CENTRE FOR DETERRING PROXY WARS (CDPW)

Disruptive Thought: From Reactive Doctrine to Pre-emptive Strategy—Flipping the Paradigm from Victimhood to Global Leadership in Grey-Zone Warfare

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: BEYOND FIREPOWER—INDIA'S GRAND STRATEGY FOR HYBRID WARFARE

Conventional militaries are built to deter nations. But the 21st century’s battlefield is cluttered with proxy fighters, state-sponsored militias, digital disinformation, cyber sabotage, and irregular militias. These threats don’t wear uniforms or raise flags—they break rules while governments play by them.

India has learned to respond. Now it's time to lead.

We propose the creation of a Centre for Deterring Proxy Warfare (CDPW)—a first-of-its-kind, state-backed hybrid warfare command and export hub. This initiative will position India as the global thought leader, trainer, and solution provider for over 80 nations grappling with proxy conflicts.

WHY IS THIS DISRUPTIVE?

1. India Flips from Victim to Vanguard

Most countries—including India—have historically been reactive to proxy threats. This centre proposes pre-emptive thinking and offensive positioning, turning proxy warfare into a global consulting and training opportunity.

India stops guarding the fence and starts designing the battlefield.

2. Productizing Strategy + Hardware

Unlike the West, which exports weapons and leaves strategy local, India offers a battle-tested bundle: military hardware + intelligence models + psychological warfare playbooks.

We don’t just arm our allies—we teach them to think like us.

3. The World’s 80+ Proxy Conflicts Become India’s Market

From Nigeria to Myanmar, Syria to Sudan—nations are grappling with asymmetric threats. India positions itself as the only democracy with both experience and scalable solutions.

Instability becomes India’s opportunity to export peace—on its terms.

4. Decolonizing Global Security Doctrine

Current hybrid warfare models come from NATO, RAND, or retired generals from the West. India brings indigenous experience—Pulwama, Uri, Balakot, Manipur, Kashmir—and crafts doctrine rooted in non-Western, real-world insights.

India’s doctrine reflects its own battles—not someone else’s PDFs.

5. Institutionalizing Unconventional Thinking

The proposed Centre is not a ceremonial institution. It will be a think-tank, war-lab, simulation centre, and export agency. It will train allies, shape narratives, and develop military-grade hybrid playbooks.

It’s not just research—it’s readiness. Not just knowledge—it’s leverage.

WHAT WILL THIS CDPW DO?

• Develop hybrid warfare playbooks based on Indian experience (e.g., Balakot strikes, insurgency management in J&K & Northeast)

• Export counter-insurgency packages: drones, cyber tools, electronic surveillance, psychological ops, intel workflows

• Train global defenCe personnel in covert, irregular, and hybrid war strategies

• Run real-time simulation labs and war-gaming zones

• Act as India's geo-strategic think tank for asymmetric warfare

GLOBAL BENCHMARKS: NATO’S CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

NATO Hybrid Warfare Centre of Excellence (Helsinki, Finland)

Focuses on threats like disinformation, cyber-attacks, economic coercion, and non-linear conflict strategies. However, its structure is Western-oriented and not rooted in lived, ground-level conflict like India’s.

Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)

Conducts high-level policy and military research on asymmetric threats, terrorism, and deterrence—but remains focused primarily on its immediate region.

U.S. Irregular Warfare Center (IWC)

Launched to realign U.S. defense policy toward grey-zone operations—includes training and doctrinal input but lacks integration with civilian societal response models that India could pioneer.

NATO Centre for Strategic Communication (Riga, Latvia) 

Focuses on information warfare

India’s CDPW

Would serve the Global South, aligned to different challenges and realities.

• India’s advantage lies in actual deployment, not just simulation. Our forces have handled real insurgencies and cross-border terrorism for decades. This is our unique edge.

STRATEGIC IMPACT

• Positions India as the epicenter for counter-proxy warfare expertise

• Creates a new defence export stream—knowledge, training, tools

• Reinforces India’s soft power through strategic depth

• Builds a new class of military entrepreneurs and defence strategists

CONCLUSION: DISRUPT THE PROXY GAME BEFORE IT DISRUPTS US

Conventional deterrence has run its course. In an era where WhatsApp messages can start riots, and non-state actors can hold armies hostage, India must lead with unconventional precision. The Centre for Deterring Proxy Warfare is more than a think tank. It’s India’s claim to the most relevant military doctrine of our age.

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