The Sad MAD World Of Agni-V

[Windjammer]

---

---

The only thing louder than the thunderous roar of the Agni V long-range ICBM as it blasted off this morning was the spontaneous eruption of euphoria on social media platforms that India had joined an “elite club” of nations with the power to vaporise enemies with long-range ICBMs.

In the same way that India’s muscling its way into the club of “nuclear haves” in 1998 with the Pokharan nuclear tests was seen as a milestone in India’s ascendance and power projection capability, today’s launch has come as an adrenaline rush for minds dizzy with war scenarios.

The fact that all of China, including its cities on the faraway eastern seaboard, are in our fiery Agni sights has given cause for focussed Sinophobic celebration.

Yet, the irony of nuclear weapons – and of delivery mechanisms like Agni V – is that having acquired them and bolstered our pride (and our deterrent capability), we now have to pray that we’ll never ever have to use them. That’s because the moment for which they are being primed for use will always be too late. And even that moment will give us no pride or joy.

India abides by the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons. That means that the only purpose that the weapons serve is as a deterrent against a nuclear attack on us. The underlying hope is that the promise of “mutually assured destruction” (MAD) will inhibit our “enemies” – such as they are – from doing unto us what they wouldn’t us to do unto them.

The only scenario in which we’ll ever use them is on Armageddon day when our cities have been nuked to a cinder. That day will really not give any cause for celebration.

The MAD theory is a bit like religious faith: we have to believe in its redemptive power. There’s no demonstrable proof that it works because it’s never been tested.

On the other hand, it’s also a trump card that we cannot easily use – and for that reason renders us less secure in some ways.

Indicatively, if our going nuclear in 1998 was meant to give us a coat of armour against Pakistan or China (to name just two of our neighbours), it’s fair to say it didn’t work.

It didn’t, for instance, inhibit Pakistan from embarking on the Kargil misadventure in 1999. In fact, Pakistan was emboldened into launching the Kargil attack only because it calculated that the prospect of two “nuclear-armed neighbours” squaring up to fight would grab world attention and effectively internationalise the Kashmir issue.

In the final analysis, although Indian soldiers at Kargil did score signal triumphs on the battlefield, Pakistan’s retreat came about not because of India’s nuclear or even conventional military strengths, but because of its “coercive diplomacy”: India petitioned the Bill Clinton administration, which leaned on the Pakistan government and the army to withdraw.

The “nuclear weapons”, which were intended to protect us from pinpricks, didn’t.

Nor did they protect us from the November 2008 terror attacks and countless other low-intensity conflicts that Pakistan wages and the occasional border trespasses by Chinese troops.

The real threat to India comes less from states that will launch an all-out war on us, and more from “proxies” that do just as effective a job. And you can’t pull out your nuclear weapons and ICBMs against them.

That’s the real madness of the MAD world of nuclear deterrence. We’re convinced we need them, and we feel safe that we have them – because of our capacity to obliterate the enemy.

Yet, for all the momentary feel-good feeling, our nuclear arsenal and our ICBMs are costly toys that we’ll never ever get to play with – and have to pray that we never will.

The sad MAD world of Agni-V | Firstpost

[Sergi]

Yes they are very needed. So that enemy can always remember if he did something worst it will be taken care of. No one wants war. But everybody prepare for it. That's keep the peace. And peace is good for all.

[vsdoc]

Agni V is simply a step. The obvious strategic aim is to have credible deterrence against ALL conventionally stronger world powers. Its simply good business.

And deterrence is never about fighting a war. Nor is it guarantee against war.

It is about non interference. And the ability to chart one's course and go one's way undeterred.

[karan.1970]

Buy a big gun and display it in open in your living room, so that you never have to use it

[satishkumarcsc]

People must know that India is not like switzerland...we are surrounded by Rivals. And both are regional nuclear powers with the capability of blowing off this country. So we need weapons that reach all the parts of these countries to deter them from launching an attack on us. So it is sensible to have these weapons as we have 'no first use' policy.

[Avatar]

I can sense the paranoia.
The agni missile series can also deliver flowers, not just nukes. The Agni V ICBM gives us the capability to respond to a wider range of security challenges. Until someone has a gun, there will always be another gun. Same logic with ICBM's.

[Abingdonboy]

A "sad" day when India develops such tech, but if Pakistan had developed such tech I'm sure we wouldn't here the end of it and there'd be a national day of celebration.

[DelhiDareDevil]

We have also test successful new technology on AGNI-5, so its not all about the missile trajectory.

Infact its more about seeing PAkistanis burn is more amusing about this launch.

[Impasse]

We should fire one at China and other at Pakistan and it should shower flowers only. End of WARRRRRRRRR

[JanjaWeed]

Scientists have done their deed. Now it's time for critics to take over. Brace yourself for for many more such articles, some of which are going to be quite spiteful...

[indian navy]

not for first use but we will give answer if any one ask question

[Windjammer]

A "sad" day when India develops such tech, but if Pakistan had developed such tech I'm sure we wouldn't here the end of it and there'd be a national day of celebration.

Just as well the article was written by an Indian and published in the Indian media.

[hunter_hunted]

A "sad" day when India develops such tech, but if Pakistan had developed such tech I'm sure we wouldn't here the end of it and there'd be a national day of celebration.

Im pretty sure Pakistan already has ICBMs do u remember 1998 no one knew Pakistan had Nukes but they did test Nukes and marked the beginning of its journey and Pakistan got sanctioned by major powers .

Now lets say Pakistan do conduct such test of ICBMs and the enemies of Pakistan are already wanted to cut its throat using sanctions not militarily , and Pakistans economy is already in ICU . That is y Pakistan is not opening its fist to show they have such big toys.

No one knows whats under the blanket . Time will tell

[K-Xeroid]

A very nice and rational article rather of adding indianism in it they added realistic approach. Wat the problem is that india never have a sanction problem and being regional gaint,(not power) There even false opinions are the center of attraction, But things started to change when Pakistan started to play its move smartly. Pakistan have ICBM capability but the only problem is that the western world might can't digest that test. We need to better our economy, When we have no confusion about our power then its mean that we don't need to test it in hurry.. better to strengthen economy, We will might get better chances in future. till then we just have to be patient.

[Abingdonboy]

---

---

Im pretty sure Pakistan already has ICBMs do u remember 1998 no one knew Pakistan had Nukes but they did test Nukes and marked the beginning of its journey and Pakistan got sanctioned by major powers .

Now lets say Pakistan do conduct such test of ICBMs and the enemies of Pakistan are already wanted to cut its throat using sanctions not militarily , and Pakistans economy is already in ICU . That is y Pakistan is not opening its fist to show they have such big toys.

No one knows whats under the blanket . Time will tell

Well that seems illogical, to develop tech and certify tech you NEED to test otherwise when you need this stuff who's to say it will deliver? Theory is one thing practice is something completely different. Until we have definitive proof then this is just words.