Tibet: The Real Issue

“Following the logic of power, empires in their expansive phases push out their frontiers until they meet the resistance of a strong neighbour, or reach a physical barrier which makes a natural point of rest, or until the driving force is exhausted. Thus through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, British power in India expanded,

Sri Lankan Tamils: Anatomy of Indian Involvement

The core problem in Sri Lanka is one of identity. The Tamils want to preserve their identity. The Sinhalas want to overrun it. No solution has emerged ever since Sri Lanka became a republic almost sixty years ago. 

Around the World in 80 Days

This year, on 8th October, the Indian Air Force commemorated its 75th birthday. As part of its  Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the IAF organised various activities. An innovative and adventurous part of the celebrations was a Round the World Microlight Expedition, with the aim to set a new record in the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI is the governing [...]

Defence University for India: An Appraisal of the Proposition

Establishment of a defence university in India was first suggested in an article that appeared in College of Defence Management Journal in 1978. The article evoked considerable interest and was often debated in academic circles of the services. However, there was little progress on ground and the matter lay dormant till resurrected in the wake [...]

Democracy and Security

We are constantly led to believe that since elections are held regularly, India is therefore one of the most successful democracies in the world.  The truth unfortunately is different. The number of phases in which election is held in a particular area or a state, and the quantum of

Indian Intelligence: The fiddling has to stop…

The evolution of the Indian intelligence community since 1947 has been on the basis of periodic reviews of our enquiries into perceived intelligence failures. After the Sino-Indian war of 1962, a review of the performance of the IB led to the creation of the Directorate-General of Security (DGS).

China: Friend or Foe?

Year 2008 will be a special year. It is a leap year and for the first time in modern history, China will organize the Olympic Games. One remembers that in ancient Greece, this was a time for ‘Truce’ (or ‘Ekecheiria’). Established by a treaty in the 9th century BC, the Truce period witnessed athletes, along [...]

Terrorism: The Indian Drama

Hyderabad has been once again rocked by twin blasts. Innocent lives have been lost. Our national pride has been dented. Somehow, such tragedies draw a familiar and set piece response from all of us – the politicians, intelligence sleuths and the gullible public.

Blue Print for Indian Aerospace Industry

All of us would agree that aerospace power has multiple applications in peace or war. It impacts our lives, energises international relations and economic activity. It also matches the demands of national security so perfectly that it is a preferred instrument. Resultantly, civil and military aviation are growing world-wide, for those who can afford it.

U.S. Poodle or Chinese Poodle?

Ever since Shri Prakash Karat took over the stewardship of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), it has come out in the open as a strong defender of  Chinese interests.
Its decision to strongly oppose the Indo-US civilian nuclear co-operation agreement, known as the 123 agreement, even at the risk of destabilising the present Government headed [...]

Military Service Pay

The sixth pay commission is now about midway in their task of preparing their recommendations for the revision of wages of more than 33 lakh central government employees, including the personnel of the defence forces.

Punjab’s Pakistan

The part that constitutes the Punjab province in Pakistan, like other provinces of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan, were not enthusiastic about the concept of Pakistan. It was much later, in the early 1940s, that the Muslim League made strong inroads into Sindh and Punjab. Finally, when they did decide to join the Pakistan Movement, their [...]