Articles By Col Anil Athale
The Eagle, The Dragon, The Elephant and The Bear
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Vol. 31.1 Jan-Mar 2016 | Date: 12 Jun , 2016
Indians indeed have never been more confident of their future in history and that is reflected in every field. The elephant is more sure-footed than the Chinese Dragon or the British Lion. This...
Pakistan’s Strategic Dilemma
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 14 Apr , 2016
Pakistani threat of use of low yield nuclear weapon on its own territory against Indian spearheads is a big lie. Both in time and space, the Pakistani threat of use of these nuclear weapons...
Who bother about Military History?
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 15 Mar , 2016
The short answer to this question, none! After having spent over 30 years in the field, I can say this with certainty. With a few honourable exceptions like late General Palit and General Sinha...
Does India lack Strategic Culture?
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 17 Feb , 2016
Of late there has begun a lively debate on Indian strategic culture or lack of it. Some have referred to the “Panipat Syndrome’ while some others have harked back to Chanankya. Indian...
Long Term View of Indian Security
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 24 Dec , 2015
The PM’s recent emphasis and campaign to ‘make in India’ is certainly far better than the whole sale import of entire weapon systems. This will at least ensure jobs in India and some degree...
Mythology of Limited War
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 20 Oct , 2015
“Future conflicts are going to be short but intense wars before international pressure forces a cease fire. Both sides will try to gain maximum territory to use as a bargaining counter in...
Cold Start Doctrine
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Vol 26.2 Apr-Jun 2011 | Date: 26 Sep , 2015
India has been victim of proxy war since 1999. First in Kargil in May 1999 when regular Pakistani soldiers in garb of ‘Kashmir Freedom Fighters’ infiltrated and seized dominating heights...
The Naga Peace Accord: A Historical Context
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 05 Aug , 2015
It is often said that history is chronicle of follies of the past! The history of Nagaland conflict aptly fits that description. It is worthwhile to take a dispassionate look at the past so that...
Diagnosing War on Terrorism: Some Thoughts
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 16 Jul , 2015
The term Global Terrorism or more correctly ‘war against terrorism’ came in vogue only after 9/11 when the US suffered terrorist attack on its homeland as a blow back to its misguided Afghan...
Principles of War for Nuclear Age
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 05 Jun , 2015
In any discipline, some theoretical principles govern or explain most of actions/events. For long time Principles of War have played that role in Art of War. These are not laws in formal sciences...
Primacy of Deterrence in Nuclear Age
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 02 Jun , 2015
A real ‘revolution’ in history of warfare was ushered in 1945 when the human beings tapped the forces of nature trapped in tiny atom, a force of vast proportion that has the capability of...
Factor of legitimacy in use of force in countering insurgency
By: Col Anil Athale | Date: 21 Apr , 2015
Military men by training and instinct are suspicious of academic and philosophical speculation. But all over the world today, they are increasingly tasked to tackle insurgencies, a problem that...
Defence : dangerous drift!
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 07 Apr , 2015
In another two months time the Modi led BJP govt. will complete one year in office. One has waited in vain for the much needed correction on some fundamental defence issues like the country’s...
Defence Preparedness: An unforgiving opportunity
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 30 Jul , 2014
At Rs. 2.29 lakh crore, Defence expenditure is the largest component of the national budget. But true to Parkinson Law, when the figures are astronomical and beyond the grasp of human mind, the...
The ‘Why’ of Rethinking Indian Nuclear Deterrence!
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 25 Jul , 2014
Indian nuclear decision making was always in the global political context. These were almost exclusively political decisions with the armed forces not in the loop. The 1974 Pokhran I tests were...
Counterinsurgency: No Win Situation and Inflexion Point
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 11 Jun , 2014
It has become a popular cliché to describe insurgency and counter-insurgency as struggle for hearts and minds of the people. It must be reiterated that it is also a struggle between hearts and...
Insurgency, Counter-Insurgency and Peace - I
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Vol. 27.1 -Mar 2012 | Date: 26 Mar , 2012
Counter-insurgency is a complex phenomenon demanding a complex solution. Any attempt at reductionism can be an invitation to disaster. Although it is very much a form of warfare fitting into the...
Insurgency, Counter-Insurgency and Peace - II
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Vol. 27.1 -Mar 2012 | Date: 25 Mar , 2012
Counter-insurgency is a complex phenomenon demanding a complex solution. Any attempt at reductionism can be an invitation to disaster. Although it is very much a form of warfare fitting into the...
Defence Research : India's Achilles Heel
By: Col Anil Athale | Issue: Vol 25.3 Jul-Sep 2010 | Date: 06 Oct , 2010
While India seems well set on the path of becoming an economic power house, this castle is being built on shifting sand. India remains vulnerable as ever to the rouge nations in our neighbourhood...