Arms Purchase and Security Concerns of India (1986-1999): Critical Analysis of Challenges and Policy Responses to India's Threat Perceptions and Arms Acquisitions

This is a period-specific study extending from 1986 to 1999. The year 1986 was selected because that year India conducted two military exercises¿¿Operation Brasstacks¿ on the western border and ¿Operation Chequerboard¿ on the Himalayan heights. Pakistan misread the first operation and both countries were on the verge of another war. On the eastern front India had to face China¿s military power projection when Chinese forces intruded into the Sumdurong Chu valley, compelling India to deploy her mountain division on the Sikkim heights. However, the situations were contained, without needless sabre-rattling. Thus, the emanating threat perceptions made it imperative for India to enhance its defence expenditure and capital investment. Reality was contrary to prevailing perceptions. The Book establishes that aggravation of military threats to the security of a nation does not necessarily result in increased expenditure on arms purchase by that country; to reverse the same proposition, a decline in expenditure on arms purchase by a country does not necessarily mean an attenuation of the existing military threats perceived by that country.