The Indian Army’s Boosted Logistic Capabilities in Kashmir  – The Diplomat

Indian Military logistic capabilities have improved profoundly within the disputed area of Kashmir within the final 25 years, primarily because of infrastructure improvement. Beforehand, restricted highway communications hindered the Indian Military’s provide strains within the mountainous area. The improved logistics holds appreciable significance in mountainous terrain, corresponding to Kashmir, the place distances are measured in time, not house. 

The current building and upgrades of roads and strategic tunnels have turned the tide within the favor of the Indian Military. Notably, the close to completion of the brand new Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Hyperlink (USBRL), anticipated to be concluded both by the conclusion of this yr or within the preliminary months of 2024, will additional increase the logistics capabilities.

The prevailing Indian Military pondering of Proactive Operations, generally often called the Chilly Begin Doctrine, following the conclusion of Operation Parakram, prioritizes expeditious deployment of navy property in wartime. Kashmir, being a mountainous terrain, poses extreme mobility challenges. The area is vulnerable to landslides and harsh climate, and its roads are stuffed with sharp turns and steep slopes. 

In distinction, restricted struggle – as envisioned by the Chilly Begin Doctrine – requires swift mobilization of struggle shops and personnel. To efficiently execute the target, it’s crucial to own a strong and environment friendly community of roadways and railway infrastructure. To satisfy that requirement, the Indian authorities allotted a colossal quantity for highway and rail infrastructure improvement within the disputed territory of Kashmir. These funds had been primarily directed towards three key sectors: the growth and improvement of nationwide highways that traverse via the area of Jammu and Kashmir, the development of strategically vital tunnels, and the institution of a railway connection between the Kashmir valley and the mainland of India. 

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The initiation of this endeavor could be traced again to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration within the early 2000s, with subsequent governments persevering with the implementation of this coverage. Nonetheless, the present authorities led by Narendra Modi, which assumed energy in 2014, has made substantial investments in improvement initiatives in Kashmir. On July 18, 2014, the federal government of India established the Nationwide Highways and Infrastructure Improvement Company (NHIDCL) as a brand new group below the Ministry of Street Transport and Highways. The group was entrusted with the accountability of establishing infrastructure in border and mountainous areas along with the prevailing infrastructure. This group is called the Border Street Group (BRO) and operates below the jurisdiction of the Indian Ministry of Protection.

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One important improvement is the USBRL railway line, which goals to determine a significant connection between the Baramulla district and the remainder of India. This infrastructure undertaking is anticipated to facilitate environment friendly transportation of people, commodities, and safety personnel, enhancing mobility and connectivity. Former Prime Minister of India Vajpayee formally designated the matter as having “nationwide significance,” to expedite the area’s socioeconomic progress, foster nationwide unity, and fortify India’s “safety infrastructure.”

The development of the railway line was thought-about a frightening process however now it’s on the verge of completion. The important thing hindrance was the development of the famend Chenab Bridge, the best railway bridge on the earth. The bridge is sort of full and will probably be open in both late 2023 or early 2024. It holds a particular significance because it reduces by 5 to 6 hours the time it takes to journey from Katra in Jammu to Srinagar in Kashmir Valley. Moreover, the profitable implementation of the rail undertaking would grant Indian navy forces an uninterrupted technique of transportation to the valley, a strategic benefit that had beforehand been unachievable. 

Other than railways, highway and freeway improvement additionally noticed a surge, particularly after Modi got here to energy in 2014. His authorities doubled the development of highways within the area by establishing 889 kilometers in solely the primary tenure of its authorities, in comparison with simply 450 kilometers constructed below Congress’ reign from 2010-14. Modi allotted an 800 billion rupee package deal for the “Naya Jammu and Kashmir” improvement undertaking, of which a big quantity was spent on highway infrastructure.

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Many mega tasks had been commenced, together with the four-lane strategic Jammu-Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch nationwide freeway, NH-144A, passing close to the Line of Management separating the components of Kashmir below Indian and Pakistani management. The NH-144A will cut back the space from 200 km to 168 km. It’s a essential protection highway more likely to be accomplished by 2025. 

Furthermore, the 304 km stretch of the primary Indian Nationwide Freeway NH-44 from Kanyakumari to Kashmir was upgraded as nicely. The important thing stretch from Srinagar to Qazigund and Jammu to Udhampur was transformed into 4 lanes to make touring straightforward and speedy. The improve cut backd the journey time between Jammu and Kashmir from 10-12 hours to 5-6 hours.  

Furthermore, appreciable improvement occurred within the building of strategic tunnels within the area. Numerous tunnels had been constructed, and lots of are within the strategy of completion. The important thing ones embrace the Z-Morh Tunnel, the Zojila Tunnel, the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, the Chattergala Tunnel, the Nandni Tunnels and T-5 Tunnel, and the Qazigund-Bannihal Tunnel. All are very important, however the 14.15 km lengthy Zojila tunnel holds particular significance. When accomplished in 2026, it’ll guarantee a protected passage to military convoys going towards Kargil and Leh year-round. Beforehand, such a journey would require touring through Zojila cross, which is closed within the winter as a result of heavy snowfall. The tunnel will present all-weather connectivity. Apart from this, the tunnel will carry down the distance from 40 to only 13 kilometers and cut back the touring time by one and a half hours. 

Apart from the Zojila Tunnel, the 870-meter T-5 Tunnel together with the Nandni tunnels (T-1, T2, T-3, and T-4) have contributed to easing logistical constraints. They’re being constructed between the Banihal to Ramban part alongside treacherous mountainous terrain, vulnerable to landslides all yr. They’ll cut back the touring time from three hours to solely 25 minutes, bringing Srinagar and Jammu nearer to one another. 

How will these developments improve the Indian Military’s means to mobilize throughout wartime within the disputed area of Kashmir, aligning with its restricted struggle doctrinal strategy? First, the continued upgrades of highway and rail infrastructure allows the Indian Military to promptly construct up its forces alongside the Line of Management. It reduces the transit time for each troops and machines, an important issue throughout hostilities. India will have the ability to rapidly replenish struggle shares like armaments, ammunition, oil, lubricants, and petrol. The improved infrastructure will even enable for quick casualty evacuation from the frontlines.

For the primary time, the Indian Military will have the ability to maintain uninterrupted provides. Setting up tunnels at places vulnerable to pure hazards limits the likelihood of undesirable interruption. Lastly, the Indian Military’s fight preventing functionality will probably be boosted as a result of forces and gear can now be swiftly moved to completely different theaters of the area throughout struggle and disaster.

The current infrastructure improve now presents a critical problem to the Pakistan Military, as the present circumstance provides the Indian Military a bonus within the deployment of personnel and materiel throughout a disaster. Because of the upgraded infrastructure, India’s logistics functionality on the operational stage of struggle is elevated because of drastically lowered mobilization time within the mountainous Kashmir area. Beforehand, the Indian Military lacked this functionality. Within the occasion of a brand new disaster between the 2 states, the Indian Military will carry its assets to the border and maintain them successfully and rapidly.