Indian Defence Review

Disorientations of National Defence – I

“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” — Norman Cousins Key Neighbours: Innately Animus Inter-state and regional level political, economic and hegemonic rivalries have ever been the common features in the life of any nation. But the case with India is unique. In this case, rivalries stem from the...

Is Pakistan Mainstreaming Lashkar-e-Toiba Again?

In October 2019, the Asia Pacific Group (APG) published the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) of Pakistan which is an assessment of Pakistan’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing measures.1 The MER contained some scathing remarks on Pakistan’s superficial action to curb terrorism financing and money...

Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft for the IAF

The Indian Air Force (IAF) air strike across the international border to target a Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) camp 60 kilometres deep in Balakot, well beyond Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the air combat next day in which an IAF MiG-21 Bison reportedly shot down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 has again brought the...

Is Pakistan Mainstreaming Lashkar-e-Toiba Again?

Middle-East Conundrum and Indian National Security

The second decade of the 21st century has had an inauspicious start in the Middle East. The killing of an Iranian General in American drone strike has raised the temperatures in the Middle East to an intolerable level and an intensification of conflict in that theatre is very likely. India has two basic interests in the...

Dragon inveigles Naypyitaw

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Myanmar on January 17, 2019 carried the hallmarks of China’s strategy of planning and preparations decades in advance. Economic and military aid to Myanmar had been ongoing past several years with China investing in multiple projects including oil-gas pipeline from the Indian...

Disorientations of National Defence – I

Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft for the IAF

Republic Day 2020 – A Parade of Many Firsts

January 26 invokes a patriotic fervour in all of us. It is quite a show when the uniformed soldiers march in unison, freshly painted military equipment trundle down the Rajpath and the aircrafts make a fly past above. Braving a truant weather, thousands of citizens line up from Raisina to Red Fort to witness this...

Are We Missing Woods for Trees?

A recent statement of newly appointed Chief of Defence Statement Gen Bipin Rawat is being blown out of proportion. Like any concerned Indian, Gen Rawat had expressed his disquiet against growing radicalisation in the country which is targeted, particularly, at the youth for the obvious reasons. He had suggested that no...

Kashmiri Pandits offered three choices by Radical Islamists

On Jan, 04, 1990, a local Urdu newspaper, Aftab, published a press release issued by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, asking all Pandits to leave the Valley immediately. Al Safa, another local daily repeated the warning.These warnings were followed by Kalashnikov-wielding masked Jehadis carrying out military-type marches openly....

Kashmir: Lessons from the Rise and Fall of a Decorated Cop

For the J&K Police, which till now was being lauded for its resolute anti-militancy operations despite being targeted by terrorists, Dy SP Davinder Singh being caught red-handed while ‘escorting’ two high-profile Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists out of the Kashmir Valley has come as big shock and embarrassment....

Reforms in Defence Acquisition

Defence is a strategic component of Sovereign India and the Services have the onerous responsibility to discharge this ‘integrity’ mandate. The expenditure, that the country commits, though not in the ‘charged’ category, is nevertheless a holy cow in Parliamentary debates. It roughly accounts for 2% of India’s...

Defence Minister flags-off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from L&T’s Armoured System

Armoured Systems Complex is currently producing 100 ‘K9 Vajra-T’ 155 mm 52 Cal Self-propelled Tracked Howitzers under first major Make in India Program of the Indian Army All the 51 Guns have been dispatched ahead of schedule – a testimony to planning prowess and execution efficiency of L&T Defence Minister...

Lockheed Martin has appointed William Blair as Vice President and Chief Executive for India

Lockheed Martin has appointed William Blair as Vice President and Chief Executive for India. In this role, Mr. Blair will lead the growth and development of Lockheed Martin’s business in India and serve as the executive representative for all of Lockheed Martin’s programs, products and services in the country. He...

India and Israel Partnership is Comprehensive and Strategic in Nature:...

Dr Ron Malka is the Ambassador of Israel to India. In an exclusive interview to Manish Rai, Editor of Viewsaround...

26-January-2001: Lest We Forget

As we go into celebrating our 73 Republic Day, putting on display for the world to see, our culture alongside our...

Emerging Technologies in Contemporary Ocean Warfare

It is being widely debated that the revolution in science and technology and its role in military strategy would prove to be game changers in international politics and in the dynamics of international affairs. The impact of science and technology is such that they have provided enough scope for increasing military deterrence and its ever-increasing role in the security calculus of a nation is...

Army Chief has assured that nation remains secure in strong hands of its Armed Forces

The Indian nation celebrates Army Day on January, 15 every year with great fervour. January, 15 has a historical significance; it was on this day, in 1949, that the Indian Army divested itself from British control with General (later Field Marshal) K. M. Cariappa taking over as the...

Lessons for China

The just-concluded presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan might remain a turning point in the life of not only the island but the entire region. President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) defeated Han Kuo-yu from China-friendly Kuomintang by more...

Soleimani’s Killing Redefines US-Iran Rivalry

Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), was killed in an American drone strike at Baghdad Airport on January 03, 2020. General Soleimani was a senior and popular military figure in Iran. He was the...

2019: The Year that Was in Kashmir!

Looking back, one can safely say that the year gone by was a mixed bag for Jammu and Kashmir in both the political and security domains, as well as that the going wasn’t totally smooth because of many momentous issues that came up during 2019. On February 14, more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in one of the deadliest attacks in Kashmir’s Pulwama district when a local Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide...