India, Pakistan Shift Arms Imports Away From Traditional Sources

The global arms market is witnessing a significant shift as both India and Pakistan are moving away from their long-standing reliance on traditional arms suppliers.India is reducing its dependence on Russia, while Pakistan is decreasing its reliance on the United States.

This realignment is driven by a combination of strategic, economic, and geopolitical factors, impacting the regional balance of power.

Top 5 Key Insights:

* India Diversifying Arms Sources: India has been steadily decreasing its dependence on Russian arms, with Russia's share of Indian defense imports falling from 96.5% in the 1990s to 75% in the 2020s.India is now importing over 9% of its arms from France, 5.5% from the UK, nearly 5% from Israel, and 3% from the US.

This diversification is aimed at avoiding over-reliance on a single supplier and accessing more advanced and reliable weapon systems from Western nations and Israel.

* Pakistan Increasing Reliance on China: Pakistan is increasingly turning to China for its arms imports, with China accounting for 81% of Pakistan's arms imports in 2020-2024, up from 74% in the previous five-year period.This shift is driven by the affordability and adaptability of Chinese military technology, as well as China's willingness to co-develop and transfer technology.

Weapons like the JF-17 fighter jet and HQ-9 air defense systems are co-developed or exported specifically for Pakistan.

* Geopolitical Factors Driving Change: Sanctions on Russia post-Ukraine war have raised concerns about timely deliveries and spare parts, prompting India to seek alternative suppliers.Similarly, strained relations with the US have led Pakistan to reduce its dependence on American military technology and strengthen its ties with China.

These geopolitical shifts are reshaping the arms procurement strategies of both nations.

* India Boosting Indigenous Defense Production: India is actively promoting domestic defense production through initiatives like 'Make in India' and the Defence Export Policy 2020, aiming to become a major arms exporter.India is focusing on indigenous defense systems such as the Akash missile, Pinaka rocket launcher, and BrahMos missile for export.

By increasing domestic production, India aims to reduce its reliance on foreign arms imports and enhance its strategic autonomy.

* Impact on Regional Military Balance: These shifts in arms procurement patterns have significant implications for the regional military balance in South Asia.India's increasing reliance on Western technology and indigenous production is enhancing its military capabilities, while Pakistan's dependence on Chinese arms is strengthening its defense capabilities.

Understanding India and Pakistan's evolving military capabilities and procurement strategies is crucial for assessing their strategic posture and the prospects for deterrence and long-term conflict prevention.

As India and Pakistan adjust their arms procurement strategies, they reflect a broader trend of nations seeking to diversify their defense partnerships and enhance their strategic autonomy.These changes signal a move towards a more multipolar world, where nations are less reliant on traditional power blocs for their defense needs.