerely hope such a scenario does not come to pass!
