‘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 ongoing border crisis, besides raising the morale of troops on the ground, enable review of preparedness. The latter assumes greater relevance as there is considerable apprehension about the possible Chinese […]
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 Operation Prakram. Most soldiers who have to face the direct consequences of conflicts as well as informed experts see a silver lining in this, albeit tinged with some skepticism. Many […]
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 were jolted by Pakistan’s intrusions in Kargil. Last year, during the first wave of Covid, China unleashed a diabolic coercive strategy to grab territory in Ladakh, leading to confrontation, just […]
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 conscripts and Chinese fear of body bags. The ongoing war in Ukraine has once again highlighted limitations of Russian conscripts, as also their much trumped tech prowess. Ukrainian volunteers, armed […]