Cold Start (military doctrine)
Encyclopedia
Cold Start is a military doctrine
developed by the Indian Armed Forces
. It involves the various branches of India's military conducting offensive operations as part of unified battle groups
. The Cold Start doctrine is intended to allow India's conventional forces to perform holding attacks in order to prevent a nuclear retaliation from Pakistan in case of a conflict. High levels of preparedness and rapid mobilization
are the main aims of this doctrine.
The development of this doctrine represents a significant change in Indian defense planning. Exercises aimed at reducing mobilization time and improved network-centric warfare
capabilities have contributed to the development of the Cold Start doctrine. Despite the advances, this doctrine remains in the experimental stage.
Drawing on the experience of the Arab Israeli war of 1967 as well as the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
, Indian defense planners envisioned a new doctrine. It would involve limited, rapid armored thrusts, with infantry and necessary air support.
As per Cold Start promulgation, offensive operations could begin within 72 hours after orders have been issued. Such a limited response time would enable Indian forces to surprise their Pakistani counterparts. Operations would involve armored spearheads launched from forward positions in Punjab and Rajasthan.
The plan emphasizes speed and overwhelming firepower: armored formations and accompanying infantry would advance into eastern Pakistan with limited goals in terms of distance and in terms of duration. Although the plan reportedly has a significant air support component, its scope remains unclear. From the Indian perspective, the unimplemented plan has the added virtue of accentuating Pakistani discomfiture and angst, which in theory may have some deterrent value.
, an nuclear-capable solid fueled missile of 60 km range, to dissuade India from following Cold-start doctrine.
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses stated that the development of Nasr indicates that Pakistan views India’s Cold Start doctrine with concern and that the Nasr is meant to deter India’s launch of Cold Start. It added that the net result would be "further nuclear impact(s) on Pakistani territory." However Indian Air Force chief PV Naik stated that tactical missiles wont affect decision as "Tactical or strategic, it is a nuclear weapon. So, obviously our response would be absolutely violent as per our existing policy."
On May 12 2011, India launched Operation Vijayee Bhava (blessed to win) an massive defense exercise involving 50,000 troops
in Bikaner and Suratgarh near the Pakistan border in order to boost the synergy between the defence forces.
Its main objective was to cut down mobilization time of military, which took 27 days to mobilize during Operation Prakram.
The Indian Army confirmed that exercise was successful and it has reduced its mobilization time drastically to 48 hours.
In July 2011 an new solid fueled tactical ballistic missile Prahaar
, of 150 km range, was tested.
The highly mobile Prahaar would provide the Indian army’s invading battle groups with lethal fire support.
1.It may result in declaration of Total War
and General Mobilization
by Pakistan.
2.Publicly announcing the "Cold Start" strategy is self contradictory takes away the element of surprise and defeats the purpose.
3.Although the plan reportedly has a significant air support component, it is unclear to us how much joint versus parallel planning has taken place. No mention of a major operational role for the Indian Navy or parallel sea-launched attacks. Pakistan has clearly announced comprehensive use of Air power and Air Defence in case of a Cold Start during Azm e Nau 3 along with an announced Naval offensive strategy.
4.The unimplemented plan has the added virtue of accentuating Pakistani discomfiture and angst, which in theory may have some deterrent value.
5.The precise function of the Cabinet Committee on Security in ratifying decisions to take military action, the character of the military's advisory responsibilities to the Cabinet, the possible ad hoc nature of decision-making in the upper levels of the Indian government and the role of Congress Party figures like Sonia Gandhi in this process are not clearly understood.
6.It is not implementable statistically.
7. The concept of istishhad
(martyrdom) may compel Pakistani paramilitary,armed civilians,Mujahideen
and Military Units to fight till death creating tough pockets of resistance wasting time crucial to the doctrine.
8.Although Cold Start is designed to punish Pakistan in a limited manner without triggering a nuclear response, they can not be sure whether Pakistani leaders will in fact refrain from such a response.
Military doctrine
Military doctrine is the concise expression of how military forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements.It is a guide to action, not hard and fast rules. Doctrine provides a common frame of reference across the military...
developed by the Indian Armed Forces
Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. They consist of the Army, Navy and Air Force, supported by three paramilitary forces and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command.The President of India is...
. It involves the various branches of India's military conducting offensive operations as part of unified battle groups
Battlegroup (army)
A battlegroup , or task force in modern military theory, is the basic building block of an army's fighting force. A battlegroup is formed around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment, which is usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel...
. The Cold Start doctrine is intended to allow India's conventional forces to perform holding attacks in order to prevent a nuclear retaliation from Pakistan in case of a conflict. High levels of preparedness and rapid mobilization
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
are the main aims of this doctrine.
