There is no let up in the warmongering against Pakistan by the Indian state. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his address to State Chief Ministers on security on January 6, publicly declared that “terrorism” was the main security threat to India, and that Pakistan was the source of major terrorist strikes in India, including the Mumbai terrorist strike. The External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee as well as the Defence Minister A.K Anthony have categorically stated that the possibility of going to war with Pakistan “cannot be ruled out”.  The Army Chief of Staff, has declared that his forces are ready for war and just waiting for the government’s orders. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, Indian armed forces are carrying out military exercises for a possible invasion of Pakistan by sea or land.  Every day, the top leaders of the Congress and BJP, compete with each other in issuing threats to Pakistan.

The case for going to war with Pakistan is being made out by the Indian state and by the top political leadership, by repeatedly alleging that Pakistan is “not cooperating”, not giving the ‘right response’ in cracking down on alleged terrorist outfits in Pakistan who are supposed to have masterminded the Mumbai terror attacks. Every response of the Pakistani government is being rubbished by the ministers. Indian pressure on Pakistan is coming at a time when the US government is putting pressure on Pakistan to step up its collaboration in Afghanistan against the insurgents, at a time when US is openly bombing the tribal areas of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Indian state continues to equip its army, air force and navy with the latest weapons and train them in the most sophisticated combat techniques. Militarisation and war are seen as lucrative for Indian corporate interests who are into defence equipment manufacture and supplies. At the same time, the leading international arms merchants from US, Israel, Russia, France etc are all trying to sell their equipment to the Indian armed forces. It has been recently reported in the media that the Defence Ministry has put on fast track the purchase of high-tech weapons for the army, on the pattern of US land forces in Afghanistan and has projected more than 30 per cent hike in the capital outlay (Rs 42,000-43,000 crore) for the armed forces in the defence budget for the coming fiscal to “maintain its conventional edge in the region”. According to government sources, the Army has been asked to expedite the purchase of the latest generation Harop loitering weapon system aka missile firing drone (which can pick up targets through its electro-optical sensors and destroy them with its 23 kg warhead), Heron long-duration unmanned aerial vehicles, armoured vehicles and Tangushka air defence systems, among others. Top army officials have been visiting Israel and other countries to explore various military options.

The scale of military purchases for the army, navy and air force, obviously have nothing to do with dealing with terrorists who allegedly sneaked into country using fishing boats. It has to do with overall strategic aims of Indian bourgeoisie. Indian state wants to be the dominant player in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal region, where it is contending with China for dominant position over various littoral states in Africa and Asia. It is working in coordination with the US, to achieve its own strategic aims. As US steps ups its military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Indian bourgeoisie wants a piece of the cake as well. At the same time, it wants to use the situation to settle the Kashmir issue once and for all in its own favour.

The warmongering and war preparations point to the dangerous course being pursued by the Indian bourgeoisie. Historically, militarisation and war have been preferred weapons of the imperialist bourgeoisie of various countries to get out of their crisis, to mobilise working masses behind the program of “defence of the nation”, and to escalate the attacks on working masses at home and abroad. Indian bourgeoisie is no different.

Indian working class must vigorously oppose this imperialist war mongering course. We must oppose the course of military strategic alliance with US imperialism and fight to expel US imperialism from South Asia. We must support the anti imperialist struggle of the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries of the region, and fight for lasting peace in this region.