Pakistan tests Nasr, army chief Bajwa says missile puts cold water on India's Cold Start

The Pakistan Army today test launched a surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, speaking on the sidelines of the launch, said Nasr pours "cold water on cold start". 

Highlights

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  Pakistan military test launches Nasr.
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  Nasr is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
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  "Nasr puts cold water on cold start," the Pakistan Army chief said.

The Pakistan Army today said it successfully tested 'Nasr', a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile and weapons system.
The training launch, witnessed by Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, was undertaken to validate new technical parameters of the missile that enhance its range from 60 kilometers to 70 kilometers.
Speaking on the sidelines of Nasr's launch, General Bajwa took a swipe at the Indian Army saying, "Nasr has put cold water on cold start".
The Pakistan Army chief was referring to  the Indian Army's Cold Start doctrine, a theoretical operational plan that would allow Indian troops to quickly seize Pakistani territories without risking a nuclear conflict.
Notably, the existence of Cold Start was denied officially until very recently. During an interview with India Today in January this year, General Bipin Rawat became the first Indian Army chief to acknowledge Cold Start.
"The Cold Start doctrine exists for conventional military operations. Whether we have to conduct conventional operations for such strikes is a decision well-thought through, involving the government and the Cabinet Committee on Security," General Rawat had said then.
'BELLIGERENT NEIGHBOUR'
General Bajwa, in comments published by the Pakistan military's media wing, seemingly termed India "belligerent". Without naming India, Bajwa said Pakistan's strategic capability is a guarantee of peace against a highly militarised and increasingly belligerent neighbour.
"Our strat cap (strategic capability) is a guarantee of peace agnst (against) belligerent neighbour & only meant to ensure, no one thinks war remains an option", Bajwa was quoted as saying by the official spokesperson of the Pakistan military, Major General Asif Ghafoor.
The Inter Services Public Relation's release further went on to say, "Pakistan will go to any length to ensure regional peace and stability. We wholeheartedly support all government efforts at peace through dialogue. Our capability is only meant to ensure, no one thinks war remains an option."
"This weapon system (Nasr) will augment credible deterrence against prevailing threat spectrum more effectively, including anti missile defenses. NASR is a high precision weapon system with the ability of quick deployments," ISPR further said.
WHAT IS COLD START?
Cold Start is the name given to an Indian Army doctrine that would, theoretically, allow the Army to quickly mobilise its Strike Corps and seize Pakistani territory or inflict damage on Pakistani defence posts.
The idea behind Cold Start is that the Indian Army would be able to quickly penetrate deep into Pakistani territory even as the neighbouring country scrambles to shore up its defences.
The theoretical lightening-quick attack would then allow New Delhi to end a hypothetical conflict as the victor.
The doctrine was birthed after the failed Operation Parakram when the Indian Army moved its Strike Corps to the border in a massive exercise that was in response to the 2001 Parliament attack.
However, the lumbering Indian Strike Corps took too long to fall into position at the border, allowing Pakistan to ramp up its defences.
The Cold Start doctrine aims to avoid a repeat of the slow-moving Parakram mobilisation by placing smaller, agile units closer to the border.