Origins
India's defense strategy from 1947 was centered around 'holding corps' to halt hostile advances. In response to the terrorist attack on the Indian parliament in 2001, India initiated a full mobilization. Taking almost a month, the slow mobilization demonstrated the weakness of India's then current policy. The long mobilization time resulted in sufficient international pressure preventing India from conducting a retaliatory strike.Development of Cold Start doctrine
Network-centric warfare
Network-centric warfare, also called network-centric operations, is a military doctrine or theory of war pioneered by the United States Department of Defense in the 1990's....
capabilities have contributed to the development of the Cold Start doctrine. Despite the advances, this doctrine remains in the experimental stage.
Drawing on the experience of the Arab Israeli war of 1967 as well as the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
, Indian defense planners envisioned a new doctrine. It would involve limited, rapid armored thrusts, with infantry and necessary air support.
As per Cold Start promulgation, offensive operations could begin within 72 hours after orders have been issued. Such a limited response time would enable Indian forces to surprise their Pakistani counterparts. Operations would involve armored spearheads launched from forward positions in Punjab and Rajasthan.
The plan emphasizes speed and overwhelming firepower: armored formations and accompanying infantry would advance into eastern Pakistan with limited goals in terms of distance and in terms of duration. Although the plan reportedly has a significant air support component, its scope remains unclear. From the Indian perspective, the unimplemented plan has the added virtue of accentuating Pakistani discomfiture and angst, which in theory may have some deterrent value.
Pakistani Response
Pakistani Army Chief Declared 2010 "Year of the training".Pakistan further conducted a large scale military exercise name Azm-e-Nau 3 focusing on their capability of offensive defense in case of cold start and tested NasrNasr (missile)
The Hatf IX, named Nasr , is a solid fuelled battlefield range ballistic missile system developed by Pakistan. The missile's existence was first reported after a test-firing on 19 April 2011...
, an nuclear-capable solid fueled missile of 60 km range, to dissuade India from following Cold-start doctrine.
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses stated that the development of Nasr indicates that Pakistan views India’s Cold Start doctrine with concern and that the Nasr is meant to deter India’s launch of Cold Start. It added that the net result would be "further nuclear impact(s) on Pakistani territory." However Indian Air Force chief PV Naik stated that tactical missiles wont affect decision as "Tactical or strategic, it is a nuclear weapon. So, obviously our response would be absolutely violent as per our existing policy."
On May 12 2011, India launched Operation Vijayee Bhava (blessed to win) an massive defense exercise involving 50,000 troops
in Bikaner and Suratgarh near the Pakistan border in order to boost the synergy between the defence forces.
Its main objective was to cut down mobilization time of military, which took 27 days to mobilize during Operation Prakram.
The Indian Army confirmed that exercise was successful and it has reduced its mobilization time drastically to 48 hours.
In July 2011 an new solid fueled tactical ballistic missile Prahaar
Prahaar (missile)
Prahaar is a solid-fuelled surface-to-surface guided short-range tactical ballistic missile by DRDO of India. It would be equipped with omni-directional warheads and could be used for hitting both tactical and strategic targets....
, of 150 km range, was tested.
The highly mobile Prahaar would provide the Indian army’s invading battle groups with lethal fire support.
Criticism
There have been Following criticism to this strategy:1.It may result in declaration of Total War
Total war
Total war is a war in which a belligerent engages in the complete mobilization of fully available resources and population.In the mid-19th century, "total war" was identified by scholars as a separate class of warfare...
and General Mobilization
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
by Pakistan.
2.Publicly announcing the "Cold Start" strategy is self contradictory takes away the element of surprise and defeats the purpose.
3.Although the plan reportedly has a significant air support component, it is unclear to us how much joint versus parallel planning has taken place. No mention of a major operational role for the Indian Navy or parallel sea-launched attacks. Pakistan has clearly announced comprehensive use of Air power and Air Defence in case of a Cold Start during Azm e Nau 3 along with an announced Naval offensive strategy.
4.The unimplemented plan has the added virtue of accentuating Pakistani discomfiture and angst, which in theory may have some deterrent value.
5.The precise function of the Cabinet Committee on Security in ratifying decisions to take military action, the character of the military's advisory responsibilities to the Cabinet, the possible ad hoc nature of decision-making in the upper levels of the Indian government and the role of Congress Party figures like Sonia Gandhi in this process are not clearly understood.
6.It is not implementable statistically.
7. The concept of istishhad
Istishhad
Istishhad means the act of or the seeking of martyrdom in Islam. In recent years the term has been said to "emphasize... heroism in the act of sacrifice" rather than "victimization," and has "developed... into a military and political strategy," often called "martyrdom operations". Istishhad...
(martyrdom) may compel Pakistani paramilitary,armed civilians,Mujahideen
Mujahideen
Mujahideen are Muslims who struggle in the path of God. The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad .Mujahideen is also transliterated from Arabic as mujahedin, mujahedeen, mudžahedin, mudžahidin, mujahidīn, mujaheddīn and more.-Origin of the concept:The beginnings of Jihad are traced...
and Military Units to fight till death creating tough pockets of resistance wasting time crucial to the doctrine.
8.Although Cold Start is designed to punish Pakistan in a limited manner without triggering a nuclear response, they can not be sure whether Pakistani leaders will in fact refrain from such a response.