What war with Pakistan could mean for India

Pakistan is financially bankrupt and living amid the turmoil of sectarian strife.  Yet Islamabad commands a strong military that includes nuclear weapons.

India also has a strong nuclear-capable military and, as the issue of Mumbai’s terror attacks has again proven, the hatreds between these two South Asian neighbors run deep…..

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India and Pakistan have ratcheted up their rhetoric over last month’s Mumbai attacks, but analysts say a fourth war between the two nuclear-armed rivals remains unlikely.

Tensions are nonetheless running high after India warned its nationals Friday it was unsafe to travel to Pakistan and Islambad canceled all army leave, leaving Washington to urge both sides not to increase tensions further.

 

Another attack on India launched by Pakistan-based militants, however, could see New Delhi act decisively.

 

Here is a look at some possible scenarios for India in event of war:

 

POLITICAL

 

– The Indian government faced widespread voter anger at the security and intelligence failures that led to the Mumbai attacks and must go to the polls by May. A strong response could see people rally behind it.

 

The opposition BJP has made militant attacks a major campaign issue ahead of the general elections and has already indicated it would back the government if it chose to go to war. However, the BJP has also been criticized in some quarters for being opportunistic in making terrorism an election issue.

 

India signed a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the United States earlier this year and might hope its growing political ties with Washington would get a further boost if it hit militant targets inside Pakistan with missiles and fighter jets.

(from Reuters)

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