Swift retort wasn't an escalation and we didn't respond since it wasn't actually an escalation.
Swift Retort essentially was a knock of a fighter squadron on border (and end up getting chased away by MiG-21) as a "face saver" in front of their population against deep in their country Balakot airstrike. Their only aim was to claim that they shot down an Indian plane without proof and convince their populace that Pak military is also upto something.
Abhinandan ruined entire small scale drama into escalation, by chasing them, shooting an F-16 and getting captured.
India immediately went aggressive for Abhinandan and pushed for escalation, threatened to fire missiles and destroy GHQ and start a full scale war, Pak immediately stepped back and started calling on "world powers" (US, UK and China) to "play their role" in reestablishing "peace" (bachao).
They immediately and unconditionally released Abhinandan for the reason.
"India must refrain from escalating the situation and enter into dialogue with Pakistan and Kashmiris," says minister.
www.dawn.com
Islamabad [Pakistan], October 31 (ANI): Pakistan lawmaker Ayaz Sadiq, who faced criticism from Pakistan government and Army for revealing that Imran Khan-led govt had released Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman fearing an imminent attack from India, said he stands by his statement, adding that...
www.aninews.in
Face savers, i.e. doing smaller scale things to declare Pakistan as India's equivalent is a usual practice of Pakistani establishment. Things just went out of their hands in 2019.
The gap between strategic capabilities of India and Pak has only grown larger and larger in past 40 years.
Pak's current "upgrades" include what has been rejected in India being called "substandard" or "underperforming" in 1990s.
Pak is not a direct military threat at least but definitely a station to divert India's attention. They will at least take a decade more so that economic gap between India and Pakistan can be large enough for India to treat Pakistan like Nepal and Sri Lanka.
As told before,
Pak's current "upgrades" include what has been rejected in India being called "substandard" or "underperforming" in 1990s.
The current 70 Odd F-16 and JF-17 what form their fleet of frontline fighters aren't even in medium category, leave alone heavy. So they don't have something for an air superiority role vis a vis India.
Yes, we indeed will have problem with attacks which is only going to be our role. Because in case of an India pak war, the onus will be on India to cross border as Pak can't get past Indian border at least. Conclusive action includes destroying enemy's air power and blocking its naval supplies to end aids to ground militaries before starting to wipe them off. That's why stupidest leaders from Pak since 1971 have avoided escalations enough to make India cross borders.
While comparing India and Pak build up, you also should be taking into account the goals and roles. India aspires to be a true great power with all homegrown advanced weaponry including TEDBF/AMCA/Astra 3/Indigenous MTA which would take time. Since a demoralized Pak convinced of it being smaller, won't move towards a full escalation with India, every passing is best peacetime day for India to focus on internal military industrial complex to close gap with US, Russia and China even if it costs a declining fleet for one more decade.
India has gradually made progress in space and aircraft industry since beginning of 21st century and it's only since late 2010s that we have seen significant results and are here coping and hoping about an entire independent industry producing TEDBF like fighters to substitute Rafael etc.. If India shifts focus on just greatly outnumbering Pak, it will be badly dwarfed by US and China in 2040s and 50s. We weren't even 10% of what we were in 1990s.
Once Tejas MWF enters production, it will become a primary workhorse being a midlight fighter like F-16 for every role till more things arrive. It will be transition of a permanent confidence into India as military aircraft producer like it became with PSLV in space after decades of struggle.
