Indian Defence Review

New “Start” Renewal Hits an Impasse

Post-World War I, Germany was forced to disarm. But during 1930s, Germany again became belligerent and the world suffered in World War 2. Post-World War 1, Germany’s weapons were destroyed but the underlying causes of conflict were not. This example illustrates that that there is no simple “cause and effect”...

Beijing’s Humla in Nepal

China has done a silent territorial ‘humla’ (attack in Hindi) on Nepal by usurping the land of Humla, a part of Karnali Pradesh – one of the 77 districts of Nepal. The boundary pillars went mysteriously missing and having constructed nine buildings on the village land, China quietly redrew its map that displays this...

Accession Day with a Difference

26th October is a red letter day in Indian history. On this day in 1947 the then ruler of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir finally signed the Instrument of Accession (IOA) paving way for merger of the princely state with India. The delay in signing the Instrument of Accession and its subsequent implications leading...

New “Start” Renewal Hits an Impasse

Beijing’s Humla in Nepal

Accession Day with a Difference

Air Defence of India: Evolving Options

Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) attempted a large force ‘reposte’ on February 27, 2019, in response to Indian Air Force’s (IAF) deep air strikes on targets in Balakot. The PAF launched a 24-aircraft force comprising F-16, JF-17 and Mirage-V in a wide area on India’s Western border in broad daylight. They included...

INS Kavaratti: A Versatile Anti-Submarine Warfare Platform

“Indian Naval Ship Kavaratti”, the last in the series of four Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvettes’ (ASWC) built for the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, a Mini Ratna Category 1 & leading shipyard of the country, under Project 28, was commissioned today. GRSE had...

Fighting a Two Front Collusive War

‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’ in Latin means ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’. India learned this the hard way in 1962, but learnt it well, as demonstrated by its resounding victory in 1971, the biggest after WW II. One may wonder why we are discussing this subject now, even though the threat has existed for...

Kashmir: Self appointed, self serving leadership is now in self preservation mode

In the wake of the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and abrogation of Article 370, the political structures in Kashmir that were aligned with separatism and soft separatism have been left without viable agendas. Articulation on the subject can draw a lead from the “Gupkar Declaration” of 4 August, 2019....

The Islamic State Footprints are all over India

There are some very significant indicators, which indicate the widespread footprints of the Islamic State in India. Recently in Bengaluru, a 28 year old ophthalmologist, Abdur Rehman, was arrested by the NIA for his links with the Islamic State. In 2014, soon after completion of his MBBS, Rehman had travelled all the...

Gupkar Declaration 2.0

Not content with anti-national, seditious, pro-separatist Gupkar Declaration signed on 04 August 2019, a day prior to the historical announcement of Modi Government, the six leaders of Kashmir centric political parties including the descendant of Indian National Congress, Nehru-Gandhi Congress, have again issued a new...

Complexification and Public-Private Positioning in the Land Forces Armament Sector

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, restructuring has pervaded the land forces defense industry. Without the needs demanded by such a threat, a transformation precipitated in the Western industrial apparatus. Land defense systems have become increasingly complex, while economic conditions have altered the industry...

Thales Partnering with the Indian Air Force for a better tomorrow, today

With initiatives and policy decisions on several fronts, India is marching steadfastly towards an era of Atmanirbharta. The country has shown will and muscle to become a global manufacturing huband lead the modernization of the armed forces. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is historically known to providing the country with...

Indian Defence Private Sector: Some Initial Successes Yet Miles To Go

The much publicised Strategic Partnership Model (SPM) launched with a laudable aim to allow the growth of the private sector through the route of Joint Ventures with foreign OEMs failed to deliver initially due to lack of clarity on many issues. The SPM, from the word ‘Go’, was put through so many amendments that it...

Tejas: The Radiance towards Self Reliance

On 04 February, 2001, the first prototype of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) took off from Yalahanka...

Turkey’s power play in Nagorno Karabah

The small regional conflict in Nagorno Karabah in Caucasus erupted again on September 27th. The conflict has over...

Indo-US 2+2 talks on Defence, Security and Chinese Incursions in Eastern Ladakh

India and the United States will hold their third edition of 2+2 ministerial dialogue on October 27 during which the sides are expected to explore ways to further strengthen defence, security and global strategic ties includingIndo-Pacific region. For the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the US has requested an in-person meeting in New Delhi rather than a virtual meeting, however in view of the US...

Myth of Tribal Attack in J&K

Pakistan never had love for people of J&K. It required this territory to sustain it’s Punjabi dominated economy dependent on water and resources of this region. Pakistan had entered into a Standstill Agreement with the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir on August 12, 1947. Right...

Step up pressure on Xi; bring France into Quad

An Indian army convoy moves on the Srinagar- Ladakh highway at Gagangeer, northeast of Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir. The Indian military said it apprehended a Chinese soldier Monday, Oct. 19, in the remote Ladakh region, where the two countries are locked in a monthslong...

Tribal Invasion of 1947: Blackest Chapter in the History of J&K

The time span from 22 October to 26 October, 1947 is remembered as the blackest chapter in the history of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir that now stands re-designated as the Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. This period marks the illegal...

China and the Korean War: A Cracked Mirror for the (Global) Times?

An intriguing Global Times editorial was published earlier in October to mark the PLA’s 70th anniversary of “victory” over US forces in Korea. The analysis, rather economical with facts, suggests that will, strategic wisdom, the Chinese character, superiority of the socialistic system, just nature of China’s cause, and leadership helped them win. It concludes that these very same factors today portend another resounding triumph for...