February 2020 – Maj Gen Harsha Kakar (Retd.)

February 27, 2020

Indigenous versus imported artillery equipment The Excelsior 27 Feb 2020

http://epaper.dailyexcelsior.com/?id=MTAxOTE4 Indigenous versus imported artillery equipment 27 Feb 2020 Inputs indicate that the Indian army is presently at the stage of cost negotiation for procuring 1580 artillery guns called ATHOS (Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System) 2052 manufactured by the Elbit company of Israel. The procurement is expected to be 400 Guns in fully assembled condition and remaining 1,180 under the […]

February 25, 2020

Restructuring the armed forces a job well begun The Statesman 25 Feb 2020

https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2568149/Kolkata-The-Statesman/25TH-FEBRUARY-2020#page/7/2 Restructuring the armed forces a job well begun 25 Feb 2020 Addressing the Combined Commanders Conference in 2015, PM Modi stated, ‘We have been slow to reform the structures of our armed forces… We should promote jointness across every level of our armed forces. We wear different colours, but we serve the same cause and bear the same flag. […]

February 24, 2020

Afghan peace talks must involve the UN CENJOWS 24 Feb 2020

https://cenjows.gov.in/article-detail?id=243 Afghan peace talks must involve the UN 24 Feb 2020 The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo stated that ‘notable progress’ had been made during the ongoing talks between the US and the Taliban. Talks had almost concluded in Sept last year, when Trump pulled out of the deal. This time the deal nearing acceptance is a replica of […]

February 20, 2020

Ignoring Pakistan’s rhetoric The Excelsior 20 Feb 2020

Ignoring Pakistan’s rhetoric Ignoring Pakistan’s rhetoric 20 Feb 2020 Since assuming the mantle of Pakistan’s ‘selected’ Prime Minister, Imran Khan has displayed a flip-flop policy towards India. Initially he expressed a desire for talks which was rebuked by his deep state which continued backing terrorist strikes against India, leading to Indian retaliation at Balakote. This has been the history of […]

February 18, 2020

Army takes steps to stop radicalization of youth The Statesman 18 Feb 2020

https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2558010/Kolkata-The-Statesman/18TH-FEBRUARY-2020#page/7/2 Army takes steps to stop radicalization of youth 18 Feb 2020 During the Def Expo 2020 in Lucknow, in an interview with News 18, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, clarified on his earlier comments of the Raisina Dialogue, ‘Why must you allow a person to be radicalized and then deradicalize them?’ He added, ‘Why do […]

February 16, 2020

Bridging the veteran and serving gap Samman Magazine Jan 2020

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WA8hGhyVeTmVWseRQyehwpQNr0mFD5oY/view Page 16 Bridging the veteran and serving gap Samman Magazine Jan 2020 The advent of social media in the last few years changed the methodology of protesting and displaying anger against institutions and organizations. It has also given a sense of anonymity to the protestor alongside a platform for spreading their opposing views and comments. Social media has become […]

February 12, 2020

China’s growing clout in the region CENJOWS 12 Feb 2020

https://cenjows.gov.in/article-detail?id=242 China’s growing clout in the region 12 Feb 2020 The first visit of Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, this year was to Myanmar. For India, Chinese inroads into a region it considers its backyard, is a matter of concern. While China has every right to be involved with nations in South Asia, there are occasions when Chinese involvement is […]

February 12, 2020

Lessons from Def Expo 2020 The Excelsior12 Feb 2020

Lessons from Def Expo 2020 Lessons from Def Expo 2020 12 Feb 2020 The Def Expo held last week at Lucknow provided a glimpse of the strides made by the Indian private sector in defence research and development. It was less than two decades ago that this sector was opened for private industries and entrepreneurs. Till then, defence was considered […]

February 11, 2020

Women officers in command roles The Statesman 11 Feb 2020

https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2548583/Kolkata-The-Statesman/11TH-FEBRUARY-2020#page/7 Women officers in command roles 11 Feb 2020 Post granting permanent commission to women officers, the next legal battle in progress is placing them in command of units to enable career progression alongside their male counterparts. In a statement to the Apex Court, countering granting command to women officers, the army stated, ‘Women may not be suitable for commanding […]

February 7, 2020

Def Expo 2020 (English version) Amar Ujala 07 Feb 2020

https://www.amarujala.com/columns/opinion/india-in-defense-market?src=top-lead Def Expo 2020 (English version) Amar Ujala 07 Feb 2020 In mid-2019 the defence ministry announced that the next edition of the international defence exhibition (Def Expo) will be held in Lucknow in Feb 2020. It is the first time that the event is being conducted in UP. The theme for current Def Expo is ‘India: the emerging defence […]