BOOK REVIEW ON

“FACE OFF! ANALYSIS OF INDIA’S CAPABILITY TO

FIGHT A TWO-FRONT WAR ”

“FACE OFF! ANALYSIS OF INDIA’S CAPABILITY

TO FIGHT A TWO-FRONT WAR ”

GEN DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK

1. Bibliographic Info
 (a) Format : Paperback
(b) Language : English
(c) ISBN : 9389137926
(d) ISBN13 : 9789389137927
(e) Release Date : 10 June 2021
(f) Publisher : KW Publishers Pvt Ltd
(g) Length : 514 Pages
(h) Weight: 1.72 lbs.
(i) Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

2. About the Author. Ravi Rikhye Coming from a distinguished Indian Army
family, Ravi Rikhye grew up in Simla and is presently resident of Washington DC. Ravi
Rikhye studied international military affairs for 10-years before writing his first paper.
Over the last 60 years he has authored and co-authored over 35 books, many of these
for the Government of India.
SUMMARY, GEN THEME AND ANALYSIS
3. The analysis asks one question and has one answer: Can India fight a two-front
war against China and Pakistan? The answer is it cannot. Because of the China-
Pakistan alliance, we cannot fight even a one-front war: engaging in a war with either
adversary runs the risk of weakening the other front, leaving it open to exploitation. The
solution, fortunately, is straightforward: build a 2-front war capability. The next problem
is equally straightforward: The Government of India is determined not to spend money
on defence. Today spending is down to 1.56% of GDP, lower even than in 1962. And
we know how that ended. It takes little imagination to foresee what would have
happened if 1962 had become 2-front: Pakistan would have walked over Punjab,
perhaps all the way to Delhi, and we would have lost Kashmir too. If we chose to defend
Punjab, we would have lost the North East Frontier Agency, now called Arunachal. If we
tried to defend both fronts, we would have lost both.
4. For a strong defensive posture, we need to spend the 3 - 3.5% of GDP we spent
1963-1990, both to modernize and to raise eight more divisions that is the minimum
needed. To negotiate from strength, we need 4%+ and to recover our lost territories we
need 6%. Our spending is 1.6% of GDP, lower even than the 1.9% of 1962.
Theoretically, India can fight a 2-front war on land. It can defend its "Near Seas": The
Bay of Bengal, the East Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Munnar (waters between India and Sri
Lanka), and the Andaman Sea. The Air Force continues deteriorating, it can fight a 1-
front war but not two. There are, however, severe problems on the ground. This should
not be the situation on the face of it. China can comfortably deploy 10 divisions,
Pakistan has 25, including one it calls Force Command Northern Areas, and two it calls
"Corps Reserve." That is 35 versus India's 38. The matter is, however, more complex
than a simple division count.
5. First, China has ended its policy of assigning formations permanently to a theatre
for regional defense. Its entire ground force, including airborne troops under the air
force and marine brigades under the navy, amount to 90 brigade groups that are being
trained to fight in any theatre. Further, China still retains at least six divisions. We don't
know yet if they will remain as divisions; nonetheless, it is best to include the, giving
China 108 brigades. Still further, China retains many reserve brigades. These, while
unable to assume a first-line role, can provide defence in depth, follow-up forces, and
cover secondary sectors.
6. Next, because of the Government of India's etched-in-stone policy that ever
meter of ground must be held, we need more brigades to divisions to defend than
Pakistan does. This is discussed in detail. For now, accept that India needs one more
division for each of XV, XVI, IX, XI, and XII Corps, and three more for Ladakh-Himachal-
Uttarakhand. The Northeast is reasonably defended.
7. Should that not suffice for a 2-front defence, 46 divisions versus China-Pakistan's
38? Yes - but defence, not for offensive war. Without an offensive capability, we can
stabilize our fronts with 29 divisions against Pakistan and 14 against China, which will
leave both free to attack again. This book argues that for a proper 2-front defensive
capability, India immediately needs eight more divisions, two corps HQs, and 12 new
brigades. The remaining twelve brigades will come from existing formations.
Immediately does not mean spread over 10-years in the future. It means the
authorization and funding must be made now, and the job completed in 3 years.
OPINION AND RECOM
8. FACE OFF! is a detailed narration by Ravi Rikhye on India’s capability of fighting
a two-front war, for which its armed forces have planned and prepared for long. This
unique book systematically covers the military challenges rising from geopolitical
evolution. The ground forces of China and Pakistan against whom India is primed, are
covered in detail as are air and naval forces to provide readers in-depth knowledge with
comparisons given and conclusions arrived at. The crucial question asked is: Can India
take on both Pakistan and China at the same time?
9. This book is an essential reading and an invaluable resource for policymakers,
strategists, students of South Asian matters, diplomats, and the general public as well.