In the event of conflict between India and Pakistan, both sides are likely to try to disable the space assets of their adversary and any nation cooperating with them.
Keywords: India, Pakistan.
Can you improve on this argument text? Help develop this argument by editing and adding more information or click on one of the edit links below to add a counter, supporting, or related argument.
You can help improve this argument by adding a supporting argument.
You can help improve this argument by adding a counterargument.
Perhaps more importantly, the risk of Pakistani ASAT attacks would create the same escalatory incentives for India that the United States faces in the second scenario. U.S. war games suggest that future conflicts in South Asia may not be very stable. ( More ... ) Lewis, Jeffrey. What if Space Were Weaponized? Possible Consequences for Crisis Scenarios. Washington, D.C.: Center for Defense Information, July 2004. [ 16 quotes ] [ page 31 ]
Second, Pakistan might target third-party satellites used by the Indian Army. Potential targets would include commercial imaging and communications satellites, as well as the GPS or European Galileo system if Indian forces were allowed to utilize those services during an offensive. Such attacks would have unanticipated affects on the United States. ( More ... ) Lewis, Jeffrey. What if Space Were Weaponized? Possible Consequences for Crisis Scenarios. Washington, D.C.: Center for Defense Information, July 2004. [ 16 quotes ] [ page 30 ]
Developing states like India and Pakistan could develop two types of ASATs by 2010. First, both states could create modified missile defense systems to intercept satellites. All missile defense interceptors have an inherent capability to intercept satellites in LEO. ... Second, both states might develop so-called "killer satellites" based on civilian microsatellite technology. ( More ... ) Lewis, Jeffrey. What if Space Were Weaponized? Possible Consequences for Crisis Scenarios. Washington, D.C.: Center for Defense Information, July 2004. [ 16 quotes ] [ page 29 ]
India is a state that may pursue ASAT capabilities, if other states do so first. The chief of the Indian Air Force, S. Krishnaswamy, recently remarked that: "Any country on the fringe of space technology like India has to work towards such a command as advanced countries are already moving towards laser weapons platforms in space and killer satellites." Pakistan has a much smaller industrial base, but has long attempted to match Indian deployments -- particularly in military matters. Pakistan is likely to emulate Indian ASAT efforts, given the enmity between the two countries and the relative advantage that India derives from the use of space for military operations. Lewis, Jeffrey. What if Space Were Weaponized? Possible Consequences for Crisis Scenarios. Washington, D.C.: Center for Defense Information, July 2004. [ 16 quotes ] [ page 29 ]
TEHMINA JANJUA (Pakistan) said that the growing dependence of the international community on outer space, as well as its immense potential for communications technologies and their impact on communities around the globe, showed that the peaceful use of outer space was in the interest of all mankind. Concerns about the weaponization of outer space were growing, however, and the consequences if they failed to prevent weaponization in outer space were immense. The Conference on Disarmament was the sole negotiating disarmament forum and had the duty to address this issue. The multilateral agreements in place did not fully address the gravity of the issue, and did not fully take into account advances that had taken place. There was a need for a new legal instrument to fill those gaps. ( More ... ) United Nations - Conference on Disarmament. "Conference on Disarmament Hears Statements from 17 States on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space." . February 13, 2007.