SOURCE: AFI
Prof. Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, a defence analyst from the School of Politics and International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, recently expressed concern about India’s rapid advancements in hypersonic technology, artificial intelligence (AI), multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), and ballistic missile defence (BMD) systems. Speaking to the media, Dr Jaspal noted that India’s focused investments in next-generation defence technologies could shift the regional strategic balance and lead to heightened security tensions.
According to Jaspal, India’s commitment to developing hypersonic missiles represents a significant leap in its defense capabilities. Hypersonic missiles, capable of reaching speeds over Mach 5, present a formidable challenge to conventional missile defense systems due to their speed and maneuverability. India has conducted successful trials of a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), as part of its push toward achieving operational hypersonic weapon systems. Hypersonic missiles, once fully developed, will significantly enhance India’s ability to conduct quick, precise, and evasive strikes, a capability that has sparked concern among its regional neighbors.
In addition to hypersonic advancements, Jaspal pointed out India’s focus on AI integration in military applications. AI-enhanced systems offer numerous benefits, from improved data analysis and decision-making to autonomous systems in both offensive and defensive applications. India’s investments in AI, he noted, could yield breakthroughs in autonomous vehicles, surveillance systems, and cybersecurity, further modernizing its defense infrastructure.
The analyst also raised alarms over India’s development of Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) capabilities. MIRVs allow a single ballistic missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each of which can be directed at a different target. India’s Agni-VI, an extension of its successful Agni missile series, is rumored to possess MIRV capabilities, although this remains unconfirmed by official sources. If operationalized, MIRV-equipped missiles would enhance India’s nuclear deterrence, complicating defensive strategies for neighboring countries and adding a new layer to India’s strategic missile program.
India’s ballistic missile defense (BMD) program, aimed at intercepting incoming missiles, also contributes to regional power dynamics. India has made steady progress in its two-tier BMD system, which is designed to intercept incoming threats at high altitudes (exo-atmospheric) and low altitudes (endo-atmospheric). Successful tests of the BMD system have demonstrated its potential, and once deployed, it would provide India with a significant defense against incoming missile threats, bolstering its defense posture.
Dr. Jaspal’s remarks reflect broader concerns within Pakistan about India’s defense modernization trajectory. As India continues to advance its defense capabilities, Pakistani defense experts emphasize the need to closely monitor India’s technological developments. Many argue that these advancements could lead to an arms race in the region, as neighboring countries seek to counterbalance India’s growing capabilities.
However, Indian defense officials have reiterated that these developments align with India’s goal of maintaining credible minimum deterrence and are focused on safeguarding its national security interests within a complex geopolitical environment. For India, bolstering its defense technology is viewed as necessary to address challenges posed by both regional and global threats.