Blogs
Taliban 2.0 may just be floundering along
As Pakistan gasps for a fiscal bailout and external assistance from a reluctant IMF, neighbouring Afghanistan has been witnessing much worse. The promised version of…
Perform to survive: Why defence production should be corporatised
While defence forces are combating People’s Liberation Army (PLA), in most challenging terrain and hostile weather, its oldest component Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) had decided…
Restore fauji ecosystem
The top Army leadership is holding its bi-annual conference, concurrently, veterans WhatsApp groups are witnessing unprecedented spewing of venom. There is wide spread apprehension that…
Governing and securing critical strategic corridors
The title of Robert D Kaplan’s famous book, ‘The Revenge of Geography’ readily comes to mind when we take stock of our critical strategic spaces.…
Defence upgrade and pensions not zero sum game
In a recent media interaction, proposed reforms in terms of service and graded pensions were outlined. Surprisingly, some documents outlining these proposals were even leaked…
Vijay Diwas: It’s time to look East
It is time for nostalgia and revisiting the tales of sacrifice and valour as we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the 1971 victory. December 16,…
Coping with Chinese techno-psy war
As we crystal gaze security challenges likely in 2021, it is appropriate to recall the major trends of last year. Despite the Covid pandemic, China…
‘Chinese checkers’: Preparing for the summer onslaught
There has been a flurry of visits to the LAC by members of the top military hierarchy, including Ladakh and Arunachal. Such forays amidst the…
Quest for ‘atmanirbhar’ modernisation of forces
India is grappling with an aggressive Dragon in the north, with uneasy stalemate on LAC beginning to acquire LoC type character. Hence, expectations from defence…
We need strategic awareness instead of quixotic jingoism
Gathering war clouds seem to have cleared out on both LoC and LAC, bringing to mind the famous analogy used by former PM Vajpayee during…
‘Weed out corruption in officer induction, introduce reforms’
The Selection Centre, North, in Kapurthala has gained notoriety even before its move to permanent location in Ropar. There are strident demands to wind it…
Dealing with gladiator syndrome in Khaki
The current month has been disastrous for the reputation of police forces, with the ongoing sordid drama of Mumbai police, followed by Bijapur ambush. It…
Territorial Army model, youth as enablers in tough times of pandemic
The country is battling a health emergency triggered by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. Two years ago, during a talk on national security challenges,…
Re-imagining nat’l security in post-pandemic times
May is turning out to be a very ominous month indeed due to the recurring crisis, a “triple whammy” of sorts. In May 1999, we…
Saluting spirit of empowered citizen warriors in Covid times
As India limps back to a semblance of normalcy, some heartwarming stories shine through the pall of gloom and despair. Three examples of administrators readily…
Standoff in Ladakh: Defining reality check
One year after the Ladakh stand-off, it is axiomatic to take stock, analyse shortcomings and options to chart the way forward. Unfortunately, major focus is…
Theaterisation imbroglio requires resolution post-haste
It was indeed bold, on part of the government, to kick-start delayed reforms for integration of defense forces. Institution of combined defence services (CDS) and…
Indian role in Afghan peace process
Tokyo summer Olympics got off to somewhat hesitant start, under the looming shadow of obstinate pandemic. Media attention, however, is divided, focused on another round…
Recalibrating South Asian alliances
China recently launched China Poverty Alleviation and Cooperation Development Centre (CPAC-DC), as part of CCP centenary celebrations. It managed to incorporate diplomatic representatives, of all…
Seeking clarity on Taliban 2.0 and Afghan-Pakistan situation
Great game is an addictive affliction, having engineered ignominious defeat of most external forces, except Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In Higher Command (2001-02), my dissertation was…
We should aim for Sams and Sagats for top brass
Media reports indicated that government intends to adopt merit as the new criteria for selection of top leadership in armed forces. This assertion itself is…
Afghanistan is turning into a horror show
The recent 21st Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit meeting in Dushanbe has once again brought to the fore the unresolved imbroglio in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra…
Making sense of the many layers of fauji secularism
There has been an ongoing debate on perceived dilution of secular practices in Army. The catalyst has been video footage of attestation parade, later described…
Lopsided public discourse in social media era
India has recorded phenomenal mushrooming of think tanks, with a 120% increase in their numbers in the last three years. According to global rating agency,…
Regaining a sense of relevance in Afghanistan maelstrom
Afghanistan is reeling under ever worsening humanitarian maelstrom with harsh winter, pandemic and famine. The disaster is compounded by inept Taliban government, struggling to find…
