This is unlike most past military-diplomatic challenges that India—the world’s biggest importer of weapons—has faced. While being spoilt for choice with both the US and Russia queuing up to sell their military wares to India, it is being forced to walk the tightrope. While Russia wants to continue selling its weapons to India, the US is making a strong effort to ensure that India doesn’t buy Russian but only US weapons. India’s dilemma is made more complex by the fact that India, through its ‘Atmanirbharta’ or self-reliance plan, is trying to cut down its dependence on foreign military equipment and...