New Delhi: In a recent comprehensive assessment, the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has shed light on India’s strategic perceptions, concluding that New Delhi views China as its “primary adversary.” Pakistan, despite recent military clashes triggered by India’s strikes on terrorist facilities, is seen as an “ancillary security problem to be managed.”
This perspective, detailed by DIA director Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse in his worldwide threat assessment to the US House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence, highlighted the region’s complex geopolitical landscape, Hindustan Times reported.
Conversely, Pakistan perceives India as an “existential threat,” leading it to persistently develop tactical nuclear weapons to counteract India’s conventional military superiority. According to the HT report, the DIA also warns that tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are “capable of escalating quickly,” presenting a constant flashpoint.
The DIA report further details Pakistan’s ongoing nuclear arsenal modernisation, noting it “almost certainly procures WMD-applicable goods from foreign suppliers and intermediaries,” predominantly from China. These materials are often transshipped through hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE.
Pakistan, heavily reliant on China’s economic and military largesse, frequently conducts combined military exercises with the PLA, and notably utilised Chinese-origin combat jets like the JF-17 and J-10C, along with PL-15 missiles, during the recent May clashes.
Looking ahead, the DIA projects that India’s defence priorities will “probably focus on demonstrating global leadership, countering China, and enhancing New Delhi’s military power.”
To counter burgeoning Chinese influence, India is actively bolstering its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through joint exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing. While India and China reached a disengagement agreement on certain LAC friction points last October, the core border dispute remains unresolved.
“To counter Chinese influence and boost its global leadership role, India is giving priority to advancing its bilateral defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean region through exercises, training, arms sales, and information sharing,” the assessment said.
The DIA also anticipates India will continue to prioritise its “Make in India” initiative to strengthen its domestic defence industry, reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, and modernise its armed forces.
In 2024, India demonstrably advanced its military modernisation, significantly enhancing its deterrence capabilities, according to a recent assessment by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The assessment, presented on May 11, follows closely on the heels of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ launched on May 7. This operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territories in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The strikes ignited four days of intense cross-border clashes involving drones, missiles, and heavy artillery fire, which concluded on May 10 with a mutual ceasefire agreement.
The DIA’s analysis further concludes that India intends to sustain its robust relationship with Russia. This strategic partnership is viewed by India as vital for achieving its broad economic and defence objectives. Furthermore, New Delhi perceives value in this enduring relationship as a counterbalance to the deepening ties between Russia and China, a complex geopolitical dynamic that necessitates careful diplomatic navigation.
