they have only a ground option... but it is unlikely India will ingress
they have suffered alot
the west does not want it's test tube baby india get beat to a pulp by Pakistan... they raising india against China
That...and IAF's confidence is shaken. IAF isn't sure if it can easily establish superiority or even keep parity with PAF. IAF's only chance would be(if it decided to continue) to just use their numbers and keep coming with all they got...over and over..and risk further losses...
...would that pose a risk to PAF...of course...
...there probably would be losses, issues with fleet maintenance as spare parts supplies run out...but this would be an issue for IAF as well...
..and when all is done and dusted...even if IAF manages to tie with PAF and both become non existent...
...well then it's open season for China to come and claim from India whatever it likes...bcuz it will never get such a golden opportunity again. India must always act keeping enough deterrence for China...
...if it loses too much man and material on a non China front...it is giving up its ability to defend against China...
Another important factor currently is the lack of appetite of any country to get a involved in a long drawn out war...
...in my personal opinion...if India and Pakistan go at it...in a drawn out scenario...
...China would supply Pakistan and West would supply India. Once both have exhausted themselves..China will put boots on the ground and take what it wants from Indian territory...West will sanction, threaten, complain...but never commit to a costly war with China(despite the tensions and hatred) in defense of India...
...India would be like Ukraine.
