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Further Reading

India - Introduction

India v Pakistan
	Kashmir
2002	Kashmir Crisis	Op Parakram
1999	Kargil Conflict	Op Vijay
1990	Kashmir Crisis	Op Rakshak
1987		Brass Tacks
1984	Siachen Glacier	OP Meghdoot
1971	Bangladesh
1965	Indo-Pakistan War
1965	Rann of Kutch
1947	Indo-Pakistan War
1947	Partition
Other Conflicts
1986	Indo-China Clashes	Op Falcon
1985	Assam	OP Rhino
	Nagaland	Op Riddle
	Mizoram	Op Hifazat
	Tripura	Op Bajrang
1983	Sikh Uprising	OP Blue Star
1967	Naxalite Uprising
1962	Indo-China War
1961	Invasion Of Goa
1947	Hyderabad
1947	Junagadh
Peacekeeping Operations
1988	Maldives
1987	Sri Lanka	Op Pawan

The supreme command of the Indian armed forces is vested in the president of India. Policies concerning India's defense, and the armed forces as a whole, are formulated and confirmed by the Cabinet.

The Indian Army numbers over 1.4 million strong and fields 34 divisions. Its primary task is to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country against external threats. The Army has been heavily committed in the recent past to counterterrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the in the Northeast. Its current modernization program focuses on obtaining equipment to be used in combating terror. The Army often provides aid to civil authorities and assists the government in organizing relief operations.

The Indian Navy is by far the most capable navy in the region. The Navy's primary missions are the defense of India and of India's vital sea lines of communication. India relies on the sea for 90% of its oil and natural gas and over 90% of its foreign trade. The Navy currently operates one aircraft carrier with two on order, 15 submarines, and 15 major surface combatants. It is capable of projecting power within the Indian Ocean basin and occasionally operates in the South China Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Arabian Gulf. Fleet introduction of the Brahmos cruise missile, the possible lease of nuclear submarines from Russia, and the introduction of a new aircraft carrier in 2012 will add significantly to the Indian Navy's flexibility and striking power.

Although small, the Indian Coast Guard has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Indian Navy officers typically fill top Coast Guard positions to ensure coordination between the two services. India's Coast Guard is responsible for control of India's huge exclusive economic zone.

Fielding nearly 900 combat aircraft, the Indian Air Force is the world’s fourth largest. It is rapidly becoming a 21st century force through modernization, new tactics and the acquisition of modern aircraft, such as the SU-30MKI, a new advanced jet trainer (BAE Hawk) and the indigenously produced advanced light helicopter (Dhruv). In April 2008 six firms submitted proposals to the Indian Government to manufacture 126 multi-role combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.