Writing in Pravda on 12 May 2009, Vladimir Anokhin maintains that “while China can also be a threat” to India, “Pakistan is India’s primary potential enemy“.

This contrasts sharply with the aggressive insistence by the United States that Pakistan must demonstrate by voice and deed that one set of militant criminals – not all, for as we all know, after Musharraf’s US-sponsored “National Reconciliation Ordinance” many armed criminals are now in government (remember 12 May 2008) – and not India, is the “existential” (with apologies to Jean-Paul Sartre; everything is ”existential” these days) threat to Pakistan. (See Senator Levin’s persistent questioning at Senate Armed Forces Committe hearing on 14 May 2009, posted earlier.)

India’s Air, Ground, and Sea Nuclear Superiority

Vladimir Anokhin goes on to write:

India has never concealed an intention to possess nuclear weapons. The nuclear doctrine was approved in the nation in 2001. It is worthy of note that India never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Indian government believes that it has a full right to possess nuclear arms just like Russia, the USA, China, France and Great Britain.

In accordance with the nuclear doctrine, India ’s nuclear arsenal will have the air, the ground and the sea constituents. The country’s Air Force already has nuclear-capable Mirage-2000, MiG-27 and Jaguar aircraft. It also has ground-based ballistic missiles. India does not have nuclear submarines yet, but it may become a reality very soon. … Several dozens of nuclear warheads will be enough for India to contain Pakistan. Even if Pakistan launches a massive attack against India’s vast territory, it will be impossible to destroy most of the Indian strategic nuclear arms. Quite on the contrary: India’s nuclear retaliation with the use of 15-20 nukes will cause much bigger damage to Pakistan, which is a lot smaller in size.

India has 115 nukes at the moment. About 80 warheads will be enough to destroy Pakistan entirely. However, India will not be able to attack China afterwards. The latter has 410 nuclear warheads. Therefore, India will most likely try to enlarge its nuclear potential.