Military Analysis: India’s Strategic Vulnerabilities From Pakistan’s Retaliation

Reading Time: 3 minutes India, with one of the world’s largest armed forces and an increasingly modernised military, maintains a commanding position in South Asia. However, even a military of this scale possesses inherent vulnerabilities—particularly those stemming from geography, operational posture, and the evolving nature of modern warfare. In light of a hypothetical conflict such as Operation Sindoor, where India might initiate offensive action across the border, it is pertinent to assess which Indian military and strategic assets could be vulnerable to Pakistani retaliation. 1. Proximity Risk of Forward Air Bases India’s forward air bases (FABs), particularly those located in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, are highly exposed in the event of a retaliatory strike. Bases such as Pathankot, Adampur, and Srinagar lie within a 150–250 km radius of the Pakistan border. These bases house advanced platforms such as the Su-30MKI and Rafale, forming the spearhead of India’s offensive air