Articles By Col Alok Mathur, SM
Tank Battles of Indo-Pak War, 1965: Operation Nepal
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 10 Oct , 2023
After the Indian debacle during the Indo-China War, 1962, then Indian PM Pandit Nehru realised that the Indian defence forces required an overhaul and upgrading. The first to be sacked was Defence...
Zorawar: The Mountain Tank
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 23 Aug , 2023
Indian Army has required a light tank since the Kargil War 1999 and Doklam stand-off of 2017 to equip its Sikkim corps, Ladakh corps and Tejpur corps. During 1962 War in Trijap sub sector (North...
Brigadier Pritam Singh: The Saviour of Poonch
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 07 Jul , 2023
This is a true story of a brave and resilient soldier, Brigadier Pritam Singh, MC who commanded 1 Para (Kumaon) in the Battle of Shalateng against a strong force of Pakistani raiders led by...
Operation Meghdoot: Victory in the face of Monumental odds
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 08 Dec , 2022
Siachen, known as the highest battle field of the world, is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas. In Balti dialect the word means “Garden of Roses.” It forms the western...
1965 War: The Valour and the Victory
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 06 Dec , 2022
After the Sino India War of 1962, Pakistan think tanks concluded that military solution to Kashmir was a possibility as they were equipped with modern American Weapons like M 47/48 Patton tanks...
BrahMos: The success story of the Indian Cruise Missile
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 02 Feb , 2022
On 11 Jan 2022, the Supersonic BrahMos NV was test fired from Indian Navy Ship, INS Vishakhapatnam, a stealth guided missile destroyer somewhere in Bay of Bengal and precisely hit the designated...
Defence Technology and Test Centre: A New Initiative of DRDO
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 05 Jan , 2022
Raksha Mantri (RM) Shri Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of “Defence Technology and Test Centre (DTTC)” and ”Brahmos Manufacturing Centre (BMC)” on 26 December, 2021 at a grand...
The Surrender that Changed the Map of South Asia
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Net Edition | Date: 16 Dec , 2021
After securing an absolute majority in the general elections in East and West Pakistan in early 1971, the Awami League of Pakistan led by Mujib-ur-Rehman asked for greater autonomy for East...
Counter-Insurgency Operations in the Red Corridor
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 05 May , 2021
Operation Prahar was in progress on 03 April 2021 since 0530h in thick jungle area between Bijapur and Sukma village. It was being led by a special Cobra unit (commando battalion). Central Reserve...
Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Contours of the Decision and Ramifications for...
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 20 Apr , 2021
Afghanistan has been associated with the India since the days of Ramayana and Mahabharata. King Dashrath’s wife Kakeyi was princess of Kakeya Pradesh, that in ancient times, constituted a group...
Military Coup in Myanmar: Options for India
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 09 Feb , 2021
In early hours of 1 February, 2021, as Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) rolled out on the streets of Nay Pai Taw and Yangon in Myanmar, the military owned Myawwady Television channel announced...
Valour Sagas of Bangladesh Liberation War
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 08 Jan , 2021
Pakistan can never forget the humiliation of 16 December 1971, when Indian forces entered Dhaka, the capital of East Pakistan and accepted the unconditional surrender of almost four division...
Ceasefire of Indo-China War 1962: Victory has many Fathers; Defeat is an Orphan
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 28 Nov , 2020
On 20 October, 1962, in NEFA, units of 7 Infantry Brigade were overrun, after giving stiff resistance to People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Tactical headquarters of Red Eagle division, under Major...
Sikkim from Batang La to Chorten La: A Narrative of the Himalayan Paradise
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 15 Nov , 2020
Sikkim, the beautiful 22nd State of Indian Union in the lap of mighty Himalayas, garnered headlines of World media on 9, May, 2020, when Indian Army troops clashed with a Patrol of the Chinese...
Indo-China War 1962: Valour Stories from the Frontier
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 08 Nov , 2020
Military history is replete with stories of valour and sacrifice. Each battle has a legend associated with it. These are repeated through generations, written about and in modern times, converted...
Indian Space Research Organisation: From Aryabhata to Gaganyaan
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 06 Nov , 2020
The year 2017 was a watershed in the long march of space research in India when Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved twin landmarks. Firstly, on 15 February 2017, it, created a world...
Indo-China War 1962: Tears of River Nam Ka Chu
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Date: 31 Oct , 2020
My name is Nam Ka Chu, my origin is from Twin reservoirs of Tsangle located at 17000 feet on the Tri-junction of Bhutan, Tibet and India. I flow in the west of District Kameng adjoining the...
Tejas: The Radiance towards Self Reliance
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 28 Oct , 2020
On 04 February, 2001, the first prototype of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) took off from Yalahanka Airbase for its maiden flight and returned safely in the presence of then Prime...
DRDO: Steering the March towards Self-Reliance
By: Col Alok Mathur, SM | Issue: Courtesy: www.defenceinfo.com | Date: 25 Oct , 2020
The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) an agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence (MOD) of Government of India (GOI) is...