Indian Defence Review

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...

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...

Middle-East Conundrum and Indian National Security

Dragon inveigles Naypyitaw

Is China-Myanmar Economic Corridor turning out to be another CPEC for India?

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Myanmar on January 18, 2020 at a time when it was struggling global criticism over its treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority. It is learnt that the two countries two sides signed 33 memorandums of understanding, agreements, exchange letters and protocols, 13 of which were related...

1971 War: Battle of Sylhet-The first Special Heli Borne Operation

The first Special Heli-Borne Operation of the Indian Army was not a pre-planned operation. It just popped up, out of nowhere and was executed exceptionally well by a small team of 10 Mi-4 helicopters led by Group Captain Chandan Singh. The operation was a brain child of the legendary Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Sagat...

14-16th Dec 1971 - Inside Enemy Camp

Late night 14th December 1971, Peshawar, West Pakistan. General Yahya Khan, then President of Pakistan was giving a party in his newly constructed house. There were a few selected guests and a Bengali woman Mrs. Shammim (also known as Black Pearl) was one of those chosen ones. She was Gen Yahya’s latest `close`...

Importance of Data Mining for Operational Efficiency

As world in general begins to move towards widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI for short) authentic data becomes increasingly important. Battlefields of the future are no exception. But for the AI to be effective in any field, the necessary input data is essential. It is often said that ‘data is the new...

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....

To challenge status quo J&K needs new age, dynamic, baggage-free leadership

The need for a dynamic leadership to chart out the course of new Jammu and Kashmir that is emerging post reorganisation has been spoken of by many academicians and intelligentsia. In fact, one of the objectives of intensive grass root level elections that have been held in the state for the Panchayats, Municipal...

Reforms in Defence Acquisition

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...

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...

Relevance of Arthashastra in the 21st Century

There is possibly a misconception in the Western world that ancient India was ignorant of aspects such as strategy,...

Afghanistan has changed but Taliban hasn’t: Afghan Envoy

Mr Tahir Qadiry is Afghanistan’s envoy to India (Charge d’Affaires). In an exclusive interview to Manish Rai, Editor of Viewsaround and a geo-political analyst spoke about various issues concerning Afghanistan. Following is the detailed interview of Mr Qadiry conducted at Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi. Question 1- Do you think recent escalation between United States and Iran will be...

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...