Strategic lessons from the Ukraine conflict The Statesman 28 Feb 2023 In 2017, Manohar Parrikar, as the defence minister, reduced India’s ammunition holding from 40 to 10 days on the premise that future conflicts would be short, intense and swift. This was a follow up of a CAG report which stated that Indian ammunition supplies can only sustain a […]
The Khalistan movement The Excelsior 25 Feb 2023 Reports have emerged of defacing of Hindu temples in Canada and Australia by pro-Khalistan elements and of clashes between India supporters and pro-Khalistan groups from both these nations as also the UK. Voting in the so-called ‘non-binding Khalistan referendum’ has been reported from Italy, Canada, UK, Australia and Pakistan, all of […]
The world responds to a rising India The Statesman 21 Feb 2023 Addressing the press in Bangalore prior to Aero India 2023, the US Charge d’Affaires, Elizabeth Jones, stated ‘India is a partner of choice for the US,’ adding, ‘our growing diplomatic and security cooperation over the last year is evidence of this.’ She went on to state that […]
The balloon fallout The Excelsior 14 Feb 2023 Politics in democracies implies targeting the government at every opportunity as part of vote bank politics. How this impacts international ties is of no concern to those involved. India has witnessed it regularly. It was visible in the US when the Chinese balloon overflew the country. It was neither the first […]
India’s changing security threats The Statesman 14 Feb 2023 There is a belief that a weak Pakistan is not good for India. As Pakistan weakens, its ability to contain growth of terrorist groups would also diminish, converting the region, spreading from the Indian border to Afghanistan, into a hotbed of terrorism. Pakistan currently faces much more than just an […]
Pakistan must change its approach to terrorism The Excelsior 10 Feb 2023 The recent suicide attack in the high security Police Lines in Peshawar, Pakistan, left over a 100 dead and around 200 injured. The attack was initially claimed by the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) which subsequently denied its involvement. The Pak government believes it to be a faction of […]
Am quoted in tthis article on Sputnik Recent visits by US politicians to India have stirred talks of Washington trying to pull New Delhi away from Russia out of fear of ties growing warmer between the two strategic partners.Due to India’s beliefs and its neutral foreign policy, the world’s fifth largest economy has not taken sides, maintaining a diplomatic stance […]
India’s multi-alignment and strategic autonomy India vs disinformation 08 Feb 2023 NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, while addressing the Keio University in Tokyo last week stated that China’s growing assertiveness and collaboration with Russia poses a threat not only to Asia but also to Europe. He therefore sought ‘closer cooperation and more friends for NATO in the Indo-pacific.’ Earlier […]
Defence spending a part of national development The Statesman 07 Feb 2023 Addressing passing out cadets of the Indian Military Academy in Dec 2006, then President Abdul Kalam stated, ‘National security is born out of two important components. One is the economic growth and prosperity; second one is the capability to defend the nation against all types of threats.’ […]
Defence budget amidst ongoing challenges Amar Ujala 02 Feb 2023 The defence budget, as part of the national budget signals the government’s concern on national security. While defence planners have been demanding a minimum of 3% of the GDP, defence parliamentary committees 2-2.5%, it has generally hovered around 1.6% to 1.7%. Its share of the budget has remained steady […]