IDR Blog
Will the US-Russia Deal on Syria Hold?
The war in Syria is still raging after over five and half years since its outset. Several initiatives have been undertaken to try and end it – first through the Arab League, then Geneva I, Geneva II and the Vienna Process, where even a calendar of steps for bringing peace to Syria was laid out. Obviously, partisan efforts by Western countries...
Pakistan’s Tactical Nuclear Warheads and India’s Nuclear Doctrine
In an endeavour to preserve strategic stability, India, a reluctant nuclear power, has demonstrated immense restraint despite grave incitement from Pakistan. In stark contrast, ever since it became a nuclear-armed state, Pakistan’s behaviour has been marked by brinkmanship, with provocation bordering on actions that could lead to large-scale...
US-Israel Military Agreement holds little Promise for Middle East Peace
On September 14, 2016, the US and Israel signed a defence aid agreement worth USD 38 billion for ten year between 2019 and 2028. This is a USD 8 billion increase from the previous deal that that was signed in 2007 and ends in 2018; an increase of over 25 percent. It is a continuation of US military aid to Israel that has been the backbone of the...
Pak Terror in Uri-What needs to be done?
The Pakistan-based terrorist strike on an Indian army camp in Uri, Kashmir in the early hours of September 18, has put enormous pressure on Prime Minister Modi to retaliate. Seventeen Indian soldiers were martyred and around thirty injured, some of them critically. A distinctive element of this attack were the arms and munitions the terrorists...
The End of the Saga: From Toofanis to Rafale
According to PTI, Jean Yves Le Drian, French Defence Minister will land in Delhi on September 22. He will be accompanied by the CEOs of Dassault Aviation, Thales and MBDA (and Safran?) to seal the 7.87 billion Euros deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets. PTI says: “Defence sources said if all goes well, the Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) will...