As Tensions Rise With Pakistan, a Moment of Truth for Indias Military

The last time the perpetual tensions between India and Pakistan escalated into a face-off, Indian officials were forced to confront an uncomfortable reality: The country’s huge military was bloated, antiquated and underprepared for imminent threats at its borders.The humiliating downing of an Indian jet by Pakistan in 2019 injected new urgency into India’s modernization efforts.Prime Minister Narendra Modi poured billions of dollars into the military, sought new international partners for arms purchases and pushed to expand defense manufacturing capacity at home.Just how much of a difference those efforts have made may soon be tested.India and Pakistan appear on the verge of another military conflict, as India promises retaliation for a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir that it says was linked to Pakistan.

Tensions have risen so sharply that India has vowed to disrupt the flow of a major river system into Pakistan, a step it has never taken before, even during the wars the two countries have fought over the decades.Pakistan, which denies involvement in the Kashmir attack, has called the water decision an “act of war.”The slaughter on Tuesday of more than two dozen tourists in a scenic valley shocked Indians and put Mr.Modi under tremendous domestic pressure to strike Pakistan.

Analysts warn of the prospect of a protracted and dangerous standoff, with diplomatic channels between the two nuclear-armed countries having withered years ago and global powers now distracted by other crises.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....