India must be prepared for a two-front war, says Air Marshall Reddy

Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal PP Reddy on Monday said that Beijing's growing relationship with Islamabad has complicated India's security challenges, adding that the county must be prepared for a two-front war with China and Pakistan.

"We are located in a difficult neighbourhood, with two nuclear-armed adversaries. Our primary external security challenges arise from the immediate neighbourhood, that is, to the north and west, and to a certain extent, from the extended neighbourhood, especially terrorism in the name of religion," Air Marshall Reddy said at the Conference on Aerospace, Defence and Homeland Security, held in the national capital.

"China's growing assertiveness and cooperation with Pakistan complicates the external security environment and we have to be prepared for a collusion and a two-front war," he added.

Air Marshall Reddy further stated that internal security challenges had further complicated India's security.

"The internal security challenges on account of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and terrorism in the North-East states and the Naxalite threat further complicate the overall security environment. Hence, we need to be prepared for a complete spectrum of conflict, whether it is terrorist attacks, conventional conflict, intense conventional war or nuclear war," he said.

Looking at the growing difference in India's and China's economy, Air Marshall Reddy further said that it has become difficult for New Delhi to match up to its neighbour.

"China, with its growing stature and economic clout and hunger for resources to feed its manufacturing conglomerate, has stepped up diplomatic and economic activities in our area of interest. China is building ports and infrastructure, providing long-term loans and economic aid as well as exporting arms, to all our neighbouring countries," he said.

"Unfortunately, the state of our economy and defence industry does not allow us to compete with China. Many countries in our neighbourhood look up to us to provide training, equipment and infrastructure, but we are unable to do this," he added.

However, the Air Marshall signed off on a positive note, stating that India has a legitimate aspiration of emerging as a developed nation.

"Notwithstanding India's complex security canvas, the mood in the nation today is highly positive and the world is looking at India once again. We have a legitimate aspiration of emerging as a developed nation that commands respect on the world stage," he said.

"The economic landscape of the world is fast undergoing a transformation. We are in the zone that contributes over 35 percent of the world's GDP, as of now. By 2050, India is expected to be the world's second largest economy and with a fairly young and empowered population, according to a study by Price Waterhouse Cooper," he added.