Indian Defence Review

Coming - Another Kargil Anniversary

Come July 26, India will celebrate Op ‘Vijay’ Diwas; another anniversary synonymous with the date of culmination of the Kargil Conflict during 1999. There will be wreath laying at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, and much bigger ceremony to pay homage at the Kargil War Memorial at Dras in J&K in presence next of kin...

UNHRC on Kashmir: Wrong Diagnosis, Unwanted Prescription

In June 2018, UNHRC released a first ever report on Kashmir regarding alleged human rights violations and abuses on both sides of the Line of Control recommending a Commission of Inquiry. The uncalled for report of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr Zeid was highly prejudiced, based on inadequate inputs and...

Tejas Delayed – is it by design?

Media reports, Tejas, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) has missed yet another deadline of getting its final operational clearance (FOC) by June 2018, 35 years after approval of the LCA project in 1983 This is after several revisions and repeated declarations by the government that FOC will be given by June...

UNHRC on Kashmir: Wrong Diagnosis, Unwanted Prescription

"Kashmir killing Pakistan" – Former R&AW Secretary

The obsession with Kashmir from the very inception of Pakistan in 1947 has had a defining influence on the Pakistani polity. Within months of the creation of Pakistan the country chose to adopt perfidious ways to annex Kashmir by sending in the so called raiders in October of that year. India’s response thwarted the...

Major blow to Indo-US Ties

The US-India two plus two dialogue (2+2 dialogue) was scheduled for July 6 and was going to be the first simultaneous meeting of Indian and American defence and external affairs ministers — Nirmala Sitharaman and Sushma Swaraj from India, and James Mattis and Michael Pompeo from the United States – in a format that...

Tejas Delayed – is it by design?

Empowered Committee – evaluating rifles, carbines?

On July 3, 2018 media reported that Ministry of Defence (MoD) had sent a team of military experts headed by a Brigadier to five countries to scout for rifles and carbines. The nine-member “Empowered Committee” reportedly left on June 30 for the Australia, Israel, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and the US. They...

IAF Fighter Fleet in Crisis

Clearly evident in Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa’s statements was the fact that the threat from both China and Pakistan, including a possible two-front war is real. The emphasis was on the need to quickly reach the strength of 42 combat squadrons from this near all-time low of 33. The 15 years transform roughly to 2032...

Coming - Another Kargil Anniversary

Situation in Kashmir is improving with every passing year

Nitin Pai, Director of the Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy, has recently written an opinion piece on Kashmir titled, “What Kautilya would have prescribed for the Kashmir problem.” The piece has been carried by The Print on 30, June, 2018 and subsequently by...

The unbearable stench of ‘Tukde-Tukde’ Gang

Recently, at a function in a university in Kashmir, some students displayed deliberate disdain of the national anthem. These young boys ensured that nobody rose in respect when the national anthem was played. This was condoned by a segment of intellectuals, who dubbed it as misdemeanor of the youth. The same...

Maiden Ground Run of First Green ALH Dhruv Mk-III for Indian Coast Guard

HAL Conducts Maiden Ground Run of First Green ALH Dhruv Mk-III for Indian Coast Guard; First Time A Contract with ICG on PBL Support The first green helicopter earmarked for Indian Coast Guard has completed its build with installation of basic systems and had a successful maiden ground run here today. It was handed over...

LCA Tejas: Time to go Indigenous?

By placing an order for 123 LCA Tejas Mk1/1A and a commitment for the Mk-2 variant, the IAF has encouraged indigenous production of combat aircraft. This time, the IAF must not kill indigenous combat aircraft design capability the way it did after the HF-24 Marut project. The LCA Tejas project may have numerous flaws,...

Russian Helicopters overhauled 6 helicopters of the Indian Border Security Force

Russian Helicopters Holding Company (part of Rostec State Corporation) delivered six Mi-17-1V helicopters to the Border Security Force of the Republic of India. The helicopters were overhauled at Novosibirsk Aircraft Repair Plant (NARP). “NARP performs activities associated with the repair and overhaul of Mi-8/17...

India needs to recalibrate its South Asia policy

In recent years, some countries in SAARC which earlier had deep strains with India, have sought to improve ties with...

Iran Sanctions: India’s Options

Once again, India is caught in the middle of a conflict between the US and Iran. During the earlier round of...

Kargil Controversy: IAF on the Ghosts of Kargil

When the Pakistani Northern Light Infantry, officered by the regular Pak Army, reeling under incessant day and night attacks, both from air and surface, fled in complete disarray from the occupied heights during the Kargil war, they left behind the bodies of their comrades-in-arms, an act considered most shameful in the annals of warfare. The bodies were later buried with full military...

An Empire and its Nervous Periphery

China has been expanding its boundaries to fulfil its dream of becoming the world’s most powerful nation. But the picture is not rosy. Resentment among the best of China’s friends is growing. Since the new Emperor sat on the throne in Beijing in 2012, the Middle Kingdom has...

Pakistan: The Army Rules while charade of Democracy Continues

In the course of history there are innumerable instances of political power being usurped through deceit. The world has seen proxy rulers, all powerful regents to monarchs, alternative power centers et al. In the modern context, where democracy and empowerment of the people has...

China's Game Plan to Ease Out US- Suceeding?

China for decades has chafed at the overwhelming geopolitical and military predominance that the United States had superimposed in the Western Pacific at China’s doorsteps. China for decades has employed various geopolitical and military stratagems to prompt the exit of the...

Dialogue a must to prevent escalations along volatile India-Pakistan border

The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of Pakistan and India re-affirmed their commitment last month to follow the 2003 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) ‘in letter and in spirit.’ This was a much desired outcome because there has been a manifold increase in ceasefire violations (CFVs) over the past few years. This ceasefire commitment came in the month of Ramzan, like in 2003, when Pakistan had announced a ceasefire across the...