India has some elements of force projection but a totally broken and severely unequipped military to even defend against our neighbors.
I mean, its like having on arm muscular but rest of the body paralyzed.
Your disdain for Indian war-making potential is stuff of SFO legends. No one knows really.
Results should speak for themselves & we have lost this round (while lizard-Shee won without PLA firing a round), thanks to Cheeni BioWarfare lizards have unleashed across the globe. So, can't say that you are misconstruing it completely.
Many patriotic Indians are disappointed, embarrassed & concerned. However, this isn't end of the road of India. A battle is not a war. And here, there hasn't been any battle either. We have been under-equipped for over 3 decades, for reasons evident to all - blame Maino family connections with Italian arm-dealers. The gun was good though, & proved its mettle.
We need to make up for all that past neglect & well-entrenched complacency by stocking up & finally getting serious about modernization, before we embark upon any foolhardy, ill-timed, precocious mission - in order to minimize human costs & maximize our gains. In IA parlance,
at a time & place of our choosing.
Despite the institutional weaknesses & our evident incapacity to strike back now apparent to all & the alleged cover-up (something we do the
least among comity of nations), I still trust & support our current leadership - both their intention as well as capability to herald, usher in epochal, transformational changes.
Though, their capacity (or lack of it, if you will) to tame the babu's is a matter of contention & something to watch out for.
If anyone, only the current leadership can stem the rot. Just wish that this Indian Leadership remains hale & hearty, moreso in these testing hours. Parrikar Sir was such an unfortunate, irreparable loss.