A wake up call by Hornbill from the NE
December is the most special month in the North East (NE). It starts with the Hornbill, dubbed as the ‘festival of festivals’, culminating in Christmas.…
Carrying forward legacy of India’s 1st CDS
In a devastating blow, nation lost our first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Bipin Rawat, Madhulika, his wife, Brig LS Lidder and 13 others…
Spooking manoeuvres and legacy of ‘Ghost Regiment’
Army units strive for ‘naam’ (recognition) and legacy. These come in the shape of Army Chief’s and Army Commander’s citations. The most coveted ones are…
Punjab at crossroads in run-up to assembly polls
Dark ominous clouds are once again looming over impending Punjab assembly elections. Bomb blast at Ludhiana, coupled with sacrilege incident at Harmandar Sahib brought back…
Choose ‘smart’ over ‘smart alec’ for conflict resolution strategies
India is gearing up for Amrit Mahotsava, but notwithstanding celebratory fervour, many conflicts within remain unresolved. The dominant mood being self-laudatory, honest introspection is hardlythe…
Pak’s 1st National Security Policy doesn’t spell out cogent road map
Pakistan has announced its first-ever and much-touted National Security Policy (NSP). The document spells out national security vision with vague guidelines for goals. It has…
Spats underline need for a policy on war memorials and ceremonials
War Memorials are monuments constructed to commemorate battles and sacrifices, basically to inspire future generations. Unfortunately, there was avoidable, petty squabbling on the recent shifting…
The Ukranian imbroglio
Defying prevailing world opinion, Russia has unleashed multi-pronged ‘Effects-based Operation’, on hapless Ukraine. It is being described as operation to ‘de-nazify’ Ukraine, unique description of…
Ukraine: Quagmire with no real winners
Conflict in Ukraine entered its second month and the offensive is bogged down in quagmire. The war has triggered grave humanitarian crisis and wanton destruction…
Pakistan stands at crossroads
The geostrategic environment around India has indeed become very murky and chaotic. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan are embroiled in flux and turbulence. Lankan…
Agnipath & lessons from recent conflicts
The unresolved stand-off in Ladakh has thrown up many lessons. Major one is limitations of much-touted technological asymmetry of PLA. There has been lampooning of…
Service pensions with grace and gratitude
In a country where soldiers are respected and much venerated, 58,275 veterans got a rude shock when their pensions were withheld on mere technical grounds…
Questions on Quad: Sea foam or Indo-Pacific Nato?
The 2004 tsunami, propelled the US, Japan, Australia and India, to form an informal Quad for humanitarian and disaster relief. The group had more than…
Reforms need deliberation and piloting
Veteran community is worried and venting angst on proposed major changes under the Tour of Duty (ToD) scheme, packaged as ‘Agnipath’ and ‘Agniveer’. They are…
Re-engaging with Taliban
Dastardly attack on Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul on May 25 virtually sounded death knell for multi-cultural character of Afghanistan. Another historic shrine, Gurdwara Har…
Ukrainian imbroglio presents new challenges for strategists
The senseless war in Ukraine festers, with no early end in sight. Russia’s so-called special operations, unleashed on February 24, is nearing five months of…
Lessons from Kargil conflict that need to be relearned
We are commemorating 23rd Vijay Diwas to celebrate our victory in a conflict that was prosecuted as reactionary limited war. This nomenclature is considerable improvement,…
A look at national security @75
As India celebrates 75 years of Independence with ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ and nationalism fervour, it is also appropriate to take dispassionate stock of our national…
Need ‘theatrisation’, not lead agency on China border
The recent media reports based on MHA input, attributed to a senior bureaucrat, implying that the Union government is considering a plan to give more…
Forever westward at crossroads
Amidst the buzz on setting up of theatre commands, the Western Command is celebrating 75 years of its raising, on September 15. As per media…
Remembering heroes of Haifa
War Memorials are ideally located in military areas or in spaces shielded from casual mobs. Having frequently visited Amar Jawan Jyoti, it is indeed gratifying…
New CDS at helm: Institutional reform with smart budgets is way forward
There has been flurry of reactions, on appointment of General Anil Chauhan as the second Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The most notable aspect is…
Why Beijing hit the reset on BRI & CPEC
President Xi Jinping, during the recent 20th National Congress of CCP, announced that China has achieved its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous…
Anarchy & imploding institutions in Pak
Former prime minister Imran Khan has resumed his Haqiqi-Azadi (real freedom) March — second edition from Lahore to Islamabad, after week-long suspension. The pause was…
Gen Bajwa legacy and Pakistan Army’s new chief
Pakistan is staring at an abyss and imploding chaos in the long-term, but in the near-term, next week is certainly likely to define the course…