India struck major cities in Pakistan with Kamikaze Drones that have caused significant damage. The Indian Government has confirmed that the Air Defence System in Lahore has been neutralised by the drone strikes. There is significant shock within the Pakistani Military Establishment concerning Thursday’s developments.
There are severe implications for Pakistan given what India has been able to accomplish through its drones. Here are 5 major lessons we learnt from the success of the drone strikes.
1. ‘Bleed India with a Thousand Cuts’ has been neutralised by ‘Burn Pakistan with a Thousand Drones’
The cost of Cross-Border Terrorism has shot up massively for Pakistan. India has demonstrated its capability to cause damage to infrastructure in its major cities at will. This is the new Indian baseline for responses to terrorist attacks that originate across the Line of Control.
This will serve as major deterrence for Pakistani misadventures through non-state actors.
2. Chinese Air Defence Systems are not very good
The capabilities of the Chinese air defence systems were thoroughly exposed by the Indian missile attacks across nine terrorism infrastructure sites. Their capabilities were further exposed by the Indian strikes in Lahore, Rawalpindi and other major Pakistani cities.
This will have major implications for the Chinese Military Industrial Complex as potential buyers may possibly start having second thoughts.
3. Indian drone capabilities are far better than previously thought
Prior to Thursday, it would have been unimaginable for experts to predict that Indian would be capable of hitting Lahore and Rawalpindi with drones. That India has neutralised Lahore’s air defence systems is further confirmation of the offensive capabilities of Indian drones.
Upgradation of Indian drone capabilities is an unspoken story that has altered the geopolitical realities of the Indian Subcontinent.
4. Pakistan’s Nuclear Bluff has been called for the nth time
The Pakistani Military Establishment which drops the nuclear threat frequently has suddenly turned quiet following the drone strikes. It is unprecedented that the major cities of a nuclear armed country is being drone-bombed by another nuclear power.
Pakistan’s nuclear bluff was called by the Balakot Airstrikes as well. Pakistan’s belief that India would avoid escalation beyond a certain level in response to cross-border terrorism due to its nuclear arsenal has been shattered. It is a new reality that Pakistan will have to live with.
5. There will be no face saver for Pakistan this time
Geopolitical analysts were of the opinion that India will likely give Pakistan a face saver following the missile attacks at terrorist infrastructures. They believed that the Indian Government would give Pakistan an off ramp since they wouldn’t want it to escalate beyond a point either.
That myth was shattered on Thursday. Pakistan has been inventing increasingly creative stories in the hope of a face saver. But India is clearly not in the mood to give them any. This very well could transform into an existential crisis for the Pakistan Army. It’s clear now that no off ramps will be given to Pakistan this time.
