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An opportunity for Pakistan and role of Marine air ground force in armor conflicts
Abstract
Large scale armored offensive with air support proved to be very effective throughout the history of armored assaults. Fast attacks spearheaded by well designed and well deployed main battle tanks cause the attacker to succeed on many occasions due to their firepower and ability to strike with surprise. On the other hand, the antiarmor defense had also been trialed and perfected and successfully executed throughout previous battles. It was in 2004 when India, fascinated by numerical armor superiority declared her intentions to rage a limited war against Pakistan and gain strategic operational area to clear self-proclaimed terrorist hideouts.
Pakistan responded with full show of military might and declared the use of tactical nuclear weapons against armor offensive. The declaration of tactical nuclear weapons under the doctrine to strike first will lead Pakistan to global isolation and requires immense resources which may prove to be detrimental to the dwindling economy of Pakistan. Also this move indirectly proves inability of the Pakistan army to halt any large scale armor offensive. In this regards, a thorough literature review has been presented and a brief study has been conducted to understand the strengths and weaknesses of both the nations with the emphasis to develop a carefully crafted Pakistan Marine air ground task force (MAGTF) having ability to conduct anti-armor operations. The MAGTF is essentially a combined arms organization under a single and able commander, possessing all the necessary air and ground assets to defend against large scale armor conflicts.
1.Introduction
The rivalry between India and Pakistan dates back to 1947 when they took their independent status from the then British Empire. This rivalry previously ignited two full scale wars (1965 & 1971) and one limited war (Kargil war). The ever hostile relations between Pakistan and India pushed them to acquire nuclear weapons to protect their territorial and political interests.
The announced military policy and doctrine of both nations was of defensive nature until 2004 when Indian armed forces declared a limited warfare doctrine. India developed its Limited War doctrine in the wake of the Kargil War. The doctrine per se is for conventional war, but embedded in it are the tenets of Limited...