Indian Defence Review

US sanctions on Iran can hamper World Peace

The reasons offered by President Donald Trump for his abrupt withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) i.e. the Iran nuclear deal on May 8, 2018- were many, such as, • Its sunset clause (the deadline date given to Tehran providing it the liberty to free itself from the contractual bindings...

North Korea and the musings in Capitol Hill

Soon after Kim Jong-un, DPRK’s Supreme Leader returned from his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, DPRK fired two short-range ballistic missiles within the space of a week. The first missile was fired on May 4 and two on May 9. The missiles fired from Kusong City, with launch overseen by Kim,...

In Search of a Trigger this Summer

Come summer and coinciding with the “Durbar” move, it has almost become a routine that the Valley is set on fire by the elements inimical to the return of normalcy and peace in Kashmir. Continuation of Kashmir as a conflict zone with disturbed law and order situation suits many vested interests for whom continued...

US sanctions on Iran can hamper World Peace

North Korea and the musings in Capitol Hill

Japan-Russia dilemma over the territorial dispute

Relations between Russia and Japan have strained mainly due to the issue of obstinate territorial dispute between the two nations over the Southern Kuril Islands. Peace talks between Japan and Russia have remained at halt ever since the World War II. Soviet forces had seized the four Islands off the coast of Hokkaido at...

Firepower needs willpower: "GOCO” – free gifts for private sector

• The Indian Army is facing an acute deficiency of ammunition and spares. Almost 60-70 % of the army’s inventory is out-of-date and unserviceable due to lack of spares for repair, maintenance, and overhaul. • According to an internal audit – the Army is facing a critical shortage of artillery ammunition, tanks...

IAF receives its first Apache AH-64E helicopter

First AH-64E (I) – Apache Guardian helicopter was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force at Boeing production facility in Mesa, Arizona, USA on 10 May 19. Air Marshal AS Butola, represented the Indian Air Force and accepted the first Apache in a ceremony at Boeing production facility, representatives from US...

Surgical Strikes-Avoidable Debate

In the ongoing elections for the Indian Parliament, “Surgical Strikes” have become a bone of contention. Modi government used the surgical strikes carried out by Indian Army in September 2016 and Indian Air Force (IAF) in February 2019 to create a hysteria of nationalism by telling the nation that “we” (Indian...

In Search of a Trigger this Summer

Beyond Defence Deals: The Alchemy of Elections

There is a consensus that the NDA government (2014-2019) has followed broadly the same path of economic liberalisation as the UPA government during (2004-2014). To be fair to the NDA, they have not whittled down the scope of employment generating programs like MNREGA, which has been the biggest social sector initiative...

Political Olympics of J&K

Olympics come every five years, and so do the Political Olympics in J&K. In a pre-election interview to media, BJP President Amit Shah has stated that if the BJP gains majority in the coming elections, Article 370 will be abrogated. The Twitterati questions are “pray sir, hasn’t BJP been ruling the country with...

INS Vela: The Fourth Scorpene Class Submarine

Vela, the fourth Scorpene class submarine being constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched on 06 May 2019, by Mrs Veena Ajay Kumar, wife of Dr Ajay Kumar, IAS, Secretary Defence Production, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Vice Admiral AK Saxena, CWP&A was also present...

India’s Defence Forces: A 5 Years Review

Though present dispensation has utilized the available meager resources quiet diligently-achieving far more in much less. Lest we lose sight, it would be very much in context to mention about the presentation made by Vice Chief, Lt Gen Sharad Chand to Parliamentary Committee last year. In which, he had expressed an...

Russian Helicopters presented a mockup of the VRT500

The design bureau VR-Technologies, subsidiary of Rostec’s Russian Helicopters holding company, presented a mockup of the light multi-purpose helicopter VRT500 at the Fuorisalone exhibition (part of the Milan Design Week, held April 8–14). The helicopter model is presented at the exhibition of ItalDesign, which was...

General Elections: Unsavoury incidents tarnishing image of Armed Forces

Exercising their voting rights has emerged as yet another challenge that the soldiers of the nation face in their...

Proscription of Masood Azhar: Significance and aftermath

So, the world has finally realised that Masood Azhar is a terrorist! One wonders about the reason behind this...

Is Pak chopping its own foot?

The headlines in every Pak newspaper last week was the press conference conducted by the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), General Asif Ghafoor. In his press conference he covered all issues, political and military, conveying the message that the army remains in control and are the decision makers. These included the ongoing agitation by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement...

China’s vulnerability to terrorism behind its support for Azhar ban

Undoubtedly, India’s relentless and intense diplomacy coupled with international pressure has succeeded in pushing China to designate Masood Azhar as a UN proscribed terrorist. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s visit to China on 21-22 April and his presentation of an...

China hopes that Gyaltsen Norbu will take a firm political stand

On May 5, China’s top political advisor Wang Yang met with the Chinese-selected 11th Panchen Lama Gyaltsen Norbu in Beijing. According to Xinhua, the Panchen Lama presented Wang a white khata (ceremonial scarf) and briefed the chairman of the Chinese People’s Political...

Destabilizing the Neighbourhood

Imran Khan’s comments while on his visit to Iran opened a can of worms. He stated, ‘I know Iran has suffered from terrorism (perpetrated) by groups operating from Pakistan. …we (need to) have trust in each other that both countries will not allow any terrorist activity from...

Terrorist Azhar's blacklisting a turning point in South Asia's politics?

For a decade Masood Azhar was cast as the touchstone of Pakistan-China friendship and flag-bearer in a proxy war on India. That finally ended on Wednesday when Beijing wilted under growing international pressure and revulsion towards terrorism and agreed to the United Nations Security Council sanctions committee branding him the terrorist he is. China’s retreat from providing international protection for the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief and...