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The Evolving Indo-French Defence Cooperation: Implications for Pakistan

By Muhammad Ali Baig and Fakhar Alam

Abstract

The French presence in the Indian subcontinent began in the 17th century with the establishment of trading posts, which later evolved into settlements. This colonial legacy forms the basis of the modern Indo-French relationship, with military technology and economic cooperation as its main pillars. The Indo-French partnership is driven by mutual cost-benefit analyses. Where India aims to enhance its security and strategic autonomy, while France secures economic and geopolitical gains. Currently, India is modernizing its military systems with French defence equipment, including the Project-75 (P-75) Scorpene-class submarines, Dassault Rafale M fighter aircraft, and many others. The Scorpene-class submarines will bolster India’s underwater warfare capabilities and assist in deterrence patrolling. Meanwhile, the Rafale M fighter aircraft will improve India’s aerial combat readiness, providing advanced strike and air superiority capabilities. These military advancements provide India with a strategic upper hand, particularly in maintaining a strong maritime presence in the perceived Indo-Pacific region. Consequently, these developments increase the conventional asymmetry between India and Pakistan, entailing further military and economic implications for Pakistan. France’s equipment would be substantial in meeting New Delhi’s offensive warfighting aspirations against Pakistan. In addition, the Indo-French economic partnership is flourishing too, creating an exclusive economic bloc in the region. While the growing Indo-French partnership poses challenges for Pakistan, it also presents opportunities. Pakistan should employ rational strategies to address this evolving asymmetry by diversifying alliances and exploring collaborative opportunities with France.

This article was published in the BTTN Journal. Full article can be read here: https://bttn.org.pk/ojs/index.php/BTTN_Journal/article/view/145

Muhammad Ali Baig
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Mr Muhammad Ali Baig is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.

Fakhar Alam
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Fakhar Alam is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.

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Syed Ali Abbas is a Research Officer/Communication Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. Previously, he served as an associate editor at Indus News Network. His areas of interest include Middle East politics, military modernization, foreign policy, and nuclear politics. He has contributed to various platforms, including The National Interest, South Asian Voices, and others.

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Dr. Anum Riaz is the Associate Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Department of Political Science at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. She also possesses M.Phil. and M.Sc. degrees from the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. Additionally, she has taught BS and Master’s students at the Department of Political Science at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Her areas of interest include strategic studies, international relations, international nuclear politics, the nuclear non-proliferation regime, arms control and disarmament, as well as traditional and non-traditional security issues.

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Dr. Bilal Zubair has worked as an Assistant Professor at the National Defence University Islamabad and Lecturer at the National University of Science and Technology. He holds a Ph.D. and M. Phil. in International Relations from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. Dr. Zubair is author of the book Chinese Soft Power and Public Diplomacy in the United States (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) and contributed to several journal articles and book chapters focusing on soft power, diplomacy, and China’s role in international relations.

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Mobeen Jafar Mir is a Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. His research focuses on U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the areas of strategy, technology, and arms control. He is currently pursuing an M.Phil. in International Relations at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He can be found on Twitter @jafar_mobeen.

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