War is unquantifiable in terms of commitment of resources, unfathomable in terms of means and methods, foggy in terms of situations and unpredictable in terms of outcomes. That it demands commitment of ultimate human and material resources, is violent and destructive in nature, and leads to long-lasting ramifications upon the participants’ psyche as well as their future aspirations, makes War a very very serious business. It is therefore an event that cannot be bound within the definitions of straight and linear parameters.
Within the broad and flexible frameworks of the pristine ‘Principles of War’, every War is unique and its course is unprecedented, even if there could be apparent certain façades of similarities. Each War is characterised by distinct variables in terms of terrain, objectives, deployment of forces, range of adopted tactical methods and approaches, phases of operation, conduct of follow-up options etc. Therefore, unless there is a profound and universal shift in means and manners of its prosecution, the paper-race to compartmentalise Warfare creates only misunderstanding of this complex event.
Therefore, the recent trend among many of the scholars and academics of strategic issues, and even more among the students and audiences, to compartmentalise War into ‘generations’ and ‘classifications’, might be interesting but it is misplaced theorising – indulged in hindsight and with narrow information base. One states this in the context of a ludicrous situation when with adoption of any substantial operational initiative, War is pushed up to a next higher generation; we already have a 7th Generation at hand, while some who were left behind have begun scouting for the next one! While the discourse up to the Fourth Generation Warfare may be acquiesced with, orations over the so called 5th, 6th, … generations may be too much to digest. This way, with every change of scene, weaponry and tactics, Warfare would be acquire a new generation!
It you are referring to prosecution of conventional warfare with upgraded capability by incorporation of information, net-centricity, cyber, precision strike, so called ‘no contact’ etc. procedures, then India is ill-prepared to counter her avowed enemies. Though we have rudimentary capabilities in harnessing such means of war-fighting, a military-fixated and authoritarian China is far, far ahead. Informed assessment indicates that Pakistan has more or less matching capability but may have an edge with its military having the advantage of unquestionable authority over defence policy-making.
During the past few years, there has been some strategic awakening in the Indian State. Fruition of that awakening is however a long way off. The recent strategic partnership with the US and the following agreements, if well harnessed, will change that equation.