What is Cold Start Doctrine?

Cold Start is a military doctrine developed by the Indian

Armed Forces to put to use in case of a war with Pakistan.
Here are nine things to know about it.

IndiaToday.in
New Delhi, October 20

A military doctrine helps standardize operations, facilitating readiness by establishing common

ways of accomplishing military tasks. Its objective is to foster initiative and creative thinking and
links theory, history, experimentation and practice. Cold Start is a military doctrine developed by
the Indian Armed Forces to put to use in case of a war with Pakistan.Here are ten things to know
about the Cold Start Doctrine:

1. The main objective of the Cold Start Doctrine is to launch a retaliatory conventional
strike against Pakistan inflicting significant harm on the Pakistan Army before any
international community could intercede, but not in way Pakistan would be provoked to
make a nuclear attack.
2. Cold Start Doctrine deviated from India's defence strategy since 1947 - "a non-
aggressive, non-provocative defense policy," - and will involve limited, rapid armoured
thrusts, with infantry and necessary air support.
3. In May 2001, Operation Vijayee Bhava was launched by the Indian army, involving
50,000 troops to boost synergy between various banches of the armed forces. The
objective of this operation was to reduce the mobilisation time drastically to 48 hours,
and was successful in achieving it. Operation Vijayee Bhava is considered to be a trail
run of the Cold Start Doctrine.
4. Later in 2011, Operation Sudarshan Shakti was conducted to revalidate Cold Start
Doctrine. Focus of Sudarshan Shakti was to practice synergy and integration between
ground and air forces.
5. Indian Army's official stance was denying the existence of the Cold Start Doctrine.
However, a "proactive strategy" being in place have been confirmed by the officials.
6. Post the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, Indian government took a decision not to
implement the Cold Start Doctrine. This was to defeat the strategic goals of Pakistan to
redirect the attacks of other Islamist millitant groups attacking Pakistan to an external
threat - India.
7. During the years 2007 to 2009, India's defence budget increased from $24 billion to $40
billion. Sensing threat, Pakistan increated increated its defence budget by around 32%,
further stressing their already weak economy
8. Cold Start Doctrine was developed as the limitations of the arlier doctrine - Sundarji
Doctrine - was exposed after the attack on the Indian Parliament.
9. According to the Cold Start Doctrine, battle Groups will be well forward from existing
garrisons. India's elite strike forces will no longer sit idle waiting for the opportune
moment, giving Pakistan the luxury of time.