excerpts: AI INTEGRATION IN INDIAN MILITARY: APPRAISAL OF SECURITY APPREHENSIONS FOR SOUTH ASIA
Vol. 38 No. 1 (2024): NDU Journal
In the last few years, Pakistan has taken visible steps towards technological development, emerging technologies and the integration of AI into its defence sector. Recognising the importance of AI for military advancement, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership have been on the same page, initiating multiple projects to incorporate AI into military modus operandi. However, compared to its competitors – notably India – Pakistan’s AI advancement and AI militarisation have not been up to par. Pakistan, despite commencing several projects and initiatives, has not achieved parity with India in AI militarisation.
Pakistan’s slow pace regarding the AI policy framework was seen when the Ministry of Information and Technology released its first AI draft, “National AI Policy,” this year35. Moreover, Pakistan has not yet released a public or official document underlining its strategy regarding integrating AI into its defence sector. Such a document, as released in the case of India, is immensely significant as it delineates the blueprints, approach and timeframe for such an endeavour. Pakistan has released no official policy or document deliberating the integration of AI in the defence sector, indicating that Pakistan falls behind its foes in this competition.
Furthermore, the country’s leadership has yet to unveil all AI militarisation projects, citing national security concerns. Only a limited number of such projects have been disclosed in the media. This has been a palpable issue as analysts need more data to examine and relate to regional security dynamics. Among the disclosed AI projects linked with Pakistan’s defence sector, the National Command Center (NCC) is the most prominent. NCC is equipped with a thoroughly automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS), which allows the higher command at NCC to have incessant cognisance of all strategic assets36. The National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS) is delegated the task of ensuring development in the cyber security field through AI integration. Additionally, Pakistan has created the National Center of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) located at the H-12 campus of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). NCAI is entrusted with ensuring innovation, research, and advancement in AI. This organisation is expected to assist Pakistan’s military in achieving its endeavours of AI militarisation.
In 2020, the Air Chief of Pakistan inaugurated the Center of AI and Computing (CENTRIC), a significant step towards incorporating AI into the Pakistan Air Force’s operational milieu. CENTRIC will facilitate the development of sensory fusion technology for the Pakistan Air Force that would assimilate sensory data from several sources, including cameras and radars, thus enabling PAF to analyse large volumes of data speedily. CENTRIC will also conduct research in Machine Learning, Big Data, Predictive Analysis, Deep Learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP).37 It is also expected to enhance the arsenal of the Pakistan Air Force by fostering the development of fifth-generation stealth fighter jets and medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAVs. Besides this organisational development, AI is already employed in almost all strategic assets for security objectives, including digital retina scans, thumb impressions and facial recognition software.
Pakistan has also procured AI-enabled military systems from China, including Wing Long II UAV and LY-80 surface-to-air missiles. Over the years, Pakistan has made significant strides in UAVs, including Shahpar, Ababeel, Mukhbar, Uqab and Buraaq, as it has indigenously developed UAVs38. Carrying on the tradition of introducing new technological advancement, Pakistan launched the latest version of Shahpar – Shahpar II, a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)39. In addition, Pakistan has also made progress in incorporating AI into its missile program, which is signified by its recent missile system, namely Shaheen III and Ababeel ballistic missiles and Ra’ad cruise missiles. These missiles have noteworthy attributes such as Multiple Independently Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs) and terminal guidance systems.
This assortment of AI-supported weapon systems indicates Pakistan’s advancement in AI and the integration of AI in the defence sector. With its limited resources, Pakistan has made tremendous achievements in AI militarisation over the past few years. However, this progress has not been realised at the required pace to ensure parity with India’s strategic rival. Pakistan lags behind India and other major powers in this competition of integrating AI in the defence sector for many reasons. The meagre condition of Pakistan’s economy has been a significant factor in impeding Pakistan’s accelerated AI advancement and its assimilation into the military domain. The feeble culture of research and innovation has also obstructed the prospects of new developments in AI and AI militarisation. In addition, the country’s leadership realised the importance of AI for the defence sector considerably later than its competitor, India, which already had the launching pad available for AI militarisation in the form of an established IT industry. The absence of an official policy document underlining Pakistan’s strategy towards AI integration in the defence sector and limited disclosure of AI militarisation projects manifest the shortcomings in Pakistan’s attempt to compete with India in the concerned race.