Beginning in March 2004, Cold Start was extensively tested. The assessment of senior army commanders was that Cold Start had been validated even though the scenario had involved actions (attacks into Pakistan) that crossed stated Pakistani red lines.21 These exercises were not conducted with the participation of civilian policymakers; no one appears to have tested the willingness of political leaders to issue orders to send the Indian Army across the border in force, nor, at least in their unclassified form, did anyone explore likely Pakistani responses.
