Indian Defence Review

The 2018 Geneva Conference: Afghan Peace at crossroads?

The United Nations and the Afghan Government have come together to collaborate on the Geneva conference which was held from 27-28 November 2018. The Geneva conference was the third high-level international conference on Afghan peace since 2001. It was a ministerial level conference between the Afghan government and...

After BMS and F-INSAS, NFS Stymied

In 2004, Army’s Tactical Command, Control, Communications and Information (TAC C³I) system was taken up as part of Army’s quest for capacity building in netwok centric capabilities to fight modern day wars. Components of TAC C³I included the Battlefield Surveillance System (BSS), Battlefield Management System (BMS),...

Indo-Pakistan War 1971: The new generation must derive motivation from historical narratives

“Oye shera, agar tere varge afsar saadi fauj vich hon tan assi dunia di kisse vee fauj nu kacha kha jaiye.” (Hey Tiger, if officers like you were in our army we would eat up any army in this world). This remark was made by a Pakistan prisoner of war in East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) to an Indian officer,...

The 2018 Geneva Conference: Afghan Peace at crossroads?

JAI and the Quad

There is considerable excitement over the birth of ‘JAI’ – newest multilateral organization. As reported in the media on December 1, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the media ahead of the first ever trilateral Japan-India-America meeting on sidelines of the G-20 summit, held in Buenos Aires,...

War with Pakistan is the only solution

A few days ago, Cricketer Imran Khan asserted with all his religious belief and philosophy that “war is no solution over Kashmir.” This writer wishes to claim to the contrary – that war is the only solution over Kashmir. There are multiple reasons why Imran Khan would try to say what he did: He knows Pakistan...

After BMS and F-INSAS, NFS Stymied

Indo-Pakistan War 1971: The new generation must derive motivation from historical narratives

Theatre Commands suffer Monkey Bite

The monkey has bitten Theatre Commands again and is enjoying the catfight. The game has been ongoing for decades; monkey being the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and cats the three Services – or rather the Chiefs. The monkey is adept at throwing a carrot at the cats to create dissent, carrot being representational because...

India’s Rohingya Issue: A Chance to Strengthen National Security?

Refugee protection and national security should be seen as complementary and not conflicting state goals. Refugee protection is a current issue while, addressing the root cause, resolution and rehabilitation provides political and diplomatic capital. The threat of terrorist recruitment, conscription and violence, speak...

J&K not yet ripe for a Popular Government

Though the state was placed under Governor’s Rule on 20 June 2018, the state assembly was kept under suspended animation as permitted by the J&K Constitution. The Assembly was finally dissolved on 21 November putting at rest all attempts by the unholy alliance of NC-PDP-Congress to form a government to “safeguard...

Resigned to 1000 Cuts?

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat delivered a talk at a Think Tank in New Delhi on November 28. Salient points of his talk, as covered in the media reports are: • India should first resolve problems in J&K through integrated approach to tackle a hybrid war unleashed from across the border, instead of harbouring any...

LUH Clears 6 KMs Altitude Flight, Looks for High-altitude Cold Weather Trials

The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) has achieved an important milestone of flying at 6 km altitude here in Bengaluru, recently. The chopper was flown by Chief Test Pilot Wg. Cdr. (Retd) Unni K Pillai and Test Pilot, Wing Cdr (Retd) Anil Bhambhani. The flight was carried out under the envelope expansion tests and flying...

Vice Chiefs Financial Powers – and the intricacies within

The government has enhanced the financial powers of the Army, Navy and Air Force Vice Chiefs five times; from Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore for expediting the decision making process involved in the procurements of the Armed Forces. The MoD statement on the issue states, “The Defence Minister has taken this important...

Indian Army Inducts Its First M777 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers

The Indian Army celebrated receiving its first M777A2 Ultra Lightweight Howitzers (ULH) at an official handover ceremony today, a key step toward the modernizing and strengthening of the Indian Army’s artillery capabilities. The 155mm M777 systems will deploy to their first regiment in 2019. The gun systems, produced...

China’s Move Towards A Smart Military

After the World War and certainly after the end of the cold war, the US military started to maintain a clear...

Pakistan must eliminate terrorism to find road to prosperity

While so many acts of terrorism have taken place on Pakistani soil in recent years, killing hundreds of people,...

British ‘Divide and Rule’ Policy and The Indian Armed Forces

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” —Toni Morrison Present Oraganisation of Indian Armed Forces While serving in the Indian armed forces, I observed certain anomalies, weaknesses, drawbacks and practices in the of organisation, administration, philosophy and management, which are often an hindrance in smooth functioning....

The Holy Grail of Indian Judiciary

In delivering the judgement yesterday on the Rafael deal, the Supreme Court has decided not to stir muddy political waters further, but has given benefit of doubt to the government and IAF officers, who were called by the court to depose in an unprecedented manner. It has also...

Sardar Patel Narmada Trek 2018

The recently inaugurated statue of Sardar Valabh Bhai Patel in November 2018 has inspired a many. As India’s iron man stand tall amongst the masses, he still rules the hearts and minds of young Indians. The National Cadet Corps being the largest youth organization in this...

India's Nuclear Triad: Meeting the Deterrence Challenge

INS Arihant, part of Indian Navy’s (IN) Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at Visakhapatnam, and India’s first indigenous nuclear ballistic missile submarine recently became fully operational after completing its first deterrence patrol. This extended patrol capability adds...

Archaeology and politics

China has lately become very fond of archaeology though it is mainly a ‘political’ archaeology. On December 1, Xinhua published an article titled: ‘Qinghai-Tibet Plateau first conquered by humans at least 30,000 years ago.’ Does this mean that China conquered Tibet much earlier than thought? History books tell us that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Eastern Tibet on October 7, 1950. The news agency explained the earlier...